Crucial DDR 333MHz 512MB SODIMM              

1. Introduction

2. Specifications

3. Test Setup

4. Benchmarks & Results

5. Conclusion

Introduction

We were fortunate enough to have been sent 2 PC2700 (DDR333) memory modules by Crucial Technology.  Nothing out of the ordinary you say?, well, you're right.  The only difference is these aren't your regular memory modules, they're Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Modules (SODIMM) or laptop memory.

A SODIMM consists of a number of memory components (usually black) that are attached to a printed circuit board (usually green). SODIMMs get their name because they are smaller and thinner than regular DIMMs. The gold pins on the bottom of the SODIMM provide a connection between the module and a socket on a larger printed circuit board. The pins on the front and back of a SODIMM are not connected.

200-pin SODIMMs are used to provide DDR SDRAM memory for notebook computers. 200-pin SODIMMs are available in PC2100 DDR SDRAM, PC2700 DDR SDRAM, and PC3200 DDR SDRAM. To use DDR memory, your system motherboard must have 200-pin SODIMM slots and a DDR-enabled chipset. A DDR SODIMM will not fit into a standard SDRAM SODIMM socket. (Information about which memory technology your system uses is included in the Crucial Memory Advisor™ tool.)

The number of black components on a 200-pin SODIMM can vary, but it always has 100 pins on the front and 100 pins on the back, for a total of 200. 200-pin SODIMMs are approximately 2.625 inches long and 1.25 inches high, though the heights can vary. Like 144-pin SODIMMs, 200-pin SODIMMs have one small notch within the row of pins; however, the notch on the 200-pin SODIMMs is closer to the left side of the module.

Above we can see the front and back of the memory module.  It is clear to see that there are 8 memory chips on each side, each being 32 Megabytes (16x32=512).

Here we can see the Crucial SODIMM and the NANYA SODIMM.  Physically both chips are the same size, however, we can see that the Crucial SODIMM has 8 memory chips on each side (as mentioned above) and the NANYA SODIMM has 4 on each side, totaling 256MB. 

Specifications

Here are the manufacturer's specifications:

Module Details:

• Module Size: 512MB

• Package: 200-pin SODIMM

• Feature: DDR PC2700

• Configuration: 64Meg x 64

• DIMM Type: UNBUFFERED

• Error Checking: NON-ECC

• Speed: 333

• SDRAM Timings: CL=2.5

• Specs: DDR PC2700 

• 2.5V 

• 64Meg x 64

For our "Test Setup" we will be using a Dell Inspiron i9200 Centrino Laptop which has the following Specifications:

Benchmarks & Results

Memory Bandwidth directly translates into the speed of the memory module.  With this in mind we have used Sisoft Sandra, a freely downloadable utility (why not test your current memory to see what sort of improvement you can get), to test the SODIMM chips to compare them with standard DIMM ships in desktop machines.

Amazingly, we can see that both the Crucial and NANYA chips outperform the desktop equivalents in their speed class.  This could be due to the high specification Centrino used for testing, however, it is still clear to see that the Crucial PC2700 SODIMM is ahead, and although it doesn't quite compete with the high speed Corsair XMS chips the Crucial SODIMM is still the best SODIMM that we have seen.

With more and more people replacing their large, heat generating, power consuming desktop machines with laptop alternatives, high quality, fast and inexpensive SODIMM modules are called for.  Crucial have answered this call with their PC2700 (DDR333) offering which is by far the best tested SODIMM memory in our tests, outperforming its nearest competitor by a distance.

It is with this in mind we recommend the Crucial DDR333MHz SODIMM and award it the Red Hot Review - Editors Choice Award.

We would like to thank Crucial UK for providing us with the review sample.

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