Customer Reviews

OCZ OCZ3G1600LV6GK DDR3 PC3-12800 1600 MHz Gold XTC 6GB Triple Channel Kits

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Well I had read a lot of reviews before buying about DOA sticks, but figured at the price plus rebate, no one had a better deal. First let me say because of the concerns of DOA sticks I ordered from amazon instead of newegg or any other computer company because of return policies and that was a SMART decision on my part. all other companies require you to send back your defective merchandise before they send a replacement, well if its the only RAM you have, that means you can't use your PC for 2 weeks! In my case I did receive defects, at first I thought it was only 1 stick as the other two passed Memtest86 and windows mem check without problems. I asked amazon for a replacement and they sent the replacement the same day (2 day UPS!!!) and said to send back the bad RAM after I received the replacement, that is AWESOME customer service on amazons part.

Well I thought everything was running okay with the 2 sticks but shortly realized that when I tried to open any movie files (no matter the format) or actually just click on the folder they were in, windows 7 would freeze or shut down! I was about to cry (manly cry) because I had spent hours setting everything up on my new build and SSD and thought all my old data was lost! I had all my drivers updated BIOS configured to standard for cpu and memory, but couldn't access the files. I even re-installed windows, after hours of setting it up. Well an hour later UPS came with my replacement memory (remember 2 sticks I was using passed all memory tests). I popped in the first stick (like to test one at a time) and it ran okay, then I went into windows, clicked on the media folder and it OPENED! I was couldn't believe it, the problem was the memory when all the tests showed it was okay. Which means all 3 sticks were bad, not just the one (the one didn't even pass 5% of the tests). One thing I noticed was the replacement RAM had a green color to it (like pictures on amazon show) the memory I first received was black (I thought it was just the dye they used).

I rated it 4 stars because I know have 3 working sticks, which windows rated a 7.8 which is amazing. no issues, runs everything perfectly, and amazon was great with the replacement. the 1 star taken off was because of POOR quality control by OCZ, obviously this is a common problem and you probably have a 50% chance with your order. that has to be fixed. for $130 after rebate, memory that runs at 1600 8-8-8-24, 6 GB, you can't beat it.

oh and you have to configure yourself, if you are looking for an upgrade and don't want to mess with BIOS, don't buy this, if you are comfortable in the BIOS, go for it. just have to set the timing yourself and the multiplier. don't be upset that on default windows and your board see this as 1066 memory, the i7 chip is set that way, easy to change yourself though. 8-8-8-24, 12X multiplier on standard bclock, and set your Voltage for the ram to 1.64 or 1.65(standard is 1.50 which is not enough, specs for this are 1.65)

I bought a set of these to stand in for a set of Corsair XMS3 modules that were going through the RMA process. All three OCZ modules posted immediately based upon the BIOS settings I had set for the Corsair modules (1544MHz, 8-8-8-24 timings, 1.64V, with a i920 clocked at 4.05MHz).

Many reviewers and users recommend Corsair over OCZ due to better dependability/brand; one of my Corsair modules died after about 5 weeks and I needed a replacement set within a week (the RMA process took between 2-3 weeks) so I gave this kit from OCZ a try. Amazon had these at my door in less than a week.

This particular set from OCZ, along with the XMS3 from Corsair, is among the most commonly used kits for 1600MHz 8-8-8-24 timing RAM.

I've had zero problems with the OCZ modules over the past month.

As it's been mentioned, you will need to set the proper settings in your motherboard's BIOS to get them to run at the rated speed; by default, they run at 1066MHz.

What I can't comment on is the higher rate of shipped dead modules from OCZ, or failed modules that initially posted. That's caveat number one with OCZ, based upon what others have said; allegedly higher than Corsair.

Personally, I've had bad luck with my one experience with Corsair, no problems with OCZ; this is probably not the norm, but this simply demonstrates that ALL components from any manufacturer have the potential for slipping by factory tests before being shipped to consumers.

I also can't comment on OCZ customer support, seeing as how I haven't had to go through the RMA process with their kit, nor have I needed tech support to get these running at the settings I specified. That's caveat number two. Some allege that OCZ customer support could be better.

Tech support from Corsair was good. The RMA process was painless (gave them the settings and conditions that preceded the failure and they immediately sent an RMA number) albeit a bit slow for those who can't be without their PC/workstation for more than a week.

On the plus side, the Corsair and OCZ modules have been working together seamlessly since the replacements arrived from Corsair using the same BIOS memory settings, despite not being a matched 2x6GB kit.

I managed to catch an Amazon sale price AND a $40 manufacturer's rebate that made 6GB of DDR3 1600 memory LESS expensive that 3GB of 1333 DDR3! (and a relatively low CL 8-8-8-24) Memory works great with the Intel i7 920 CPU and EVGA X58 motherboard at EVGA/X58 "turbo" settings. I'll add to this review after I have some time to play with overclocking options.

I originally went with 3x2GB OCZ Gold 1600Mhz and ran them at 8-8-8-24-1T with 1.625vDDR in my i7 920 setup with Evga 758 board. I recently bought another set of 3x2GB from Amazon and just put them in the remaining 3 slots for a total of 12GB and everything worked out of the box WITH SAME SETTINGS! No timings or voltage needed change, except for VTT which I decreased to +75mV from +125mV. My stable BCLK using Auto vcore went up from 192 to 196.

I ran the memtest overnight and then 2hrs LinX run at max memory setting to make sure 12GB goes through its paces repeatedly under stress. No issues in either of these tests.

Make sure to set the settings (dram ratio - 2:8, timings - 8,8,8,24-1T, and voltage - 1.625 or 1.65v) in BIOS manually and don't depend on BIOS detecting timings automatically.

And most importantly: Do not touch the RAM modules without getting rid of the static charge that accumulates on your body. Use an anti-static wrist wrap bound to metal somewhere or at least touch metal grill or some other metal like your screwdriver before handling RAM. Static discharge will destroy your RAM modules and memtest will throw errors. Nothing the vendor can do against this.

The price was right. But that's where it ends. I got two kits and both had defective DIMMs in them (3 out of 6 DIMMs were bad). Processed an RMA through OCZ and after almost 2 weeks, I get two replacement kits that each have one bad DIMM inside. I'm done with OCZ.

The memory I ordered installed fine, I was very careful installing it, but MEMTEST86 came up with errors and Windows 7 crashed, on average, once an hour with this memory installed. Finally replaced the memory with new Corsair memory bought from another vendor, and my PC is running like a champ.

Amazon's return policy is great! I wouldn't hesistate to order this memory if you're in the market, this is probably just a one time issue.

Fast and Stable 6GBs DDR3 1600 triple channel.Memory booted up without any problem on my p6t deluxe mobo at 1600 mhz @ 8.8.8.24 with only 1.6 v.

This RAM was the biggest waste of time I've not had the pleasure of dealing with since I started buying RAM, and that's a long, long time ago...like 25 years or more worth of quality RAM buying for IBM, MS, Mac/Apple, and now OEM builds aplenty in the past 4 years. I am an expert builder, and can put together anything the customer or I need to get done, from an HTPC to an exotic Dual QUAD/SEXTET Core CPU-equipped server, complete with RAID assemblies, exotic hardware RAID controllers by FirmTek, Areca, Adaptec, whatever is necessary I'll do it, so please don't taint this review by saying "a NB must have written this, because OCZ RAM is great stuff..."...when that is hardly the case.

I tried two different batches of this RAM in my latest OEM PC build for a client that needed a fast, reliable FAHome server and multi-media PC, and I built it up out of an EVGA Classified BL-141-E760-X58-A1 Motherboard, an EVGA GTX-285 SuperClocked 1GB DDR3 Graphics Card, a real nice Corsair HX750 Professional PSU, a couple WD "Black" 1TB 64MB Cache 7200RPM HD's in a fast AHCI RAID "0" boot system, running Windows HP 64-bit, all stacked inside a lovely Cooler Master black/chrome accented CM 690II "Advanced" ATX Mid-Tower case, that had a surprising amount of room inside to work with.

The case accommodated 5 Scythe Kaze-Jyuni 120mmx25mm 1900RPM 110CFM high-capacity cooling fans, plus the front single Cooler Master 140mmx38mm LED (Blue LED, really nice!) intake fan, so the build is running plenty of cooling power for the Core i7 920 CPU which is overclocked to 4210Mhz (4.2Ghz) *ON AIR* only, the cooler being a Prolimatech Megahalems Version II, with twin Scythe KJ fans in the classic "Push/Pull" arrangement to vacate any hot air in a second or two...and it runs very, very cool, at 100% Load I am getting only 57-64-degrees Celsius out of all 4 Cores (8 hyperthreaded Cores), so the build is pristine, efficient, and the fans are doing their job.

All I wanted was a set of RAM that could work at its rated Mhz, and this stuff failed outright, both kits, no matter which settings in BIOS I picked, chose, and tried. Finally, although I never usually resort to this, I called Tech Support at OCZ, desperate to find a solution to the problem I was experiencing with this RAM, and that was error after error after error at ANY Mhz! I even had errors during the OS installation! I couldn't believe it, never having seen such a thing before, but the RAM was crashing the new computer at its base settings of EVERYTHING on Automatic in BIOS, RAM at default, and only 2.67Ghz speed, and yet I had to restart and re-do the OS install three times before I could get a full boot out of the RAM so the OS could complete and install! Crazy!

I call OCZ Tech Support, and check out my settings for a mere 4Ghz speed, just for grins I was trying an "intermediate speed" to see if I could get the RAM stable, and even then the computer would boot all right, no problem, but within 15 minutes at 100% Load in any test sequence, be it PRIME95, LinX 0.6.3, OCCT CPU Test, or even a Folding@Home Work Unit, the computer would outright freeze solid, without even giving me a DUMP File in Windows/System32/Dumps to work with, so I could find out the exact cause of the failure... no, it would not even let the OS run a file dump it would simply CRASH, freeze, and nothing, no trace whatsoever of the problem.

All OCZ Tech Support told me to do was to make certain that the RAM was at "8-8-8" Clocks and "2T" Timing, everything else on Automatic in BIOS, for RAM, with the VDIMM set @ 1.65V, which I of course had already done, and that was supposed to be the working setup with the RAM. But no, it failed time after time, and even those settings from OCZ Tech Support failed. I asked the guy what he thought if I told him that I just had two different batches of the RAM turn out FAILURES, and ERROR MODE every time I put the computer on Load, and he meekly said, "Send it in, we'll RMA it and send you back some tested, good RAM, so you can be sure it's good."

I told him I didn't have time for that scene, and that I was simply shocked that OCZ would put their name on a product that BAD, that failure-prone, and that I would be returning it to the retailer for a REFUND immediately. What a WASTE of my time!

Ah-Hah, you say, what if it was something else that caused the problem and not the RAM? Well I covered that 100%, because as soon as I installed a known good set of RAM, a G. Skill 6GB "kit" from my own OEM PC build which has two of the same "kits" in it for 12GB running RAM, well guess what? Right! The computer runs fine, perfect in fact, and I am letting the customer use my RAM until I get him another set of the G. Skill RAM handled from another supplier, not Amazon.com, and run perfect it does, right now! And at 4.2Ghz not 4Ghz!

So not only did one set fail to work, I had Amazon.com send a 2nd batch to try and see if it was simply a problem with the 1st set, and BAM! Deja Vu all over again, the 2nd set of the same RAM did the exact same thing the 1st batch did, it froze the computer upon 100% Load at any setting, not just overclocked, and the overclocked setting for the RAM that froze was a nominal 1530Mhz in BIOS, so go figure that one out: the RAM is just JUNK, JUNK, JUNK! Gosh dang that ticked me off a bunch, wasting three whole days of my build time, waiting on a 2nd set of the RAM to arrive from Amazon.com via UPS Next Day Air delivery, which they were kind enough to do for me I might note, and BAM! That 2nd RAM batch was as bad, or worse than the 1st batch of the RAM!

I cannot endorse this RAM, and I give the present iteration of the RAM a big, fat ZERO for performance, and if I could give it a ZERO in the Amazon.com ratings I would do just that, but the lowest they go is 1-star, so 1-star is the rating it gets from Wavey Davey. You'd best believe me because if it happened to me, it will happen to you if you try to use this stuff in a Core i7 configuration, at any speed, not just at overclocked speeds!

In short, this RAM will waste your time, waste your $$$$ and severely inconvenience your build efforts, so don't waste your time, get something else, either something from Corsair, Patriot, G. Skill preferably although unfortunately Amazon.com doesn't sell the G. Skill RAM as yet, but they SHOULD, you know that!? I love the G. Skill brand of RAM, as it ROCKS! Wish Amazon.com sold it!

That's a wrap on this RAM for Wavey Davey's efforts, and right now I await a REFUND on my purchase price because the 2nd batch is already on its way back to Amazon.com's Lexington, Kentucky RMA warehouse, and Good Riddance to it! The 1st batch got sent back last week also, so there you go, that is what happened with two separate batches of this RAM from my build of this past week. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME with the OCZ Gold XTC 1600Mhz RAM, it is JUNK, JUNK, JUNK!

Wavey Davey - June 17, 2010

Pros: Cheap, good timings, lifetime warranty.

Cons: No XMP (have to configure by hand, and they don't have the correct configuration anywhere. Hint: use 2T command rate or the memory will throw errors. Also don't forget to set 8-8-8-24 timings and 1.65 voltage).

Like everyone else, I got a bad stick and had to RMA. Took about a week for them to issue me an RMA number, but they do offer the option to charge you to send you the replacement kit before you send the original back.

I can't get the replacement kit to run at 1600MHz. The best it can do is about 1400, no matter how much extra QPI or CPU voltage I add.

Save yourself the trouble and spend a bit more on a Corsair kit.

I've had OCZ RAM for the past 2 years and recently added these 6 gigs of OCZ to my current 6 gigs of OCZ. Solid as a rock and have never had any issues.