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Super Talent T800UX2GC4 Review |
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Long Name, Big Value |
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By Josh Walrath |
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Testing Memory is something of a mixed bag when it comes to testing. If a DIMM can run at certain latencies, then the results will be identical to another manufacturer’s DIMM running at those same timings. The only real changes we often see are from different motherboards, and how they handle some of the low level timings that are not accessible to users. Different memory PCBs may affect the performance, but the differences are minimal at best.
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ BFG 590 SLI Motherboard 320 GB Seagate SATA HD Toshiba DVD-ROM Windows XP 64 Professional The overall memory performance will vary quite a bit depending on what motherboard and processor is being used. For example a FX-62 will show better memory speed than the faster X2 6000+ because of the way the AMD memory divider works. Also, Intel boards based on i975 and i965 chipsets combined with Core 2 Duos will show lower memory performance compared to an Athlon 64, but greater overall system performance. For testing I wanted to see how far I could push these DIMMS and at what timings and voltages. I did my best to keep the processor at stock speed (around 3 GHz) all the while adjusting the HTT speed and increasing the memory speed. Results I started out the DIMMS at 2.1 volts and went up to a maximum of 2.3 volts. Most DIMMS should be able to handle 2.4 volts for extended periods, but ideally if they have good cooling in the case. I myself am not comfortable running my DIMMS at that voltage, but opinions on that subject vary wildly.
I am not the world’s greatest overclocker by any stretch of the imagination, so if I can do it then the average user (with a bit of knowledge) can achieve results like this fairly easily. A couple of things really stand out from the results. The first is that these DIMMS often can run at the tight 4.4.3.8 timings under the specified 2.2 volts. DIMMS will vary though, and Super Talent guarantees that they will work at that voltage with those timings. We can also see that at 2.1 volts the differences in timings do not affect the overall achievable speed of these DIMMS to any great degree. There is only a 16 MHz difference between the tight timings and 5.5.5.15. Once the voltage is increased though, we see a dramatic improvement in overall clockspeed. If I had been willing to take it to 2.4 v, it is very likely that they will easily crack the 1 GHz level with the 5.5.5.15 timings. We also can safely assume that the tight 4.4.3.8 timings will also gain some headroom at that voltage.
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Copyright 1999-2007 PenStar Systems, LLC. |
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