Processor(s): AMD Athlon X2 3800+ @ Various Speeds Motherboard(s): ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe (Supplied by ASUS) Video Card: 2 X ASUS 7800GTX TOP (Supplied by ASUS) Hard Disk(s): WD Raptor 74GB 10,000 RPM SATA (Supplied by Western Digital) CPU Cooling: Gigabyte G-Power Pro Cooler (GH-PDU21-MF) (Supplied by Gigabyte) Operating System: Windows XP Professional SP1 Drivers: nVidia ForceWare 81.94 and DX9c
Each memory module will be tested in two configurations:
This is the default speed for both memory modules; we will then loosen the Corsair timings to the same as the OCZ and move forward to find a maximum overclock. The OCZ will remain at the same timings and we will continue to increase the front side bus.
- Corsair XMS-3500LL PRO @ Max OC @ 2.5-3-3-8-2T - OCZ PC3700 Gold Edition Rev 3 @ Max OC @ 2.5-3-3-8-2T
These setups will show us a few things:
- Can the A8N32-SLI Deluxe overclock? - Does lower FSB and tighter timings beat higher FSB and looser timings? - What modules overclock higher @ the loose timings? - Can 1GB modules keep up with 512MB ones?
We will be running through our normal array of benchmarks when testing memory which include low resolution game tests 640 x 480 and 1024 x 768 along with SiSoft Sandra which I personally feel like I haven’t touched in months thanks to ATI and nVIdia releasing non stop graphics cards and finally we will throw in some PCMark 2005 for good measure.
The maximum overclock we were able to achieve was 263MHz on the front side bus and this was capable with the OCZ memory using the timings we mentioned above. The Corsair XMS maxed out at 257MHz with the relaxed timings. While the Corsair did max out slightly lower then the OCZ, this is an excellent overclock considering they are only rated @ 218MHz and are also 1GB modules as opposed to 512MB modules that OCZ have on offer.
