TwinMOS 256MB DDR400 Memory Review
Vote: Thumbs Down or Thumbs Up Our Rating: 9.5% Manufacturer: TwinMOS
Overclocking
Due to the fact that the Abit SR7-8X motherboard and SiS648 chipset are limited to no more than a 145MHz FSB, for overclocking we swapped this board with Abit's IT7 based on the i845E chipset. Using a 3:4 CPU:DRAM ratio and bumping up the FSB to 150MHz, we had our memory running at 200MHz. We then continued to increase our FSB until we reached a maximum of 165MHz. Here the memory was running at 220MHz and we feel as if it could have gone a lot further. However, this time it was not the motherboard that was holding it back, but rather the CPU.
The Corsair XMS3200 was also able to reach a speed of 220MHz, which is unsurprising considering that the memory is directed at hardcore overclockers. Both modules were able to run with a CAS latency of 2 at these speeds.
From these overclocking results we can conclude that both modules will be able to handle almost any speed you throw at it, as your CPU and motherboard will most likely bomb out way before the memory actually does.
Conclusion
Overall, we were very impressed with TwinMOS's DDR400 memory. It is fast, stable and most importantly, can withstand high clock speeds, making it ideal for overclockers who like to gain the maximum performance out of their hardware. At a price of around AU$200 (US$100), it is also quite a bit cheaper than the Corsair XMS3200 memory we checked out earlier this month.
The bottom line is, if you are looking for the same performance as Corsair XMS3200 without the added cost, you should definitely check out TwinMOS's DDR400 memory. The only disappointing aspect about this module is its availability, and at the time of writing this review we could only find 512MB modules in our favorite online stores.
- Pros
Fast
Highly overclockable
Can run at agressive CAS timings
Cheaper than Corsair's XMS3200
- Cons
Availability
Rating - 9.5/10
