Intel Core 2 Duo: Memory Performance Part Deux

Memory Specifications

We continue to utilize a 2x512MB memory configuration in order to stay consistent with our previous test results. Our choice of memory remained the same for both our DDR and DDR2 base tests. All test results with DDR2-667 at 3-4-4-10 and DDR2-800 at 4-4-4-12 were generated with the voltage increased to 2.1V on the Transcend modules that performed admirably throughout our testing regimen. We would also like to mention that we tested our TwinMos Twister DDR2-667 512MB modules at even lower latencies at DDR2-667/800 with results being provided in our final article.

Our DDR memory is from Patriot Memory and resided in one of our test systems for several weeks. The memory features low latencies at DDR-400 (PC3200) and costs around $100 for a 1GB kit.

Patriot PDC1G3200LLK Memory Specifications
Number of DIMMs & Banks	2 DS
DIMM Size	512MB
Total Memory	1 GB
Rated Timings	2-3-2-5 1T at DDR-400
Rated Voltage	2.6V

Additional Information on these very popular DIMMs is available at the Patriot website. We have memory that offers additional headroom for overclocking and also memory that was representative of PC3200 modules shipped a couple of years ago with 2.5 CAS ratings. However, we felt like this memory is a good blend of performance and pricing for our testing.

Our DDR2 memory is from Transcend and was utilized in some extensive HTPC testing for our upcoming Intel DHCAT article. The memory features average latencies at DDR2-667 but was able to perform at much lower latencies in our testing with increased voltages at DDR2-667 and DDR2-800 while costing around $70 for a 1GB kit.

Transcend JetRam Memory Specifications
Number of DIMMs & Banks	2 DS
DIMM Size	512MB
Total Memory	1 GB
Rated Timings	5-5-5-12 at DDR2-667
Rated Voltage	1.8V

Transcend has additional specifications for this memory at their website. We highly recommend you take a look at Transcend's memory offerings and once again we found our particular test modules to offer the perfect blend of price and performance in our budget ASRock platform.

We also completed testing with 512MB memory modules from TwinMos and Corsair that offer much lower latencies but with costs nearing the 2GB ultra value kits based on Elpida memory.

Our ASRock motherboards offer the following options for each memory speed. Although DDR-266 and DDR2-400 is fully supported depending upon board choice we will not be testing at these memory speeds. The current BIOS options from ASRock offer a wide array of memory setting options but are very limited in voltage options with low, normal, and high being the choices.

ASRock 775Dual-VSTA
	Auto	DDR2-533	DDR2-667	DDR-266	DDR-333	DDR-400
FSB 1066	X	X	X	X	X	X
FSB 800	X	X	X	X	X	X
FSB 533	X	X	X	X	X	X

ASRock ConRoeXFire-ESATA2
	Auto	DDR2-400	DDR2-533	DDR2-667
FSB 1066	X	X	X	X
FSB 800	X	X	X	X
FSB 533	X	X	X	X

ASRock 775i65G
	Auto	DDR-266	DDR-333	DDR-400
FSB 1066	X	X	X	X
FSB 800	X	X	X	X
FSB 533	X	X	X	X

Our Biostar TForce P965 Deluxe and DFI Infinity 975X/G motherboards offer full support for DDR2-400, DDR2-533, DDR2-667, and DDR2-800 memory speeds. Additional details on these boards can be found in our Conroe Buying Guide.