Corsair Dominator DDR2-1111: Dual-Path Cooling Pushes Performance

Memory Test Configuration

We have recently been testing memory with the ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe, which is based on the Intel 975X chipset. We did all initial testing on that platform, to provide results that can be conveniently compared to earlier test results.

The Intel platform was used because the first generation of AM2 on-processor memory controller does not support any memory timings below 3, or memory speeds above DDR2-800. Both these features are supported on the ASUS 975X motherboard. Timings of 2 are also available for RAS-to-CAS and RAS Precharge, and DDR2-1067 is an available memory ratio. In addition it was clearly illustrated in Conroe vs. AM2: Memory & Performance that DDR2 memory performance, in timings and required voltage, are equivalent on the AM2 and Core 2 Duo platforms.

However, with the evolution of the Intel P965 chipset and the NVIDIA 680i, it is clear that higher memory performance can be achieved with different memory "straps" used for the highest DDR2-1067 ratio setting. The P5W-DH Deluxe is very demanding of memory at high speeds and the "looser" base ratios used at the top of most P965 and 680i boards allow higher memory overclocks with some memory modules. Most memory performs about the same on 975X and P965, but we are aware of some DDR2 memory designs that perform best on the P965. Recently the NVIDIA 680i chipset has demonstrated an even greater range of performance at the top of memory overclocking, with extremely flexible options for squeezing the most performance from almost any memory.

For all of these reasons, we revised test procedures in recent DDR2 memory reviews. We first test standard memory performance and overclocking on the ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe. This allows valid comparisons to earlier reviews of DDR2 memory on the Core 2 Duo platform. We then run overclocking tests only on the NVIDIA 680i test platform, using the same X6800 Core 2 Duo processor. We will continue this test procedure until we can fully evaluate the NVIDIA 680i as a potential replacement for the Intel 975x as our memory test platform.

The memory test bench uses the following components:

Memory Performance Test Configuration
Processor:	Intel Core 2 Duo X6800 (x2, 2.93GHz, 4MB Unified Cache)
RAM:	2x1GB Corsair Domintor PC2-8888C4D 2x1GB OCZ PC2-9200 Flex XLC (DDR2-1150) 2x1GB Patriot DDR2-1066 2x1GB Super Talent DDR2-1000 2x1GB Team DDR2-1000 2 x1GB Corsair CM2X1024-6400C3 2x1GB OCZ Ti Alpha PC2-8000 VX2
Motherboards:	ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe (Intel 975X) EVGA NVIDIA nForce 680I SLI
Hard Drive:	Hitachi 250GB SATA2 enabled (16MB Buffer)
Video Card:	1 x EVGA 7900GTX - All Standard Tests
Video Drivers:	NVIDIA 91.47
CPU Cooling:	Tuniq Tower 120
Power Supply:	OCZ PowerStream 520W
Operating System:	Windows XP Professional SP2

As for P965, we have seen cases where P965 boards performed much better than 975X units in memory speed, but where the P965 bandwidth was still the same or less than the 975X. On the very top memory, however, the P965 and 975X perform similarly. Since the ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe appears the more demanding platform we will continue testing base performance on the 975X.

However, a cross-section of enthusiast memory manufacturers were also asked which motherboard performed best with their top DDR2 memory. In all cases the answer that came back was the NVIDIA 680i motherboard. For that reason we have added the 680i to our tests of memory overclocking. Other alternatives will be evaluated for memory testing, but for now we will continue testing with the ASUS P5W-DH supplemented with the NVIDIA 680i tests for overclocking performance.

We recently reviewed value DDR2-800 from both G.Skill and Super Talent. Since those memories are really a different category than top-line DDR2, results for those two memories are not included in comparisons in this review. For comparisons of performance of those two memories you can refer back to the linked reviews.