Crucial Ballistix PC3-16000
2. Testing the DDR3 memory
Bellow you can see the PC set up we used for this test:
- CPU: Intel Q9300 Retail
- CPU Cooler: Intel Stock
- Motherboard: Asus Striker II Extreme BIOS 0601/0603 (beta)
- PSU: OCZ GameXStream GXS600 SLI-Ready
- VGA: MSI 7600GT Silent (stock memory/core timings)
- HDD: WD 800JB
- OS: Windows XP SP2 with all the latest updates installed
The Asus motherboard offers several ways to boost memory, either via Memory Level Up or via the manual method, which we followed:
During all the tests, we kept the CPU clock locked at the 333MHz and after un-linking FSB/DRAM we were able to boost only memory and measure its overall performance with Everest Ultimate Edition. Below is a table with all the speeds we managed to get and of course the corresponding timings:
Memory Frequency/Timings |
Real Frequency |
Voltage |
Memory Ratio (FSB:RAM) |
CPU x |
FSB |
CPU Speed |
666,50 |
1,90 |
1:2 |
7,5 |
333,33 |
2500 |
|
800,00 |
1,90 |
5:12 |
7,5 |
333,33 |
2500 |
|
909,20 |
1,90 |
11:30 |
7,5 |
333,33 |
2500 |
|
952,40 |
1,90 |
7:20 |
7,5 |
333,33 |
2500 |
|
1000,00 |
1,90 |
2:6 |
7,5 |
333,33 |
2500 |
The results are rather interesting and also adequate. The memory performs exactly according to its specs and it can easily reach the 1000MHz when paired with an Nvidia 790i SLI motherboard. Until the DDR3-1904 point, the Asus Striker II Extreme could handle the voltages very easily and produced a totally stable system. After that point we had to manually rise up the NB (1.60V), SB (1.70) and of course for all the tests we kept DDR3 memory voltage at 1.90V. We also managed to get a further boost up to 1037MHz, which however wasn't stable at all, even with CL10.
