Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5 review 1/4
Bluetooth 29 May 2006

Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5

This new product launched just in time for AMD's AM2 processor. The TWIN2X2048-8500C5 is the world's first top performer at a high frequency of DDR2-1066. Each pair are built with slected Micron D Rev RAM and tested on both Intel and AMD platform for best performance. For extreme users that uses the P4 EE 1066 processors, this modules allows 1066MHz operation, running in SYNC with the CPU:MEM.

This pair of module supports a new standard known as EPP (Enhanced Performance Profiles).  This is a standard developed by Corsair and NVIDIA. So what is EPP? EPP is actually an extension of SPD (Serial Presence Detect).  The SPD information is read from the chip and ram timings set accordingly in the BIOS. As the SPD information still has some unused locations, the EPP takes advantage of that and enhance SPD information with more data so that  the BIOS is able to tap directly in setting up the ram timings + additional settings like the command rate and memory voltage.

EPP can be found on all new Corsair XMS DDR2 memory parts including the new TWIN2X2048-8500C5.

In our first time, we will try to check the RAM modules at its specified speed.

In the DDR2 world, you can run the RAM in ASync mode to your CPU CLK. For example, our 4000+ runs at 10x200 (2GHz). In our tests, we ran the ram modules at CAS 5, 5-5-10, 1T cmd at DDR2-800 setting. Of course, we can also run it at DDR2-533 at CAS 3. We noticed that the actual difference in scores like 3Dmark won't differ by a lot. In fact, running at CAS 5, DDR2-800 gives some slight advantage.

Since we can run DDR2-800 and can score a good memory bandwidth score of 7300, it would be nice if we can push even further.

How abt DDR2-1066 ? We ran 1 pair of Corsair DDR2-1066 modules model TWIN2X2048-8500C5. Below is the Sisoft Sandra 2007 memory benchmark running the AM2 4000+ memory at DDR2-1066, CPU clk is running at 266 (x10) for 2.66GHz. So we are running CPU and memory in SYNC.

From the CPU-Z that it is 532MHz, that translates to DDR2-1066. The bandwidth we get is 10205MB/s. This shows that these pair of modules is as indicated, will run properly at DDR2-1066 at the timings provided.

Discuss in Forum

Next >>>

(C) Copyright 1998-2009 OCWorkbench.com