Test Setup

We attempted to keep a consistent CPU speed through testing, however due to limitations in chipset straps between CPU front side bus and memory bus when overclocking, a closest fit was applied where necessary.

Memory Speeds Tested

OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 SLI-Ready Edition
• PC2-800MHz (lowest latency, 3-3-3-8-15-4tWR-2T) 2.93GHz/266MHz FSB;
  
• PC2-800MHz (EPP rated timings, 4-4-4-15-22-2T) 2.93GHz/266MHz FSB;
  
• PC2-1156MHz (maximum overclock, 5-5-5-15-32-6tWR-2T) 2.34GHz/267MHz FSB;
  
  OCZ DDR2 PC2-8500 Reaper HPC Edition
• PC2-800MHz (lowest latency, 4-4-4-12-22-5tWR-2T) 2.93GHz/266MHz FSB;
  
• PC2-1066MHz (EPP rated timings, 5-5-5-15-22-5tWR-1T) 2.96GHz/266MHz FSB;
  
• PC2-1178MHz (maximum overclock, 5-5-5-15-33-6tWR-2T) 2.95GHz/268MHz FSB;
  
  OCZ DDR2 PC2-9200 FlexXLC Edition
• PC2-800MHz (lowest latency, 3-3-3-9-18-4tWR-1T) 2.93GHz/266MHz FSB;
  
• PC2-1151MHz (rated timings, 5-5-5-18-32-5tWR-2T) 295GHz/268MHz FSB;
  
• PC2-1210MHz (maximum overclock, 5-5-5-15-34-6tWR-2T) 2.60GHz/269MHz FSB;
  
  Kingston HyperX KHX9600D2K2/2G
• PC2-800MHz (lowest latency, 3-3-3-8-18-2T) 2.93GHz/266MHz FSB;
  
• PC2-1200MHz (rated timings, 5-5-5-15-31-2T) 2.93GHz/266MHz FSB;
  
• PC2-1232MHz (maximum overclock, 5-5-5-15-32-2T) 2.964GHz/270MHz FSB;
  
  Corsair CM2X1024-9136C5D
• PC2-800MHz (lowest latency, 3-3-3-6-14-4tWR-2T) 2.93GHz/266MHz FSB;
  
• PC2-1142MHz (rated timings, 5-5-5-15-30-5tWR-2T) 2.93GHz/266MHz FSB;
  
• PC2-1200MHz (maximum overclock, 5-5-5-15-33-6tWR-2T) 2.93GHz/266MHz FSB;
  
  Corsair CM2X1024-10000C5D
• PC2-800MHz (lowest latency, 3-3-3-6-10-3tWR-2T) 2.93GHz/266MHz FSB;
  
• PC2-1250MHz (rated timings, 5-5-5-18-15-6tWR-2T) 2.981GHz/271MHz FSB;

Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 (operating at 2.93GHz - 11x266); Inno3D nForce 680i SLI, Nvidia Geforce 7900GTX; Seagate 7200.9 200GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gbps hard disk drive; OCZ GameXStream 700W power supply unit; Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2; DirectX 9.0c; Nvidia Forceware 94.24 WHQL; Nvidia nForce 680i SLI 9.53 WHQL;

Memory Latency

The 9200 FlexXLC performs appreciably as fast as the 9600 Kingston at 800MHz low latency, with the SLI edition memory only being a fraction slower, even though it's supposed to be only CAS-4 at 800MHz. Using the modules up to the EVP limit means it'll do CAS-3 with ease. The Reaper 8500 unfortunately only does CAS-4 low latency 800MHz and only achieves a modest overclock.

At faster speeds the performance of the OCZ memory is approximately the same as the other memory at similar speeds.