Test Setup

The OCZ PC2-8500 Titanium 2x1GB memory is an "Intel Optimized" kit, so naturally we're going to pair it with a top Intel processor and DDR2 platform. The 3.16 GHz Core 2 Duo E8500 is one of the top performers and also overclocks like a beast. It is being paired with a Gigabyte X38 motherboard, which features excellent memory speed and timing options. The X38 also allows us to hit native DDR2-1066 MHz speeds, as well as a few higher-speed options.

The rest of our system configuration is also high-end, including a PNY GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB video card, which holds up the gaming end of things very nicely, and without going overboard. Dual Maxtor MaxLine III NCQ hard drives provide excellent disk performance, while the base operating system is Windows XP Pro SP2, with recent DirectX and system updates installed.

The benchmark list is shorter than our usual CPU and video card reviews, and features only the system tests that isolate memory performance, as well as a few high-end games to see how these are impacted by higher memory speeds. On the memory bandwidth side, we have Everest Ultimate Edition 4.2, SiSoft SANDRA 2008 XII SP2 and WinRAR, while the gaming benchmarks include Unreal Tournament 3, Company of Heroes, World in Conflict, Crysis, and ET: Quake Wars. To keep the GPU requirements low and potential for memory influence higher, our default game benchmark setting is 1024x768.

Memory Types, Speeds and Timings (as tested):

OCZ DDR2-1066 2x1GB @800 (4-4-4-12), @1066 (5-5-5-15) and @1111 (5-5-5-15)
Ultra DDR2-800 2x1GB (4-4-4-12)
Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 2x1GB (5-5-5-15)
Crucial Ballistic DDR2-667 2x1GB (4-4-4-12)

* Please note that unless otherwise stated, all performance graph results equate to the standard "higher is better" standard.

Test System

Intel Core 2 Duo LGA775 Reference System:
Processors: Core 2 Duo E8500 (3.16 GHz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6
Motherboard chip set: Intel X38 Express
Video Card: PNY GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB
LCD: Dell 2407WFP 24"
NVIDIA reference drivers: ForceWare 169.21
Hard-Drive: Dual Maxtor MaxLine III 250GB in RAID 0 Mode
CD/DVD: AOpen DUW1608 16X DVD+/-R DL
Power Supply: Enermax EG651P-VE-24P 550W EPS12V
Operating System: Windows XP Pro SP2

General Settings:
Desktop Resolution: 1920x1200
Color Depth: 32-bit
V-Sync: Disabled