Overclocking Performance (Highest Ratio at Highest Speed)

The G.Skill DDR2-800 performed extremely well to its rated speed DDR2-800. It also was able to reach beyond rated speed to the next standard speed of DDR2-1066. This is outstanding performance for a mid-priced memory rated at DDR2-800. Performance was as we might expect with Micron D9 memory chips, except the more relaxed binning of the D9GMH was apparent. More voltage and/or relaxed timings were required at DDR2-800 and above than we have seen in past reviews of Micron D9 based memory.

With a maximum available voltage of 2.4V, we had no head room at all above DDR2-1066. We do suspect, however, that this memory can likely go even further on boards that can supply higher voltages.

Highest Memory Speed

It is rare that a mid-range DDR2-800 memory can reach to DDR2-1067. However, our results are fairly typical of performance that has been measured with these DIMMs. We have seen reported results from around DDR2-1000 to DDR2-1100 as top overclock. Quite a few reported the same results we found in our testing, which is a top stable speed of DDR2-1067. Keep in mind that overclocking is never a guarantee, but the overclocking results we found with G.Skill DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 were typical of performance found by others..

Game Performance Comparison Final Words
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  • Wesley Fink - Friday, November 3, 2006 - link

    Yes, you can use dividers in overclocking. The ratios and underlying frequencies are more complicated than they appear on the surface, but we have shown in numerous memory reviews that the penalty for not running the preferred 1:1 is really pretty small.

    If cost is a constraint in a build then money put in a video upgrade first will deliver the most improvement in performance, a CPU would be the next place the upgrade yields great value. Higher memory speeds do increase performnace, but the increases are very small compared to a video card upgrade or a CPU upgrade.
  • Madellga - Saturday, November 4, 2006 - link

    How do you run the memory slower?
    This was an option with the A64, but so far with the 965 chipset the options are to run the the memory faster, not slower.

    My sample size is small, but both the Abit AW9D (975) and Gigabyte DS4 (965) don't have ratios to slow down the memory.
  • Wesley Fink - Saturday, November 4, 2006 - link

    The memory may be RATED at DDR2-800, but you can select memory ratios to run the base at DDR2-400, 533, 667, 800, 1066 and sometimes in-between ratios. That allows you to set the memory at DDR2-400, for example, and overclock your CPU to much higher levels. This is how we test memory at different speeds. This feature is also available on almost every 975, 965, and AM2 board we have tested - except the very lowest models.

    For example, if I set my DDR2-800 to DDR2-533 (1:1 ratio) I can overclock my bus to 1600 (400 FSB) and then be at the specifed speed of DDR2-800. Remember the bus is quad-pumped on Intel - 266 is the base setting for 1067. Memory is DOUBLE dat tate, so DDR2-533 is a base setting of 266 - that is whay it is 1:1. So at a 400 setting bus speed is 1600 and memory is DDR2-800.
  • Madellga - Sunday, November 5, 2006 - link

    Wes, thanks for the explanation. I've always used 1:1, when you mentioned using dividers I thought you meant something under 1:1.
    The A64 "dividers" were less confusing than Intel's memory straps, despite the fact how the divider was calculated.
  • vailr - Friday, November 3, 2006 - link

    Any thought of running the memory tests under Windows XP x64? Do the Sandra benchmark tests run in the x64 operating system?
  • Gary Key - Friday, November 3, 2006 - link

    The Sandra benchmarks will run fine in XP-64. Once VISTA goes is RTM then we will be switching over to this OS. We had thought about doing some XP-64 tests when Conroe launched but decided to wait (and wait and wait and wait as it turns out) for VISTA.
  • vailr - Friday, November 3, 2006 - link

    Vista will also be offered in x64 and "x86" versions. Which version will be favored, as far as AT reviews & benchmark tests?
  • Wesley Fink - Friday, November 3, 2006 - link

    64-bit Vista is touted as the PRO version, with 32-bit Vista more akin to XP Home. Unless there are strong reasons otherwise the 64-bit version will likely be the standard.
  • MxChris - Friday, November 3, 2006 - link

    How is this different from this set: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82...">F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK that I bought a coule months ago? Looks to have exactly the same rated timings and specs according to newegg.
  • Wesley Fink - Friday, November 3, 2006 - link

    According to G. Skill specs, your memory is rated 1.9-2.0V at 4-4-4-12 and it is pictured with a pale blue heatspreader. Our test dimms are rated 2.0-2.1V for the same timings and have black heatspreaders. You will need to ask G. Skill if your dimms use different memory chips since we don't have samples available to check the chips used on your model number.

    Your G. Skill kit is curently selling for $240 at newegg compared to $299 for the kit we tested, so I suspect they are based on different memory chips. The Micron chips are notoriously expensive - even with slower bins -and we have seen Mosel used in some mid memory of late, as well as the Elpida that is normal for low-mid memory.

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