System setup and notes
Specifications
| Memory | Crucial CT3KIT25664BA1067 | Qimonda DDR3 |
|---|---|---|
| Memory capacity | 6GB (3x 2GB) | 3GB (3x 1GB) |
| Memory speed and timings | 1,066MHz, 7-7-7-20 2T | 1,066MHz, 7-7-7-20 2T |
| Rated Voltage | 1.5V | 1.5V |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 920 (2.667GHz) | |
| Motherboard | Intel DX58S0 (Smackover) | |
| BIOS revision | SOX5810J.86A.2786 (12/11008) | |
| Graphics Card | Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 512MB | |
| Disk drive(s) | Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200.11 | |
| Mainboard software | Intel Inf 9.1.01007 | |
| Graphics driver | Catalyst 8.11 | |
| PSU | Corsair HX1000W | |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit | |
| Approx. price at time of writing | £144.89 | £90 |
Tests
| 2D benchmarks | SiSoft Sandra 2009 SP1b Win64 memory bandwidth (float) ScienceMark 2.0 memory latency HEXUS.PiFast wPrime (1024M calculation) Far Cry 2 benchmarking loading time |
|---|
| 3D Benchmarks | Far Cry 2 v1.01, 1,280x1,024 4x AA, vhq, ranch long demo. Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, OpenGL, 1,280x1,024 4xAA, 16xAF vhq |
|---|
Setup notes
We're comparing the 6GB Crucial's performance against a 3GB Qimonda set that runs at exactly the same timings and speed but is comprised of three 1GB modules, making 3GB in total (well, 3GiB, but whose counting?)
The Intel Smackover X58 board, DX58S0, is limited to a 2:8 ratio when running a 133MHz reference clock on the non-Extreme processor. In plain English, this means that DDR3-1,066MHz is the fastest supported speed without raising the CPU's clock.
Unlike previous memory reviews, the gaming benchmarks use high-details settings. We see little point in highlighting how one set of memory is four per cent faster at 800x600 when it has no practical relevance to the usual games-playing experience. Rather, we're looking at 1,280x1,024 with vhq settings. Far Cry 2 makes an appearance for the first time, too.