Review: CORSAIR TWINX (2x 256MB XMS3200LL) - RAM - HEXUS.net

Comparisons and observations

To see whether running two modules in tandem at high frequencies warrants matching, we took two other high-speed modules from OCZ (DDR EL-PC3500) and Mushkin (PC3200 Enhanced) respectively. We wanted to see if you could just mix and match high-speed modules and expect them to work as well as a specifically matched pair.

Putting them alongside one another and running them on the aforementioned nForce2 test outfit, a small table will seek to summarise the findings.

Highest stable MHz at given timings and 2.7v (dual-channel - nForce2)	Corsair XMS3200LL TWINX	OCZ PC3500 + Mushkin PC3200
2-2-2-6-T1	DDR-414	DDR-392
2-2-3-7-T1	DDR-425	DDR-398
2.5-2-3-7-T1	DDR-436	DDR-417

Whilst the XP2700 / nForce2 platform gave us the opportunity to see just how far the modules would go in a dual-channel environment, the fact that the processor was locked and the motherboard was limited to 200FSB stopped us from truly realising the gains afforded by 2 modules running in harmony. Taking the modules back to the trusty ABIT IT7-MAX / P4 2.26GHz combination would allow us to see if the TWINX modules could run in a i845E motherboard that had previously been hostile towards two modules running in tandem. Thankfully, the TWINX modules seemed to do the trick as far as it was concerned.

Note the 512MB of total memory and the 256MB DIMM shown below. 2 256MB modules were running effortlessly at DDR-400 2-2-2-6-T1 speeds for the very first time. Putting in our mish-mash of OCZ and Mushkin modules gave us these results at various timings on the ABIT IT7-MAX / P4 2.26B combination.

Highest stable MHz at given timings and 2.75v (dual-channel - i845E)	Corsair XMS3200LL TWINX	OCZ PC3500 + Mushkin PC3200
2-2-2-6-T1	DDR-405	DDR-386
2-2-3-7-T1	DDR-412	DDR-390
2.5-2-3-7-T1	DDR-422	DDR-408

We're being a little unfair in not choosing two modules from a rival manufacturer for comparison, or choosing another two non-TWINX modules from Corsair, but the TWINX modules do seem to work well together, and are fine modules in their own right. I'm sure that has a more to do with specific packaging than chance alone.