Introduction
Mushkin PC3500 Enhanced Performance memory
Just a few months ago, when we were stuck on an official 133FSB for both Intel and AMD processors, the release of faster and faster system RAM seemed to be geared towards the enthusiast sector, who saw high FSBs and accompanying memory speeds as the key to overall performance. However, with the widespread introduction of both the 166FSB AMD processors and 166FSB-compliant nForce2 motherboards, and Intel ratifying faster memory for use on their i845PE chipset-based motherboards, the ability to be able to run PC2700 memory, officially, became real.
Now with Intel making a lot of noise regarding their upcoming 200FSB processors, and AMD planning much the same in the coming months, PC3200 memory, once thought of as being limited for enthusiasts' use, will become mainstream. Therefore those that look to push their systems a little further will need to look at even faster modules. That's why we're now seeing enthusiast-orientated memory manufacturers self-testing and releasing their own PC3200+ modules. They have to keep one step ahead of official specifications, don't they ?.
These manufacturers are currently battling hard to outdo one another in both the basic speed and latency stakes. As overall memory performance is, arguably, a combination of pure MHz speed and low latencies, two factors that are relatively mutually exclusive, it's been difficult to obtain high-speed, low-latency modules until very recently.
It seems as if Mushkin want to join the high-speed party now. Known to enthusiasts as the provider of high-quality RAM, their profile here in the U.K isn't as high as some of their competitors. So it was with an element of surprise that a 256MB module of Mushkin's newest EMS PC3500 DDR memory arrived at Hexus H.Q. Let's take a closer look.