Final thoughts
Mushkin has evidently seen the fantastic flexibility of Samsung's latest performance ICs, ranging from ultra-low latencies through to high MHz speeds with relaxed timings, and used them in its latest iteration of high-performance RAM. It's needed to, really, as Corsair and OCZ already have 2-2-2-5 PC3200 modules available right now. Performance-wise, there's not much to say other than it's predictably excellent memory.However, there's nothing much one manufacturer can do to topple another when all use the same basic materials. All use decent PCBs and funky heatspreaders to good affect, and each company's modules benchmark within a percent or two of one another. I have no problem at all in recommending Mushkin's LII V2 PC3200 to any potential buyer who wants superlative stock performance and the ability to run at higher MHz if and when the need arises. Top-end CPU prices fall like the proverbial stone when faster CPUs are released every few months. Mushkin's 1GB pack of low-latency memory will set you back around £200. That may sound exorbitant, but premium 1GB memory packs have hovered around the £200 for a while now, so whilst the asking price might seem expensive in relation to generic RAM, purchases of top-quality memory should be viewed as a long-term investment as residual values are high. Think of it as the BMW of RAM.
In summary, Mushkin has joined the low-latency party with a flourish. Just grab it before Samsung changes its mind and stops releasing lovely ICs that run at 2-2-2-5 DDR400 flawlessly. An aside, my only slight reservation with Mushkin products is the comparative difficulty in finding good stockists when compared to, say, Corsair or OCZ RAM.
