Review: High-speed DDR2 memory roundup

Final thoughts, HEXUS.awards, HEXUS.where2buy, HEXUS.right2reply, related reading

First thing to say in summing up is that the Corsair DOMINATOR XMS2-10000 modules do live up to their name by topping all the benchmarks and all the overclocking tables.

The next thing that needs to be made clear is that we can't possibly recommend them except to folk out there whose bank accounts are full to the brim and who must own the fastest DDR2 on the market.

Doubtless, they'll sit nicely with your SLI'ed GeForce 8800 Ultras and we wish you well with all this highly-desirable kit.

But, honestly, the Corsair modules are pure excess. Maximum expenditure for minimal gain is not likely to appeal to most people.

Just think about it, you could spend half the money and buy two 2GB sets and enjoy the day-to-day benefits of having 4GB of memory.

Looking at the other contenders, the G.SKILL F2-6400CL4D is the first to fall by the wayside.

It's the cheapest memory here but it shows. Benchmark results are lacking at stock speeds and overclocking headroom is limited by the 2.1V maximum voltage allowed under warranty.

While there is nothing to stop you pushing beyond this - motherboard settings permitting - the loss of the lifetime warranty would make us think twice, especially since there is no shortage of reports about DDR2 modules dying due to excess voltages.

The CellShock disappoints slightly in the benchmarks at stock speed but redeems itself in overclocking. However, it does 'only' have a five-year warranty and is limited to 2.3V.

We know that it's not worth worrying about the difference between the CellShock's five-year warranty and the lifetime warranty offered by OCZ and Kingston. And, in the real world, the same is true for the CellShock's 2.3V versus 2.35V for the OCZ and Kingston modules.

However, since an RMA of a CellShock module would involve sending it to Germany, so it too, fails to make the final cut.

Now we're down to a choice between the OCZ Reaper HPC Edition PC2-9200 and Kingston HyperX KHX9600D2K2/2G.

Each comes with a lifetime warranty and is able to run at 2.35V. The Kingston edges ahead in the benchmarks and is much the same price as the OCZ. But, weighed against that, the OCZ offers slightly more overclocking headroom and looks so very cool.

It's a close call but ultimately our choice would be the Kingston. It offers the best bangs for bucks (possibly) and really isn't too limited in its overclocking potential. We're also mindful of the cost and inconvenience that would involved in returning a faulty product to OCZ in the Netherlands, in contrast with Kingston's UK-based returns setup.

So, while the Kingston is not the best product under testing today in any single respect, it probably is the smartest choice on balance - though we'd be shocked if anyone bought the OCZ and didn't turn out to be a happy bunny (unless something goes wrong and the product has to RMA'd overseas).

HEXUS.certification

There can only be one recommended award and that's already been grabbed by Kingston, so where does that leave OCZ and CellShock? With HEXUS.certification, as it happens, because each did the jobs asked of it and did them acceptably well.

CellShock DDR2 1000 2GB
OCZ Reaper HPC Edition DDR2 PC2-9200 2GB

HEXUS Awards

So, the Kingston HyperX KHX9600D2K2/2G just shades a HEXUS.Extreme.Recommended award.

Kingston HyperX KHX9600D2K2/2G 2GB

Corsair DOMINATOR XMS2-10000 2GB

G.SKILL F2-6400CL4D 2GB

HEXUS Right2Reply

HEXUS Where2Buy

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