Published in Reviews

Kingston CL 3-3-3-10 memory, tested

by on09 July 2007

Index

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Review: CL3 800MHz better than CL5 1066MHz


KHX6400D2ULK2 is a low latency memory module running at 800MHz, however it scores the same or better than 1066MHz memory. The manufacturer is Kingston, and it is a priviledge to test this quality CL3 memory.

 

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In brief, we're talking about HyperX DDR2 Kingston series. If you know Kingston, then you know that HyperX means top performance memory. The memory is running at 800MHz with ultra-low latencies CL 3-3-3-10. The main point of this memory is that with 3-3-3 timings you get good performance, squeezing out every bit of power that 800MHz memory can bring. It is an ideal product for all those who own motherboards that don't support faster memory.

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Kingston PC2-6400 3-3-3-10 can be bought as a 1GB or 2GB kit, or separately where your choice of modules can be 512MB or 1GB. We tested a 2GB kit wrapped in a plastic package and small enough to fit in your pocket.

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Kingston HyperX KHX is instantly recognizable for its nicely designed blue aluminum plates.

We dared to compare these with our recently tested Patriot PC2-8500 1066MHz memory. We have good reason to believe that Kingston’s low latencies will yield interesting results, close to 1066MHz memory with CL5 latency.   

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We used EVGA 680i, The Black Pearl, water-cooled motherboard with EVGA 8600GTS graphics card and Intel Quad Core QX6700.




 

Super Pi

1MB

8MB

32MB

Kingston PC2-6400 3-3-3-10 800MHz

18s

03m 59s

18m 48s

Kingston PC2-6400 3-4-3-10 800MHz T1

18s

03m 54s

18m 25s

Patriot PC2-8500 5-5-5-9 1066MHz

18s

03m 56s

18m 31s

 

 

 

 

Sandra Lite XI

Memory Bandwith

 

 

Kingston PC2-6400 3-3-3-10 800MHz

5784/5744

 

 

Kingston PC2-6400 3-3-3-10 800MHz 1T

5892/5872

 

 

Patriot PC2-8500 5-5-5-9 1066MHz

5686/5689

 

 

   

 

 


Kingston KHX6400DL2ULK2/2G memory running at 800MHz, but low latencies of 3-3-3-10 can easily go head to head with faster 1066MHz ones. You'll get even better results if you use T1 command rate. We used 1T command rate with 3-3-3-10 latencies with all the tests except for SuperPi. Kingston proved they have really good memory modules.

Everest

Memory Read

Memory Write

Memory Latency

Kingston PC2-6400 3-3-3-10 800MHz

7443 MB/s

2159 MB/s

62.3 ns

Kingston PC2-6400 3-3-3-10 800MHz 1T

7629 MB/s

2508 MB/s

56.7 ns

Patriot PC2-8500 5-5-5-9 1066MHz

7149 MB/s

2257 MB/s

63.7 ns

 

 

 

 


With 1T command rate we see much better performance. Synthetic testing show that not everything is in the memory speed, low latencies can really add to the response, r/w, memory bandwith and greatly improve performance. The most important thing is that it reflects on gaming.

 

FEAR

800x600

1024x768

1280x1024

Kingston PC2-6400 3-3-3-10 800MHz

140

115

80

Kingston PC2-6400 3-3-3-10 800MHz T1

145

115

80

Patriot PC2-8500 5-5-5-9 1066MHz

141

115

79

 

     

 

Quake 4

800x600

1024x768

1280x1024

Kingston PC2-6400 3-3-3-10 800MHz

158.0

140.7

111.3

Kingston PC2-6400 3-3-3-10 800MHz T1

159.6

143.3

111.5

Patriot PC2-8500 5-5-5-9 1066MHz

152.9

141.8

110.5

       

 

Conclusion

A great show by Kingston PC2-6400 CL3 memory. We’ve seen that this 800MHz memory can go head to head with faster memories of lower latencies. We’ve tested it with modules that run at 1066MHz and it won. This memory is a godsend for those whose motherboards don’t support 1066MHz memory.

Running at 800MHz and 3-3-3-10 latency, Kingston KHX6400DL2ULK2/2G modules are a good piece of quality memory that will give good performance.

 

The only flaw is the price, we couldn’t find it under $200 and we must admit it is a bit too much. If the prices drop, and we expect they will, and you crave for the fastest DDR2 800MHz memory – then this should be your choice.

Last modified on 09 July 2007
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