Kingston HyperX Memory Modules

We have two HyperX series RAMs from Kingston-one being a PC2-8000 CL5 (KHX8000D2K2/2G) 1000 MHz and second PC2-6400 CL4 (KHX6400D2LLK2/2G) 800 MHz. These DDR2 DIMMs provide lower latency at high speed. Latency is amount of clock cycles
utilized for read/write requests to complete. The lower the latency, the better the performance.

Both of these RAM modules come in a 2 GB pair kit with 1 GB on each module These modules have SPD (Serial Presence Detect) programmed to JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) standard latency of 5-5-5-15 working at 1.8 V on 800 MHz for PC2-8000 and 667 MHz for PC2-6400. 

Both memory modules support dual channel. We ran the memory test suite of PCMark 2005 benchmark, which runs a series of read, write, copy and latency tests with varying loads of 4 KB to 16 MB. We used a Core 2 Extreme processor on an ECS PX1 Extreme motherboard to test it, which let us change the SPD setting to manual configuration and also change latency parameters.

With the PC2-6400, we could clock to 4-4-4-12 at 667 MHz and 2.0 V-a setting at which it performed smoothly and better than normal PC2-4200 533 MHz RAM available in the market. The difference is significant as the 533MHz RAM showed a score of 5601 PCMarks compared to 5921 PCMarks with the Kingston PC2-6400 (5.7% rise in performance). Our test system did not boot with the RAM clocked at 800 MHz, contrary to Kingston's claims that it works fine at this setting. The PC2-8000 modules rated is 5-5-5-15 on 800 MHz at 1.8 V but above that it went up to a lower latency speed of 4-4-4-12 at 800 MHz and 2.2 V showing better performance at 5986 PCMarks compared to others and 5934 PCMarks of its own at default conditions.

Bottom Line: A good buy for extreme gamers who can afford the exhorbitant price.

Anubhav Verma

Source: PC Quest