Value DDR3 For Intel's P55: Six 4GB Kits Rounded Up

Test Results: Latency, Frequency, And Bandwidth

The official signal voltage limit of Intel’s integrated memory controller is 1.65V, which is well below the rated voltage of Patriot’s DDR3-1600. Yet we were able to reach Patriot’s full rated speed in spite of our lower voltage limit, and were even able to push the memory timings down significantly below its ratings.

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Best Timings at 1.65V
Row 0 - Cell 0 DDR3-1600DDR3-1333DDR3-1066
Patriot DDR3-1600 CAS 9 PVS34G1600ELK8-7-7-136-6-6-125-5-5-11
Crucial DDR3-1333 CAS9 CT2KIT25664BA13398-7-7-186-6-6-155-5-5-12
PNY DDR3-1333 CAS 9 MD4096KD3-13338-7-8-176-6-7-155-5-6-12
A-Data DDR3-1333 CAS 7 HY63I1B16K8-8-7-136-7-6-125-6-5-10
G.Skill DDR3-1333 CAS 8 F3-10600CL8D-4GBHKN/A6-6-7-125-5-5-10
OCZ DDR3-1066 CAS7OCZ3G10664GKN/AN/A5-5-4-11

Patriot takes the latency win at both DDR3-1600 and DDR3-1333, with Crucial behind only in tRAS. OCZ surprised us in two ways, first by reaching amazing CAS 5-5-4-11 latencies at its rated speed, and then by not being able to reach the next test speed at any latency or voltage settings.

Crucial edges out Patriot in overclocking, while similarities between the two in both overclocking and under-latency capability cause us to question whether Patriot uses the same Micron-brand ICs as its competitor. Unfortunately, we found it impossible to remove Patriot’s heat spreader without permanently damaging the modules themselves.

Crucial edges out Patriot with both kits set to their lowest stable DDR3-1600 settings. But differences this small are meaningless.

We see a repeat performance at DDR3-1333.

OCZ’s lower tRP latency puts it ahead at DDR3-1066.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
  • Onyx2291
    Very nice how Crucial edges out so slightly and is cheap.
    Reply
  • El_Capitan
    I've been advocating that Crucial memory kit since time began.
    Reply
  • presidenteody
    should i wait for the price to be cut in half in 6 months? I want it now for L4d2!
    Reply
  • dirtmountain
    Would running these same kits work any differently in an AM3 system with it's ability to handle higher voltages?
    Reply
  • NeatOman
    Why would you guys use memtest86+ v1.7? if "v4" or is out?
    Reply
  • MAD4AMD
    Could you please provide information what memory chips are used in all RAMs. Thank you!
    Reply
  • micky_lund
    looks good, especially for CAS9. spose it makes it better for OCing.
    pity it ain't available in Australia :S
    Reply
  • jrharbort
    I've always insisted that Crucial DDR3 kits are an excellent value, and recommended them to friends for their amazing stability, overclockability, and price.

    These kits totally deserved the Tom's award for best hardware of '09.
    Reply
  • mlcloud
    I've been buying OCZ for all my DDR2 needs (they were very cheap after rebates), but I think I know who to go to for DDR3 (and awesome power supplies)
    Reply
  • coolkev99
    This is good info, but I wish they would develop some 3gb x 2 kits out there.
    Reply