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Crucial Ballistix
Company: Crucial
Part Number: BL2KIT12864Z503
Speed: PC4000
Timings: 3-4-4-8
Voltage: 2.8V
Company: Corsair
Part Number: TWINX2048-3200C2
Speed: PC3200
Timings: 2-3-3-6 / 2.5-3-3-6
Voltage: 2.75V
Kingston HyperX
Company: Kingston
Part Number: KHX3200K2/2G
Speed: PC3200
Timings: 2.5-3-3-7
Mushkin
Company: Mushkin
Part Number: 991429 or 991434
Speed: PC3200
Timings: 2-3-2-6
Voltage: 2.5-2.8V
Voltage: 2.6V
OCZ Performance
Company: OCZ Technology
Part Number: OCZ4002048PFDC-K
Speed: PC3200
Timings: 3-3-3-8
Voltage: 2.6V
OCZ Platinum
Company: OCZ Technology
Part Number: OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K
Speed: PC3200
Timings: 2-3-2-5
Voltage: 2.6V
Conclusion:
Budget Builder
OCZ's Performance memory wins hands down for my choice for budget builders. While there are some less expensive memory available, the ability to give a decent 16% headroom and nice heat spreaders may be worth the extra money. If you have still have extra money, throw it into buying a better CPU or video card which will have much more tangible performance improvements.
Fastest Stock System
With only half of readers being overclockers, the other half must be running at stock speeds. While OCZ's Platinum and Mushkin perform nearly identically, I will let price be the tie breaker. At this time OCZ's Platinum can save you a few dollars. Since these prices are going to change after the review, compare them to see who is still comes out ahead. If there is any chance you may change your stance on overclocking, Mushkin is worth the extra money.
Extreme Overclocker
At 272 MHz, Corsair's TWINX2048-3200C2 is screaming fast for one gigabyte modules. With a 36% overclock, Corsair simply leaves all the other modules in the dust. I find it amazing that Corsair can consistently outperform all the other memory competitors when it comes to performance. What I found common amongst the memory is that the one gigabyte modules really dislike too much voltage. So while many other 512 MB modules can take 3.0V easily, the higher voltages does not gain you much on this size memory. None of the memory tested gained any extra performance above 2.8V. So no matter which of these modules you purchase, I would start at about 2.6V and work up to about 2.7V. Only the most zealous overclockers will stick with the smaller but faster half gigabyte modules.
Crucial Ballistix
Company: Crucial
Part Number: BL2KIT12864Z503
Speed: PC4000
Timings: 3-4-4-8
Voltage: 2.8V
Company: Corsair
Part Number: TWINX2048-3200C2
Speed: PC3200
Timings: 2-3-3-6 / 2.5-3-3-6
Voltage: 2.75V
Kingston HyperX
Company: Kingston
Part Number: KHX3200K2/2G
Speed: PC3200
Timings: 2.5-3-3-7
Mushkin
Company: Mushkin
Part Number: 991429 or 991434
Speed: PC3200
Timings: 2-3-2-6
Voltage: 2.5-2.8V
Voltage: 2.6V
OCZ Performance
Company: OCZ Technology
Part Number: OCZ4002048PFDC-K
Speed: PC3200
Timings: 3-3-3-8
Voltage: 2.6V
OCZ Platinum
Company: OCZ Technology
Part Number: OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K
Speed: PC3200
Timings: 2-3-2-5
Voltage: 2.6V
Conclusion:
Budget Builder
OCZ's Performance memory wins hands down for my choice for budget builders. While there are some less expensive memory available, the ability to give a decent 16% headroom and nice heat spreaders may be worth the extra money. If you have still have extra money, throw it into buying a better CPU or video card which will have much more tangible performance improvements.
Fastest Stock System
With only half of readers being overclockers, the other half must be running at stock speeds. While OCZ's Platinum and Mushkin perform nearly identically, I will let price be the tie breaker. At this time OCZ's Platinum can save you a few dollars. Since these prices are going to change after the review, compare them to see who is still comes out ahead. If there is any chance you may change your stance on overclocking, Mushkin is worth the extra money.
Extreme Overclocker
At 272 MHz, Corsair's TWINX2048-3200C2 is screaming fast for one gigabyte modules. With a 36% overclock, Corsair simply leaves all the other modules in the dust. I find it amazing that Corsair can consistently outperform all the other memory competitors when it comes to performance. What I found common amongst the memory is that the one gigabyte modules really dislike too much voltage. So while many other 512 MB modules can take 3.0V easily, the higher voltages does not gain you much on this size memory. None of the memory tested gained any extra performance above 2.8V. So no matter which of these modules you purchase, I would start at about 2.6V and work up to about 2.7V. Only the most zealous overclockers will stick with the smaller but faster half gigabyte modules.
