Kingston 2GB PC2-6400 CL3

Here, we compare our overclocks of the memory being reviewed alongside other recently evaluated sticks. These graphs include benchmarks with each kit of ram at DDR2-1000 4-4-4-12-13 2.1v along with each kits own top overclock. While the DDR2-1000 results should not vary much, the top end overclocks will, given that each kit will top out differently.

For reference, here are the top overclocks for each kit of ram included:

• OCZ 2GB Reaper HPC PC2-9200 – 642MHz 5-5-5-18-19 2.5v (2.88GHz CPU) – (Review)
• Corsair 2GB Dominator PC2-9136 – 635MHz 5-5-5-18-16 2.5v (2.85GHz CPU) – (Review)
• OCZ 2GB Flex XLC PC2-9200 – 625MHz 5-5-5-18-16 2.5v (2.81GHz CPU) – (Review)
• Kingston 2GB HyperX PC2-9200 – 621.5MHz 5-5-5-18-13 2.5v (2.79GHz CPU) – (Review)
• OCZ 2GB Ti Alpha VX2 PC2-8000 – 620MHz 5-5-5-18-13 2.5v (2.79GHz CPU) – (Review)
• OCZ 2GB DFI Special PC2-9000 – 615MHz 5-5-5-18-13 2.5v (2.76GHz CPU) – (Review)
• Kingston 2GB PC2-6400 CL3 – 610MHz 5-5-5-15 2.5v (2.475GHz CPU) (Review)
• Crucial 2GB Ballistix Tracer PC2-8500 – 609MHz 5-5-5-18-16 (2.74GHz CPU) – (Review)
• Mushkin 4GB XP2-8500 – 600MHz 5-5-5-15-16 2.5v (2.70GHz CPU) – (Review)
• OCZ 2GB SLI-Ready PC2-7200 – 600MHz 5-5-5-18-13 2.4v (2.70GHz CPU) – (Review)
• OCZ 4GB PC2-6400 Platinum – 489MHz 5-4-4-15-16 2.1 (2.40GHz CPU) – (Review)
• Super Talent 4GB PC2-6400 – 400MHz 5-5-5-15-1T 2.1v (2.40GHz CPU) – (Review)

(Kits that could not reach DDR2-1066 speeds used a stock CPU frequency)

If you are looking for a modest kit with great latencies, this kit will serve you well. Although 400MHz is far from being considered ‘high-performance’, it’s tight 3-3-3 timing-set help it walk away a winner. However, as we seen throughout our graphs, if you are at all interested in overclocking your CPU, you can achieve far greater performance with increasing the memory frequency, even while loosening up the timings.

One thing is for sure though. DDR3 might be here, but DDR2 will be preferred by most people for some time. DDR3 offers nothing more to you unless you have specific needs, so until prices for that go down, DDR2 is your best bet. And since you can get killer 2GB kits for only $150 – $180, it makes you wonder why DDR3 is even available to the consumer right now.

But, I digress. If you want a great PC2-6400 kit, you won’t be disappointed with this one. And if you are using Vista, or want to experience the best computing has to offer, you might even consider picking up two kits to hit 4GB of ram, to “future-proof” (aka, few-months-proof) your machine.

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