For these tests, we used two ASUS motherboards that perform similarly. These are the A8N-SLI Premium and the A8N-SLI Deluxe. We used only one video card, since most SLI systems are bad overclockers when SLI is enabled. Setting the DDR clock settings to AUTO should get the memory running at SPD timings.

A strange observation is that in the SPD timings tables, there is only an SPD setting for 200MHz FSB, but the memory's rated frequency is 250MHz (500MHz). Also, the memory modules are recognized as PC3200 (200MHz), but they are actually PC4000 (250MHz). This was observed with all the motherboards we tested, such as the Abit AN8 Fatal1ty and the MSI K8N Diamond. On the other hand, SPD timings are not a problem since the memory can perform faster by changing some BIOS settings. Only server users or novice users that don't want to mess around with their BIOS, will have to work at 400MHz (2x200MHz).

The SPD timings for the 400MHz frequency (2x200MHz) is 3-3-2-8, but the ASUS motherboard wanted to give a little extra in the AUTO setting and set the timings to 2.5-3-2-8.

The CPU we used was an AMD Athlon64 3800+, running at ~2400MHz.

In this review, we will be comparing the Mushkin XP4000 Redline modules with some memory modules we have tested in the past, the Corsair CMX1024-4000PT dual-rank modules (2GB). Below you can see the SPD Timings for the Corsair memory, according to CPU-Z.

Corsair CMX1024-4000PT (2GB - dual rank)

Here's a rundown of our testbed:

System Specifications
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3800+ CPU (Newcastle)
Case: Antec
Motherboard: ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe/Premium
Power supply: CoolerMaster 450W
Memory: Mushkin XP4000 - Redline (2x1024MB)
VGA: ASUS 6800GT PCI-E (driver version: 81.95)
Hard Disk Drive: WD800JD 80GB 7200RPM
OS: Windows XP Pro SP2
DirectX: v9.0c

Benchmarks & Applications used

• Memtest86+-1.60
• Sisoft Sandra 2005
• PcMark05
• Performance Test V5.0 ( PassMark)
• Half Life 2 - VST
• CPU-Z v1.31