We wanted to see how this DDR3 memory compares against DDR2 memory at the same timings with more-or-less, the same test environment We had already tested in our labs DDR2 memory modules that can go as high as 1250MHz with CL5-5-5-15-2T memory timings, from OCZ and Crucial:

• OCZ PC2-9200 FlexXLC
• Crucial PC2-8500

To be exact, only the OCZ PC2-9200 modules reached 1250MHz, while the Crucial PC2-8500 managed 10MHz less at 1240MHz. The only difference with the DDR3 memory testbed was the different motherboard (eVGA 680i LT). So we should be able to get some level of comparison, even though Nvidia's 680i is faster in the memory benchmarks than Intel's P35. Both DDR2 and DDR3 memories were tested with the same memory timings, despite the fact that DDR3 memory could also work at 1T mode:

Both the DDR2 and DDR3 modules were tested at exactly the same CPU speeds and FSB. It's very interesting that the SuperTalent DDR3-1600CL7 can work at CL5-1T even at 1250MHz, with of course the corresponding memory voltage.

In these tests, we used the following BIOS settings for Asus the P5K3 Deluxe:

• AI overclocking: Manual
• CPU Ratio Manual: 9
• FSB Strap: Auto
• FSB Frequency: 266~313
• PCI Frequency: Auto
• DRAM Frequency Manual: Auto calculated from FSB:RAM (1:2) divider
• DRAM Command Rate Manual: 1T
• DRAM Timing Control Manual: 5-5-5-15
• DRAM Static Read Control: Auto
• DRAM Dynamic Write Control: Auto
• Transaction Booster: Auto
• Clock Over-charging mode: Auto
• CPU/PCIE Spectrum: Disabled
• CPU Voltage, CPU Voltage Reference, CPU Voltage Damper, CPU PLL Voltage, DRAM Voltage, FSB Termination Voltage, North Bridge Voltage, North Bridge Voltage Reference, South Bridge Voltage: Auto

Memset can offer more information about the memory timings the Asus P5K3 Deluxe has chosen for this test:

Let's now proceed on to the test results...