3DMark2001 SE is the latest installment in
the 3DMark series by MadOnion. By combining DirectX8 support with completely new
graphics, it continues to provide good overall system benchmarks. 3DMark2001 SE
has been created in cooperation with the major 3D accelerator and processor
manufacturers to provide a reliable set of diagnostic tools. The suite
demonstrates 3D gaming performance by using real-world gaming technology to test
a system's true performance abilities. Tests include: DirectX8 Vertex Shaders,
Pixel Shaders and Point Sprites, DOT3 and Environment Mapped Bump Mapping,
support for Full Scene Anti-aliasing and Texture Compression and two game tests
using Ipion real-time physics. Higher 3DMark scores denote better
performance.
| 3DMark2001 SE Default Benchmark Results |
|
Memory (FSB/Memory) |
3DMarks |
Ranking |
| 1. |
256MB Crucial PC2700 DDR (166/333
MHz) |
11233 |
 |
| 2. |
256MB Crucial PC2700 DDR (180/360
MHz) |
11845 |
|
The Crucial PC2700 does quite well in 3DMark2001, attaining
some very respectable numbers at stock speeds. Please keep in mind the 60 MHz
CPU speed differences though.
Quake III Arena is a First Person Shooter (FPS)
that revolutionized gaming as we know it. Using multiple light sources and
having graphics textures that can fill videocards, even after 3 years it's still
able to bring a cutting edge system to its knees.
| Quake III Arena Fastest demo001 |
|
Memory (FSB/Memory) |
FPS |
Ranking |
| 1. |
256MB Crucial PC2700 DDR (166/333
MHz) |
281.3 |
|
| 2. |
256MB Crucial PC2700 DDR (180/360
MHz) |
296.4 |
 |
| Quake III Arena Fastest nv15demo |
|
Memory (FSB/Memory) |
FPS |
Ranking |
| 1. |
256MB Crucial PC2700 DDR (166/333
MHz) |
81.6 |
|
| 2. |
256MB Crucial PC2700 DDR (180/360
MHz) |
83.7 |
|
This
is pure Quake III gaming bliss. Again, keep in mind that the CPU speed
difference is 60 MHz which accounts for the differences found in the nv15demo
Return to Castle Wolfenstein is a relatively new
game benchmark. However, RTCW takes up where Quake III left off and continues to
form the basis of the first person shooter system stressing that QIII has become
a hallmark for. Based upon the Quake III engine, RTCS is obviously going to be
quite taxing on even a top end system. Higher numbers denote faster frames per
second (FPS), and hence, better performance.
| RTCW
(640x480 atdemo6) Benchmark Results |
|
Memory (FSB/Memory) |
(FPS) |
Ranking |
| 1. |
256MB Crucial PC2700 DDR (166/333 MHz) |
60.9 |
|
| 2 |
256MB Crucial PC2700 DDR (180/360 MHz) |
63.1 |
|
| RTCW (640x480
atdemo8) Benchmark Results |
|
Memory (FSB/Memory) |
(FPS) |
Ranking |
| 1. |
256MB Crucial PC2700 DDR (166/333 MHz) |
167.5 |
|
| 2 |
256MB Crucial PC2700 DDR (180/360 MHz) |
174.3 |
|
RTCW confirms what Quake III says at 166 MHz FSB, the Crucial PC2700
has no problems what so ever and at 180 MHz FSB, things are just that much sweeter.
Conclusions
Crucial has done it again. Their JEDEC compliant PC2700 or "DDR333" RAM offers amazing
performance from 166 MHz all the way up to 180 MHz! Like all Crucial memory, their PC2700 DDR
RAM is priced very competitive; at $170 CDN it's some of the least
expensive DDR333 approved RAM around with a lifetime warranty.
While
180 MHz FSB is nothing to be ashamed of, we were a little disappointed that
the Crucial memory wouldn't go higher. Could this be a limitation of
not having heat spreaders perhaps? Probably not, but it might be a good marketing addition
for Crucial to consider adding. The PC2700 DDR memory does generate a bit of heat so a
little cooling couldn't hurt.
If you're a performance user/enthusiast or just use your computer for word processing, you won't be disappointed with the
Crucial PC2700 DDR RAM - just remember you have to be overclocking your
system to take advantage of its full potential!
Head on over to the forums and let us know what you think of Crucial's DDR333 - is
its the performance up to snuff?
Related Articles:
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1. Mushkin Enhanced
High Performance PC2100 DDR RAM
2. Corsair XMS PC2400
DDR RAM Review
3DMark2001 SE
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