It's great to see how individual memory stacks up against the competition under stock configurations, but we're also going to show how it compares when overclocked. With performance in mind, we're going to compare the maximum overclocked results of the various DDR-2 memory modules PCSTATS has tested in the past which are listed below. Remember, just because memory is clocked fast doesn't mean it's the best thing for a computer. Timings are also important, and getting the right ratio of both is the real key to performance based overclocking!

Maximum Overclocked Speeds - PCstats Results
Maximum Speed w/ Low Latency	Timings	Capacity	Max Speed	Ranking
Corsair DOMINATOR Twin2X2048-8888C4DF	4-4-4-12	1024MB	1260 MHz
Corsair DOMINATOR Twin2X2048-8888C4DF*	4-4-4-12	1024MB	1244 MHz
Patriot PDC22G9200ELK	4-4-4-12	1024MB	1170 MHz
OCZ PC2-7200 Platinum SLI*	4-4-3-15	1024MB	1142 MHz
Corsair DOMINATOR Twin2X2048-9136C5D*	4-4-4-12	1024MB	1142 MHz
PNY XLR8 D22GX85XL-5	4-4-4-12	1024MB	1120 MHz
Mushkin XP2-6400	4-3-3-10	2048MB	1066 MHz
SuperTalent T1000UX2G4	4-5-4-12	1024MB	1044 MHz
Corsair Twin2X2048-6400C4*	4-4-4-12	1024MB	1000 MHz
Patriot PDC22G8000+XBLK	4-4-4-12	1024MB	1000 MHz
Corsair Twin2X2048-8500C5*	4-4-4-12	1024MB	977MHz
Crucial PC2-6400	4-4-4-12	1024MB	890 MHz
Corsair Twin2X2048-6400C3*	3-4-3-9	1024MB	888 MHz
PNY D22GX93XLP-5 XLR8	4-4-4-12	1024MB	N/A
Maximum Speed	Timings	Capacity	Max Speed	Ranking
Corsair DOMINATOR Twin2X2048-8888C4DF	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1300 MHz
PNY D22GX93XLP-5 XLR8	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1280 MHz
Patriot PDC22G9200ELK	5-5-5-12	1024MB	1260 MHz
Corsair DOMINATOR Twin2X2048-8888C4DF*	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1244 MHz
Corsair DOMINATOR Twin2X2048-9136C5D*	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1244 MHz
PNY XLR8 D22GX85XL-5	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1220 MHz
OCZ PC2-7200 Platinum SLI*	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1219 MHz
Corsair Twin2X2048-8500C5*	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1200 MHz
SuperTalent T1000UX2G4	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1160 MHz
Patriot PDC22G8000+XBLK	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1155 MHz
Corsair Twin2X2048-6400C4*	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1142 MHz
Mushkin XP2-6400	5-5-5-15	2048MB	1130 MHz
Crucial PC2-6400	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1080 MHz
Corsair Twin2X2048-6400C3*	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1066 MHz

* - denotes tested on ECS PN2 SLI2+ platform

When it comes to overclocking, Mushkin's XP2-6400 memory does pretty well with tight timings. This RAM hits 1066 MHz with 4-3-3-10 timings. When you consider that's from a 4GB kit, things start to take perspective and it's great to see a true high performance large capacity memory kit. Lowering timings to 5-5-5-15 does not allow the Mushkin XP2-6400 to overclock much higher, and it tops off at 1130 MHz.

High Capacity Memory Shifts the Desktop Paradigm

Microsoft Windows Vista requires a lot of memory to run smoothly, in fact the way things are shaping out it looks like you'll need at least 2GB of system memory. As with previous operating systems, the total recommended memory size will probably increase in the near future.

If you want to jump the gun and equip your computer with more than 2GB of memory, there are quite a few options. Mushkin offers an enticing set of XP2-6400 memory. Not only do you get a ton of memory, 4GB worth in fact, you are also getting a high performance kit that runs at DDR2-800 and keeps tight 4-3-3-10 timings by default!

The Mushkin XP2-6400 memory retails for around $635 CDN ($533 USD, £282 GBP). If you look at the prices of comparable 2GB memory kits and double them up, the Mushkin XP2-6400 is a good deal.

The Mushkin XP2-6400 opts for custom FrostByte heatspreaders which help protect the memory from physical damage, and keep it cool. At high speeds and high voltages, the heatspreaders do the job.

The stock performance of the 4GB Mushkin XP2-6400 is very good. This RAM keeps up with some pretty quick 2GB memory kits. We were interested to see if there was any sort of penalty associated with the WindowsXP memory controller addressing the 4GB memory, there was none. In terms of overclocking the 4GB Mushkin XP2-6400 memory did; with tight 4-3-3-10 memory timings the 4GB Mushkin XP2-6400 memory kit reached 1066 MHz! Loosening the timings to 5-5-5-15 allowed the memory to break the 1100 MHz mark, again pretty good.

Cost is usually not as big a concern for enthusiast computer geeks and true gamers, so if you need a lot of memory Mushkin has probably the fastest 4GB memory kit on the market right now. If you are thinking about moving to Microsoft Windows Vista and need a lot of memory, Mushkin definitely delivers the goods!

Find out about this and many other reviews by joining the Weekly PCstats.com Newsletter today! Catch all of PCSTATS latest reviews right here.

Related Articles
Here are a few other articles that you might enjoy as well...
- Super Talent T1000UX2G4 PC2-8000 Memory Review
- Corsair DOMINATOR Twin2X2048-8888C4DF Memory Review
- Corsair DOMINATOR Twin2X2048-9136C5D DDR2-1142 Performance Memory
- Corsair Twin2X1024-8500 C5 PC2-8500 DDR-2 Memory Review
- SyncMAX Express PC2-6400 DDR2 800 Memory Review