I got the chance to review 2GB of Corsair Twin2×2048 8500C5 memory, sadly the review had been published for 2 days, afterwhich the website went down due to database problems of our old cms we where using at the time. And I totally forgot to backup the review (and the complete database). This made me decide to to it all over again. So here they are 2 sticks of Corsair 8500C5 memory modules stated to work at 1066Mhz? Well lets see what they are made of.
I got the chance to review 2GB of Corsair Twin2×2048 8500C5 memory, sadly the review had been published for 2 days, afterwhich the website went down due to database problems of our old cms we where using at the time. And I totally forgot to backup the review (and the complete database). This made me decide to to it all over again. So here they are 2 sticks of Corsair 8500C5 memory modules stated to work at 1066Mhz? Well lets see what they are made of.
The Twin2X2048-8500C5 is a 2048 MByte matched pair of DDR2 SDRAM DIMMs. This part delivers outstanding performance in the latest generation of dual-channel DDR2-based motherboards. It has been tested extensively in multiple DDR2 motherboards to ensure compatibility and performance at its rated speed. This memory has been verified to operate at 1066MHz at latencies of 5-5-5-15. The Twin2X2048-8500C5 comes with Enhanced Performance Profiles (EPP), the open standard for performance module SPD’s jointly developed by Corsair and NVIDIA. EPP SPD’s on Corsair modules allow users to automatically configure EPP enabled motherboards with aggressive memory performance settings, for maximum memory and system performance.
Features
- 2048 Megabytes of DDR2 memory
- Two matched CM2X1024-8500C5 modules
- SPD includes Enhanced
- Performance Profiles (EPP) which
- allow automaticoverclocking to aggressiv perfmance settings
- Implemented using 64M x 8 DDR2 SDRAMs
- 100% tested at 1066MHz in high performance DDR2 motherboards
- Legendary Corsair reliabilityand service
- Lifetime warranty
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What is EPP?
Enhanced Performance Profiles (EPP) is a memory technology for PC’’s delevoped by NVIDIA, primarily designed to make overclocking easier. It is a feature of the nForce 5 and nForce 6 chipsets. Corsair, along with NVIDIA, were the primary parties in developing the specification. EPP is only available for DDR2 memory modules. It requires support of both the motherboard and the memory module. It uses unused space on the SPD. EPP handles many factors, including memory timings to potentially improve performance. Data can be used by the motherboard’’s BIOS to automatically configure the system. EPP can handle clock speed, CAS latency, tRCD, tRP, tRAS, memory voltage, and command rate. In addition, a fully enhanced profile will be able to handle drive strengths, fine delays, setup times, write recover time, and tRC. It can also enable the user to overclock the computer’’s CPU and memory at the same time.
A closer look
The two green pcb’’s have Micron D9GMH chips on them, I would have taken off the heatspreaders but they are very easily damaged so you just have to take my word for it. The heatspreaders have a simple yet effective design. The modules are tested to work at 1066Mhz (not on all motherboards) and have pretty loose timings. The timing stated on these modles are 5-5-5-15 2T but there is a better setting that lets them work even faster 
Let’’s do some testing
Test system used for this review;
- CPU: Intel E6600 at 2,4Ghz (when testing at 1100Mhz, cpu is oc”ed at 3,3Ghz)
- Motherboard: ASUS Striker Extreme 680i SLI
- DDR2: 2GB XMS TWINX (2×1024MB)
- VGA: XFX 8800GTS 640Mb PCIe
- HDD: 200Gb Samsung Spinpoint SATAII
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Memory Bandwidth Benchmark to ScienceMark 2.0
ScienceMark 2.0 has a benchmark included called "MemBench" which tests many different algorithms of copying integer data from one stream or vector (called "x" for instance) to another stream or vector (called "y" for instance). Memory latency and bandwidth are definitely important to programmers, however they are typically not the limiting factor in code performance. When people build a code to perform a preconceived function, thought must be given as to "how" they intend to achieve the goal at hand. This means taking into consideration access patterns to memory, how to minimize or localize these accesses through construction of the storage structures, and maybe even making algorithm changes that increase the fpu or alu computation in exchange for lessening memory consumption. The later tactic seems contrary to increasing code performance, however considering the great disparaging difference in the CPU clock speed vs. that of the memory bus, it often nets a sizeable increase in performance.
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The reason why I did”nt post 5-5-5-15 2T 800Mhz results is because running them at 4-4-4-12 1T 800Mhz will give you more performance.
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F.E.A.R Benchmark
It’’s a shooter experience where the tension of dire expectation is almost as intense as the actual combat itself. It’’s the perfect game for late nights, drawn blinds and low lights.
Call of Juarez (Direct X 10)
This first-person shooter’’s unannounced surprise brilliance is actually a very Wild West thing. Picture the scene: the PC saloon at midday. Prey on the honky-tonk piano. Quake IV downing whiskey at the bar. Someone walks in. The place freezes: a stranger. Everyone considers him. "Hey," sneers Gun, "your wolves look mighty funny." The stranger turns… and blows the GTA-with-cowboys game away. "Who the hell’’s that?" someone whispers. It’’s Call of Juarez. It’’s the best cowboy game the PC’’s ever seen.
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Conclusion
It was my first encounter with the EPP feature and I must say, it’’s very easy to use if want to overclock on the safe side. The feature allows you to play with the settings while EPP does the rest. It took me just a few minutes to achive a 40% overclock, making the cpu run at 3,3Ghz and the memory running at 1100Mhz. These modules do have a lot more headroom for overclocking in my opinion but your motherboard must be cappable to handle them.
As pricing goes Froogle.com shows a listing that ranges from $168.00 to $300.00 (then again it’’s from a crazy eBay”er, that still lives in the stone age). One thing is for sure…. These modules a wurth any peny. Looking for some decent 1066Mhz memory, then 2GB of Corsair TWIN2X2048 8500C5 will do the trick.
Pros:
- Excellent performance
- Very Stable
- Low latency when overclocked
- Overclocks very good.
- Works great with 4-4-4-12 1T timings
Cons:
- Does”nt like to get to much voltage, 2,3v seems to be it’’s max.
Rated 4 out of 5
We would like to thank Corsair for making this review possible.
More information can be found at the Corsair website.
Got any more questions? Talk about this review on our forum.
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