Here is the test rig, and testing methodology:

• Mainboard - Asus P6T Deluxe V2
• CPU - Intel Core i7 920
• GFX – Inno3D iChill GTX 480
• CPU Cooling – Custom WC Setup (Swiftech GTZ Waterblock)
• Memory – On Review
• Disks – 120GB OCZ Vertex, Samsung F3 500GB
• DVD burner - Stock DVDRW
• Case – Modified Antec P182
• PSU – Seasonic M12D 850W
• On Review – Exceleram EP3001A 2GB x 3 (6GB Kit)

Before I dive in with results I tried overclocking the memory, and was amazed by how far this particular kit could be pushed. I was able to take this kit from the stock speed of 1333Mhz all the way up to 1850Mhz while remaining stable!!!

To get this far I had to up the voltage to 1.66v, which while a fair bit higher than the original 1.5v, is a voltage I’d be happy running my modules at 24/7. Even without a heatspreader the modules remained cool to the touch, so there’s no worry of them overheating.

The 6GB Exceleram EP3001A kit gets off to a good start straight away at stock speeds of 1333Mhz, surpassing the 3GB Patriot kit by nearly 3GB/s of bandwidth in both Float and Integer tests. When overclocked, the EP3001A’s increase their lead to over 4GB/s above the Patriot kit.

Triple channel memory really does offer a lot of memory bandwidth, and the overclockability of the EP3001A kit does well to use this to its full potential.
 
Next up are the memory benchmark tests that used to be a part of the Everest suite. This has now been superseded by the AIDA64 suite, but is all the same functionality that you’ve come to know and love from Everest.

The results aren’t as clear-cut for a winner in the AIDA64 benchmarks. At stock the EP3001A’s just take the lead at performance. But overclocked up at 1850Mhz, the Vipers are neck and neck.

It’s worth pointing out that both kits are running at the exact same spec, so these results are really to be expected, and that the extra 3GB in the EP3001A kit doesn’t impact on these benchmarks like real world use might.

Next Page – Conclusion