Benchmark Machine Setup

Overclockability Tests

Default Settings

This DIMM was meant to run at 6-3-3-2.5 so I decided to test its overclockability with those timings. I also tested the DIMM with the 6-3-3-3 timing used in Crucial's upcoming PC3200 DDR SDRAM DIMMs. This will allow us to see if it can actually run as fast as the PC3200 DIMM. Finally, I tested the DIMM with the tighter 6-3-3-2 timing to see how whether it can run with that timing. Let's take a look at the results :-

With the default timings of 6-3-3-2.5, I managed to push the Crucial PC2700 DIMM to a stable clock speed of 386MHz! That's a 15.9% or 53MHz increase over the rated 333MHz clock speed! Note that when running at this speed, the Crucial PC2700 DIMM will have a bandwidth of 3088MB/s.

When I increased the CAS Latency to 3.0 clock cycles, I expected it to be more overclockable. But I certainly didn't expect it to reach 400MHz, which it did! Even with the voltage left at the default setting of 2.5V, the Crucial PC2700 DIMM was actually capable of running at a maximum stable clock speed of 406MHz! Although the tolerance may be a little narrow, this DIMM has shown that it is capable of running at 406MHz.

Unfortunately, when I tried to lower the CAS latency to 2.0, it wouldn't even boot at the default clock speed of 333MHz. It would only boot up Windows XP at 320MHz and run stable at 316MHz. This is such a world of difference. It goes to show just how much effect CAS latency has on the overclockability of the DIMM.

However, for a PC2700 DIMM with the timing set to 6-3-3 and the default voltage set to 2.5V, the Crucial PC2700 DIMM's ability to overclock to 386MHz @ CAS 2.5 and 406MHz @ CAS 3 is certainly amazing. Now, let's see what happens if we apply a little more voltage to the DIMM...