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The test

Testing memory is not the most exciting occupation but here is what we did and why: In many instances, memory is capable of functioning to the point where a system can POST. That is, the read / write tests initiated by the BIOS are absolved without too many problems. The next stage is to fully boot into Windows98, a process that involves many read / writes to the system registry. Even if this stage is absolved successfully, there is still the question of how the memory fares in graphics applications involving AGP DiME (direct memory execution) and DMA (direct memory access). Particularly the last separates the good from the bad or borderline as we will show below.

Compatibility

The Corsair DIMMs were running flawlessly on all systems tested which include Abit BH6 (BX chipset), ASUS P2B (BX chipset), Shuttle HOT 603 (AMD 640 chipset), Shuttle AV61 (VIA Apollo Pro 133 / 693 chipset) AMD Fester (AMD 750 chipset) MSI MS6167 (AMD 750 chipset). Where applicable, the systems were loaded with 2 x 256 MB DIMMs plus 1 x 128 MB DIMM to a total system SDRAM capacity of 640 MB. Memory timing settings were set to the shortest latencies, that is 2:2:2 (RAS to CAS, CAS, refresh cycles) and under no circumstances were any instabilitites observed.

As mentioned briefly above, modern PCs do not only depend on the memory-to-CPU transfer but also on direct memory access by the individual subsystems (DMA) and one of the most demanding is the AGP DMA and direct memory execution (DiME) of the graphics processor by utilizing the system memory. This processing accurs in parallel with data access in applications running directly from the main memory.

Compared to this, a POST or even loading Windows is a relatively harmless task, depending on the amount of R/W checks during POST as a factor of the BIOS configuration.

We used the Shuttle AV61 for overclocking because this board offers the most flexible memory settings. The Corsair DIMMs were stable during POST and boot-up into Windows at 133 MHz (CAS delay 3), however, occasional lock ups in business applications did occur. Incoming would cause a lock up in virtually every trial.

At 124 MHz memory speed, Incoming would finish occasionally while there were no problems in business applications.

At 117 MHz, the DIMMs were running flawlessly all applications tried at CAS delay = 3 but occasionally lock up at CAS-2 settings.

Up to 112 MHz, there were no problems whatsoever with even the most aggressive memory timing settings.

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