Setup and notes
Basic setup
- Intel Pentium 4 2.26GHz 533FSB CPU
- SOYO SY-P4I i845PE motherboard
- ATi Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB (324/620)
- TwinMOS 256MB PC2700 CL2
- Crucial 256MB PC2700 CL2.5
- Nanya 256MB PC2100 CL2.5
- Alpha 8942T cooler
- IBM 40GB 7200 RPM hard drive
- Pioneer 105 DVD/RW
- 420w Samcheer PSU
- Samsung 181T 18.1" TFT
Software
- Windows XP Professional Build 2600.xpclient.010817-1148
Notes
I want to demonstrate the difference that faster memory can make on a platform that can readily use it. The i845PE chipset supports both PC2100 and PC2700 memory through the use of a CPU-to-memory ratio setting of either 1:1 (PC2100) or 4:5 (PC2700). To see how each module performs, given their basic differences, I'll run a stock 2.26GHz P4 533FSB CPU with Nanya memory at 133MHz (1:1 ratio, 2.5-7-3-3 timings). Crucial PC2700 at 166MHz (4:5 ratio, 2.5,7-3-3 timings) and the TwinMOS at 166MHz (4:5 ratio, 2-7-3-3 timings). This should tell us if a) faster memory matters and b) if CL2 is truly better than CL2.5. We'll finish off by looking at how high the two PC2700 sticks can go.
