| Kingston HyperX 2GB PC2-9200 DDR2 Memory Kit
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Testing (continued):
PassMark's Performance Test v6.1 is up next. This is a whole suite of benchmarks which can analyze the performance of just about all system components, and it will be used here to focus solely on system memory. The composite "Memory Mark" value is shown in the chart below as an overall indication of the performance. Higher numbers are better for this unitless value.
In the test it is apparent that capacity must play a stronger role in the total score. At 1066MHz the 2GB PC2-9200 kit performs about 4% better than the next best kit, and when running at 1240MHz the 2GB PC2-9200 kit performs 5% better than the 1GB PC2-9600 kit despite running 40MHz slower.
The final pair of tests to consider are FutureMark's PCMark Vantage and 3DMark06. The PCMark Vantage suite was run in its entirety and the total score is reported. For 3DMark06 the system was configured to run at 1280x1024, no anti-aliasing, and optimal filtering.
Higher values are better for these unitless results, and again we see that the system memory capacity plays a role. The values may all be close, but the 2GB PC2-9200 kit puts up slightly higher values when the kits are run at the same speed, and then again when overclocked.
The two 1GB kits performed well in tests, but in every day use the limitations became apparent. Windows Vista is known to be a memory hog, and tasks like editing a large number of photos, switching between multiple open desktop applications, and 3D gaming made it clear that 1GB just doesn't cut it. Popping in this 2GB HyperX kit solved those issues while maintaining a high overclock similar to what was achieved on the 1GB PC2-9600 HyperX kit. I might not have been able to push this kit as high in terms of speed, but the performance in benchmarks and real world situations made it clear that it really didn't matter.
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