Testing (continued):
Up next is Performance Test v6.1 from PassMark. This is a whole suite of benchmarks which can analyze the performance of most of your system's components. Focusing on memory alone provides seven different results to compare, and the composite "Memory Mark" value is shown as an overall indication of the performance. Higher numbers are better for this unitless value.
As with Everest, the results are nearly identical at 1066MHz. Bring the Kingston kit up to its rated speed or higher and the results jump up dramatically.
The final pair of tests to consider are PCMark Vantage and 3DMark06 from FutureMark. 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 the faster you go, the better the scores get. While the previous benchmarks isolated the memory for testing purposes, these tests also benefit from higher clock speeds on the processor and FSB. It generally does take higher speed memory to achieve higher speeds on the processor and FSB, so they all go hand in hand for improving overall system performance.
Taking a look at the numbers from all of the benchmarks, and the way the system handles in normal operation, I can see this kit being able to discourage people from upgrading to a DDR3 system with ease. While I wouldn't recommend a 1GB kit for Windows Vista, the experience really wasn't too bad... But a 2GB kit of this memory would definitely be the way to go.
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