Mushkin Blackline PC3-16000 3x4GB Review

RHKCommander959 - September 27, 2011
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Testing:

Testing memory is done with several benchmarks in the OCC test suite. The benchmarks include PCMark Vantage, Geekbench 2.1, Super Pi 1.5, Sisoft Sandra 2010, and Batman Arkham Asylum. The CPU is kept as close to the stock speed of 2.66 GHz as possible by reducing the CPU multiplier. Using BCLK along with the memory multiplier allows us to set the memory speeds. Hopefully this kit will have some headroom. All testing is performed on Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit on the test rig listed below.

Testing Setup:

Processor: Intel Core I7 920 200x18 3.6GHz
Cooling: Noctua NH-U12P SE 1366
Motherboard: ASUS P6T Deluxe OC Palm Edition
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 998990 PC3-16000 9-11-9-27 2000 MHz
Video Card: XFX HD6970
Power Supply: Mushkin 1000 watt Joule Modular power supply
Hard Drive: 1 x Seagate 1TB SATA
Optical Drive: LG DVD-RW
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
Case: Cooler Master HAF 932

Comparison Modules:

Mushkin Redline 996805 6-8-6-24 1600MHz
G.Skill Pi Series 7-8-7-24 1600 MHz
Mushkin 998687 8-9-8-24 1866 MHz
Corsair Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D 8-8-8-24 1600 MHz
Kingston HyperX T1 9-9-9-27 1600 MHz
Mushkin Blackline 998677B 7-7-7-20 1333 MHz
Patriot Viper II Sector 7 9-9-9-27 1800 MHz
Kingston HyperX H2O PC3-16000 9-10-9-27
OCZ PC# 17000 Flex EX 12GB 10-10-10-30
Corsair Vengeance 12GB 9-9-9-27 1600 MHz

CPU-Z: This application shows us the settings that we have chosen in the BIOS. Items shown in this application include CPU speed, bus settings, motherboard manufacturer, BIOS revisions, memory timings, and SPD chip information.

CPU-Z

Task Manager: We use this utility to show physical memory, kernel memory, page file, and processor usage.

Task Manager

Overclocking:

Overclocked settings:

Processor: Intel Core i7 920
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 998990 9-11-9-27 2105 MHz

Using the XMP profile, the suggested QPI voltage was 1.40V. But, in my case the memory controller wasn't happy until I gave it 1.45V. Once that issue was patched, the memory ran perfectly stable at stock, operating warm but not hot. The memory would tighten up some, but the CAS latency didn't like to go down to 8 over 1850 MHz, however, 8-9-8-27 was fully stable at 1805 MHz and 9-9-9-24 was stable at 2000 MHz. Overclocking was easy but my i7 920s IMC couldn't keep up, so I had to settle with 2105 MHz which required 1.5375V QPI.

The maximum memory speed for each set of modules when overclocked is a measure of how well the modules ran on this test system. As such, your results may differ in either a positive or negative way based on the capabilities of your hardware. That said, your mileage may vary!

The benchmarks used in this review include the following:

Benchmarks: