Overclocking MethodologyWe are trying something new in this review of the Corsair Dominator GTX2 modules. We figured that since the memory was already specified to run at the internal memory controller (IMC) punishing frequency of DDR3-2250, that trying to push beyond those clocks for 24/7 stability was profitless. In memory reviews of the past, we have demonstrated that memory overclocks are of the least important factor in overall system performance using traditional programs as the measuring stick. After DDR3-1600, for most anything but competition type benchmarking, memory really doesn't play a massive role in performance.  With this in mind, we are going to limit the overclock stability testing to that of single Super Pi 32M. This is in no way, shape, or form intended to mimic 24/7 daily operation stability. This methodology for testing stability is directed more towards how the memory will be used in a benchmarking environment. This is personally the first thing I do with any kit of new memory in order to understand how it scales with voltage and timings. Single 32M Super Pi stable is an excellent gauge for what memory can handle as far as benchmarking is concerned.  Generally 3D Mark stability is the same or better. It is quick and relatively consistent in dictating exactly what a kit of memory is capable of.
The charts on the next two pages are straight forward enough that only a couple seconds of examination will be required to understand the information contained within them, but we would still like to outline how we go about overclocking. As the example chart to the right outlines, we will be testing the memory at 1.65v, 1.70v, and 1.75v vDIMM. We wanted to test at 1.80v as well but there was concern for damaging the memory above 1.75v and wanted to ensure we didn't degrade the memory at any point during the review process. Not only do we test the memory at the three voltages, but we will also be testing various timing sets. Together, this gives us a great idea of how the memory scales with both timing, and voltages.
The cooling on the processor for all of our single 32M Super Pi overclock testing in the next two sections came by way of a single stage phase change CPU cooler, the Chilly1 unit listed in the previous section. This helps eliminate CPU limits in the memory overclocking; we will however, likely still see limits other than the memory on both setups. The OS used for these sections will be Windows XP SP3. The last section is an all out Extreme Overclocking bonanza of sorts. We basically used this kit for various sessions with the CPU and GPU's under LN2 and will outline each setup in that section. That should cover it, so let's move on and see how the Corsair Dominator GTX2 modules shake down.
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