We will now take a look at the performance of the overclocks we just saw in various benchmarks. We have thrown in some results from a DDR2 setup for comparison, here is what that setup consists of for hardware:

• Motherboard: Abit IP35-Pro
• Processor: Intel C2D E6850
• Processor Cooling: Thermalright Ultra 120 w/AD1212MS-A73GL 2050RPM/80.5CFM
• Memory: Buffalo FireStix 2x1GB PC2-9600
• Power Supply: Silverstone Zeus ST56ZF
• Video Card: XFX Alpha Dog 8800GTS 512MB
• Additional Fans: 120mm AD1212MS-A73GL 2050RPM/80.5CFM
• Hard Drive: 1 x Seagate 7200.9 80GB SATAII 8MB cache
• OS: Windows XP SP2 (with recent updates)

The above setup will be shown as the transparent blue bar (2) in all of the benchmark graphs including the sample graph to the right. For recent DDR3 reviews we have seen comparisons to DDR2-1200 5-5-5 and DDR2-1000 4-4-4 on this setup. For today's look at the Patriot Viper Extreme kit, we have decided to go with a DDR2-1120 4-4-4-8 comparison as to keep the CPU frequency the same as it is for the specified settings of the Viper Extreme. This is a very hefty overclock for 4-4-4 timings and there aren't a lot of systems out there running memory at 560MHz with timings this tight but we thought we would really put the Patriot memory to the test. It should provide some very interesting comparisons right down the result graphs.

As always, the grey bar in the graphs (1) will indicate the rated frequency and timings of the Patriot Viper Extreme memory. For these grey results, all but the primary memory timings are left on AUTO in the BIOS. This will best simulate the likely settings that an average user will get with this memory. For those that like to tweak their RAM, you will likely be overclocking it past ratings anyway. Of course the FSB has to be increased because of the maximum 1:2 FSB/memory ratio available so the FSB is raised to 467MHz but the CPU multiplier has been lowered to 7X, again, to help keep this set of results as close to stock settings as possible. Plus, on an XMP equipped motherboard, this would be the identical scenario.

The last three red results in the graphs (3 / 4 / 5) are reserved for the overclocked settings we just had a look at. We decided to run the benchmarks at the absolute maximum frequency that each timing set could run stable at. This of course eliminates any head to head comparisons but will give us an idea of what each timing set is fully capable of. For all of the benchmarks, appropriate lengths are taken to ensure an equal comparison through methodical setup, installation, and testing. The following outlines our testing methodology:

a/ Windows is installed using a full format.
b/ Intel Chipset drivers and accessory hardware drivers (audio, network, GPU) are installed followed by a defragment and a reboot.
c/ Programs and games are then installed followed by another defragment.
d/ Windows updates are then completed installing all available updates including .NET Framework followed by a defragment.
e/ Benchmarks are each ran three times after a clean reboot for every iteration of the benchmark, the results are then averaged.

We have listed the benchmark versions on each graph as results can vary between updates. We are also sure to receive each set of results from identical systems so all system settings are the same throughout testing.

The only settings that change are the tRD (Performance Level). We just recently decided to adopt a variable tRD timing in the benchmarks with our last memory review. We decided that instead of trying to homogenize results with an equal tRD we would use a tRD that would provide more realistic performance differences as each overclock was likely to be run at a different tRD out in the wild.

In case you don't know already, tRD or Performance level as labeled in Memset, is a chipset timing that can drastically influence benchmark results. A lower tRD tightens the chipset timings and increases performance while a higher tRD loosens timings and lowers performance. Naturally, the lower the tRD, the higher it is to run at higher FSB frequencies. This is why we see the 6-6-5 results with a tRD of 5 and the 8-8-8 results with a tRD of 7. It is likely that most people won't be able to run a tRD of 5 at the FSB required for DDR3-1896 but will be able to at 401MHz FSB which is all that is required for DDR3-1604. So, with all of the boring content out of the way, let's have a look at how the Patriot Viper Extreme perform.