Mushkin XP2 8000 Redline 2 x 2GB DDR2 Review

Getting the most out of the memory that is installed in high performance computers usually comes at a cost. That cost is the voltage needed for the results. Many times, the higher the voltage applied to the DIMMs, the better they perform, to a point. The Mushkin XP2 8000 Redline modules are no different. Whereas 2.3 or 2.4 volts usually is a good, even point on DDR2 memory, these did not want anything higher than 2.05 volts. Used to the "give 'er a bit more Johnny" school of thought, I tried 2.2 volts and did not get the desired increase I was after. So I settled on 1.98 volts for the final overclock. The Redlines ended up giving me 562MHz, 62MHz over the stock speed of 500MHz. I can hear the nay sayers jeering that 562MHz is low for DDR2 DIMMs. You have to realize that this is a four gigabyte set of modules. So 562 MHz is pretty decent and even better when the price point comes into play.