It's great to see how individual memory stacks up against the competition under stock configurations, but we're also going to show how it compares when overclocked. With performance in mind, we're going to compare the maximum overclocked results of the various DDR2 DIMMs we've tested in the past which are listed below. Remember, just because memory is clocked fast doesn't mean it's the best thing for a computer. Timings are also important, and getting the right ratio of both is the real key to performance based overclocking!

Maximum Overclocked Speeds - PCstats Results
Maximum Speed w/ Low Latency	Timings	Capacity	Max Speed	Ranking
Corsair Twin2X2048-6400C4	4-4-4-12	1024MB	1016 MHz
Corsair Twin2X2048-8500C5	4-4-4-12	1024MB	952 MHz
Corsair Twin2X2048-6400C3	3-4-3-9	1024MB	872 MHz
SyncMAX PC2-5300 Express	4-4-4-10	512MB	840 MHz
Crucial Ballistix PC2-5300	3-3-3-12	1024MB	790 MHz
Maximum Speed	Timings	Capacity	Max Speed	Ranking
Corsair Twin2X2048-6400C4	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1104 MHz
Corsair Twin2X2048-8500C5	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1104 MHz
Corsair Twin2X2048-6400C3	5-5-5-15	1024MB	1056 MHz
Crucial Ballistix PC2-5300	5-5-5-15	512MB	1056 MHz
SyncMAX PC2-5300 Express	5-5-5-15	1024MB	904 MHz

With 3-3-3-12 timings, the Crucial Ballistix PC2-5300 DDR-2 RAM does fairly well and almost hits the 800 MHz plateau. Lowering the timings to 5-5-5-15 allows the Crucial Ballistix PC2-5300 memory to fly to a nice 1056 MHz speed.

Good and Reliable, but not Supercalifragilistic...

The odd multiplier Socket AM2 Athlon64 issue is making overclocking a bit more complex on this platform, but I suspect experienced users will pick up on things pretty quickly. In either case, it certainly adds another dimension to consider when overclocking a socket AM2 computer.

Crucial's Ballistix line of memory is enthusiast class memory that is guaranteed to run fast, and it does for the most part. The 2GB dual channel Ballistix PC2-5300 kit that PCSTATS tested retails for $410 CDN ($369 US, £199 GBP) , and while it is not the fastest DDR-2 to have passed through our labs it does offer good solid performance.

You would be hard pressed to notice the difference between this memory and a high speed set of DDR2-800 at stock speeds, but that's always the case.

Overclocking is where enthusiast grade memory really comes into its own, and when pushed to 790MHz with CAS latency timings of 3-3-3-12 the Ballistix PC2-5300 kit comes in fourth among similar capacity modules.

The Crucial 2GB Ballistix PC2-5300 memory performed well in the overclocking tests with very tight timings, putting it in arms reach of DDR2-800 speeds. Loosening the timings to 5-5-5-15 permitted the Ballistix PC2-5300 memory to overclock to 1056MHz on PCSTATS' test platform. Good, but not strong enough to out pace some of those spiffy new Corsair modules. Ultimately the 2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-5300 DDR-2 RAM kit is great memory, but it doesn't quite set itself apart from the enthusiast grade competition when overclocked.

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