Testing:

   Memory modules are all about bandwidth. Tighter timings equate in to more bandwidth and better performance, especially when higher frequency memory modules are used. The Flex XLC is no exception to the rule. Memory modules using 4-4-4-15 timings will score and perform noticeably better than 5-5-5-15 timings. Memory kits with lower latencies tend to cost more than others and the Flex XLC modules are capable of both timings under different speeds.

Starting with the 975X chipset platform, This board's particular BIOS uses the CPU Bus Speed to overclock the system as there are no manual memory frequency adjustments. So, as the CPU Bus Speed was increased, so too did the DDR2 memory frequencies. The memory was capable of performing perfectly at 4-4-4-15 memory timings up to 1020MHz before random instabilities began to appear.  No voltage increases to the CPU or memory helped this particular platform achieve anything higher.

The 975X motherboard increases the memory frequencies as the processor Bus Speed is increased. Motherboards with the 1066 memory divider can be increased individually.

The FOXCONN has yet to release any BIOS updates that help it exceed the stable 350MHz CPU Bus Speed barrier. If you have an Asus P4B Deluxe, P5W DH Deluxe, or ABIT AW9D-MAX, you will definitely be able to push the CPU Bus speed higher in the area of 420 to 440MHz resulting in higher memory frequencies and memory timings, thus allowing the Flex XLC memory stretch its legs.

Maximum CPU FSB Overclock

Maximum Stable Memory Overclock

When the Flex XLC memory was tested on a 680i motherboard, things changed very dramatically in regards to performance and BIOS options. The 680i is a more overclocking friendly platform because you can overclock the processor independently by increasing its Front Side Bus without the system increasing the DDR2 memory frequency. Like wise, increasing the memory frequency alone will do almost nothing unless the CPU Front Side Bus is increased which is why I chose to set the memory to its maximum 1280MHz frequency with 5-5-5-15 timings and began to raise the processor's Front Side Bus. As the E6600 Front Side Bus was increased from its stock 1066MHz in 50MHz increments, the 680i platform graciously began scaling back the 1280Mhz memory frequencies automatically to certain points where the system became unstable. At each point, the memory frequency was adjusted manually to regain stability and retested. When the memory frequency finally reached 1100Mhz, the memory timings 4-4-4-15 could be applied and continued to be stable under stress.

At 800MHz Cas4 1066FSB, the processor Bus is not overclocked. The rest of the scores reflect the processor overclocked to better show the memory bandwidth gains.