Installation:

   Well, I'll say it just like I've said in my many recent memory reviews, installing this memory kit is just like installing any other memory kit. The only real thing you need to be aware of is installing them in the correct slots for dual channel mode. You can do that by simply consulting your motherboard manual, or even the manufacturers website. In my particular situation, using the ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe, I could put both sticks in either the yellow slots, or both sticks in the black slots for correct dual channel operation.

   When installing a completely new memory kit, I also find it helpful to reset your CMOS before booting up for the first time with a completely different memory kit. Especially if you were currently in some strange overclocking mode when you last shut down. It just might make your life easier.

Here's the motherboard information and also the memory SPD according to CPU-Z:

Enhanced Performance Profiles:

  Developed as an extension to the traditional Serial Presence Detect (SPD) found on today's high performance DIMMS, Enhanced Performance Profiles allow memory manufacturers to integrate additional module performance data in the unused portion of the JEDEC standard SPD, allowing compatible motherboards to read and take advantage of added performance capabilities. EPP brings simplified overclocking success for entry level enthusiasts, and access to more advanced memory specifications and a higher recovery point for hard-core overclockers.

  To take full advantage of the Enhanced Performance Profiles, motherboards designed with a special BIOS can recognize the presence of EPP settings. Once these settings are enabled, the system boots directly into the memory's specified settings and takes immediate advantage of the increased performance.

   The best way to show you what "SLI-Ready" and "EPP" will look like to you is to show you! So here you go.

Enable/Disable SLI Ready	SLI Ready Options
Set CPUOC Options	CPUOC MAX & Options

   If you've got the right memory, and the right motherboard, you'll see the above "SLI-Ready Memory" options in your BIOS. I reset my CMOS just before installing this kit so all timings, voltages, etc were all on default. Here's what CPU-z tells us about the 3 "SLI-Ready" settings.

CPU-Z EPP Settings:

   So let's think about this for a second, the OCZ PC2-7200 Platinum XTC is a memory kit rated for 900mhz, so why is the "overclocker friendly" EPP settings less than 900mhz? I have no idea. I could speculate as to say that since the AM2 only officially supports 800mhz DDR2 and therefore 880mhz is indeed overclocking it, and quite easily. Yea, yea...that's the ticket. Moving on...

Sisoft @ 880mhz:

   Since "High Frequency" got us down to 808mhz, I won't include the Sandra for that one. Also since "Optimal" and "High-Performance" are the exact same, I'll be showing you one memory bench for those two. Here it is..

   880mhz isn't too shabby, but it's also not ground-breaking either. However I wanted to show you all since that is what I got using the pre-determined Enhanced performance profile settings. How about we crank this up a notch to the rated 900mhz speeds and see where we can go from there? Yea. I thought so. LET'S GO! ( please turn e-page now :-)