Mushkin XP2-8500 DDR2 2GB Kit

Introduction

Mushkin is a name well known in the enthusiast community for its high end memory modules, characterised by the trademark jagged spine heatspreader. Mushkin's highly successful Redline series has found itself in many high performance computers over the years and earned itself a reputation as quite a solid performer. Today we look at  the Redline series' little brother in the form of the XP2-8500 2GB DDR2 kit, the fastest kit Mushkin currently have on offer.


Company Background

Taken from Mushkins website :

Founded in 1994, Mushkin is best known for producing “Enhanced” memory modules. Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Denver, Colorado Mushkin provides performance enhanced computer products to users worldwide. Exceptional quality, enhanced performance and unparalleled customer support are what make Mushkin products the best in the industry. Mushkin products include an enhanced power supply line and a complete selection of memory upgrades for desktops, servers and notebooks – we offer something for everyone from business user to gamer. Our enhanced memory products are available in several performance categories from standard to extreme, with our REDLINE series in a class of its own. Our enhanced power supply line offers superb regulation and ripple characteristics, modularity and plenty of power to supply the most demanding systems. With customers including everyone from Apple Computer and NASA to gamers and web browsers, Mushkin knows what is important to customers - enhanced performance with uncompromised quality. With Mushkin you Get More.

Specifications

Frequency:	1066MHz	Latency:	5-5-4-12	Parity:	Unbuffered
		Voltage:	2.2-2.35V	Pins:	240
Density	> > >	Module:	128Mx64	Chip:	64x8

Furthermore, Mushkin offer a lifetime warranty on all their memory products as well as a 30 day compatibility warranty. Unfortunately, there is no mention on their support pages on whether this lifetime warranty covers the modules at voltages above the rated max of 2.35v. As seen in other reviews, this is not an uncommon occurrence and so purchasers might want to look into these things before buying.


As you can see above, the modules utilise D9GMH Micron IC's. These are rated at slightly lower speeds than D9GKX IC's but are known to do better at lower timings. However, these are by no means steadfast rules and so we shall see how they perform further into the review.