Verdict: Low latency timings, but it's expensive and very power-hungry.

This is the second time we've tested a set of Redline XP2-8000 DIMMs, the first time being our last DDR2 Labs test.

Even though the model number hasn't changed, the actual chips that Mushkin uses have changed. The latency timings remain the same, but the minimum voltage has been upped from 2.3V to 2.35V. As the Redline XP2-8000 requires so much voltage, it runs very hot, despite being officially rated as PC2-8000, and is specified to work at up to 1GHz at 4-5-4-11 timings. However, low latency timings will only benefit a Socket AM2 system, as Core 2 systems perform barely any faster with low-latency RAM.

Despite needing 2.35V to run stably, the Redline XP2-8000 operated stably when we increased the voltage to 2.4V. At that setting, we were able to overclock it to 1.12GHz at its default latency timings, and 1.168GHz with the timings raised to 6-6-6-18.

While the Redline XP2-8000 provides a fair amount of headroom for overclocking the CPU, it's completely outclassed by more modern DDR2 kits that don't require such a high voltage. Unfortunately, Mushkin RAM is very expensive in the UK, so given the Redline's ridiculously high price - more than double that of most PC2-8500 kits - we can't see any reason to recommend the Redline XP2-8000.

• Cases - 21st November 2008
• Motherboards - 24th October 2008
• Gaming Headsets - 26th September 2008
• Dream PCs - 24th September 2008
• Headphones - 12th September 2008
• Media PC components - 22nd August 2008
• PSUs - 14th July 2008

• OCZ Core Series 30GB - Hard disks / storage
• Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB - Hard disks / storage
• Asus EAH4870 TOP - Graphics cards
• Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro - Sound cards
• Multiwinia - Games
• Zotac GeForce GTX 260² - Graphics cards
• Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 - Graphics cards