Since the introduction of DDR3 memory a few years back, with the Core 2 Duo/Quad CPU's, along with the P35, X38, X48 , and the P45 chipsets, we, as users, have never really seen a significant increase in our memory bandwidth over using DDR2 memory. It wasn't until Intel introduced the Core i7 CPU's and the X58 chipset with their capability of handling not just Dual Channel, but Tri Channel capabilities, that we finally saw a significant bandwidth increase with our memory. But with these newer CPU's, Intel also has imposed a memory voltage limitation of 1.65 volts max to the memory modules. Intel states that going over this amount of voltage can and will damage your CPU because of the way the IMC (Integrated Memory Controller) handles the memory.

Crucial, a very well known memory manufacturer, has come up with a solution within Intel's low voltage limitation of the Core i7 CPU's. It's a three piece set of memory modules rated at 1.5 volts and 1333MHz with a timing of 9-10-10-20. Before you think that there's no way memory with such high latencies could ever perform, well, I'm here to tell you that these little beasties do.