Testing:

Where the performance gap increases is when the frequencies begin to scale higher that the memory can make better use of the 790i's BIOS. Remember, this kit is built with better IC bins than some of the older kits, so there's going to be some gain.

(Note: * P35 and X48 could only provide a 1900 MHz stable memory frequency. The Nvidia 790i provided 2000 MHz.)

Games reveal essentially the same thing from chipset to chipset. Obviously, any extreme performance based DDR3 motherboard will provide a very playable experience whether at lower or stock frequencies, assuming you have a graphics card. 

(Note: * P35 and X48 could only provide a 1900 MHz stable memory frequency. The Nvidia 790i provided 2000 MHz.)

Now, users with the Nvidia based chipsets have the great option of Linking or Un-Linking their memory and processor's Front Side Bus. This BIOS setting allows you to manually set the memory to 2000 MHz right from the start. This is not the case with any current Intel motherboards. The FSB of the processor has to reach that extreme 2000 MHz FSB just to allow the memory to match which is where the bottle neck occurs when trying to reach the memory's stock frequency.

Currently, every 790i SLI Ultra such as the one used here should be 2000 MHz capable without issue. However, while the Link/Un-Link BIOS feature makes obtaining the frequency easy, it doesn't mean that every 790 can support a 2000 MHz FSB and memory frequency simultaneously, even with a drop in the multiplier. With this test board, the memory could handle 2000 MHz and higher as long as the FSB wasn't increased much past 1900 MHz which required extra voltage to remain stable. It'll come down to your motherboard and its BIOS mainly.

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