This article examines the performance of cooperative MIMO relaying specifically focusing on data rate and power efficiency, comparing techniques such as Maximum Ratio Combining (MRC) and Equal Gain Combining (EGC). It presents a three-node system model and discusses the optimal power allocation methods to maximize signal-to-noise ratio at the destination. Simulation results indicate that MRC tends to outperform EGC, particularly in low SNR conditions, while also highlighting the trade-offs in power distribution between source and relay in cooperative communication setups.