Corsair XMS 1GB DDR SDRAM Memory Module

Has a little kick, but others surpass its ability

Strengths: It works. =)

Weakness: Performance questionable

Out of the box, the memory looks quite nice, white colored memory. Corsair chose to use light and cheap heat spreaders, not the "platinum" spreaders they advertise but that's O.K. because I won't run the RAM at its maximum potential, although close. Old computer specifications: Pentium 4 2.4C w/ Thermalright SP-94 on a Vantec Tornado Asus P4C800-D Motherboard Corsair TWINX1024-4400C25PT Coolmaxx...
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Out of the box, the memory looks quite nice, white colored memory. Corsair chose to use light and cheap heat spreaders, not the "platinum" spreaders they advertise but that's O.K. because I won't run the RAM at its maximum potential, although close.

Old computer specifications:
Pentium 4 2.4C w/ Thermalright SP-94 on a Vantec Tornado
Asus P4C800-D Motherboard
Corsair TWINX1024-4400C25PT
Coolmaxx 430W PSU

New computer specifications:
Pentium 4 3.4E w/ Thermalright SP-94 on a Vantec Tornado
Asus P4C800-E Motherboard rev 2.0
Corsair TWINX1024-4400C25PT
Antec NeoHE 430W

Previously before both of these specifications, I've used a pair of 1 GB AIB PC-3700 (466 MHz) with 2.5-3-3-6 timings. I used a CPU:Memory ratio of 2:3. Worked well, although wasn't as good of an overclocker (like some of OCZ's PC-3200s , which are simply amazing). I bought the new ram (2.5-4-4-8, recommended voltage of 2.75 volts at max frequency) in hopes of using a ratio of 1:1.

However, not only does this memory is unable to overclock much beyond it's rated 550 MHz (275 FSB), but also it didn't work well in my computer at 1:1. It would crash in windows if I fed it voltage below its rated 2.75 volts (I tried both 2.55 and 2.65). Games like Counterstrike would crash, not to mention more demanding games. Clearly, heat is not an issue because I'm getting nice temps with my Vantec Tornado. Also, it probably was not my CPU's or mainboard's problem because my CPU has handled much higher frequencies in the past (up to 300 FSB with only minor changes in Vcore), and the P4C800 is one of the best overclocking boards available. I tried raising the voltage to 2.85 vots but it barely helps. It is possible that voltage fluctuations in my not-so-good power supply is causing the problem, but problems this flagrant shouldn't be occuring.

Right now I'm using a 4/5 cpu memory ratio (which is supposed to perform better than 2/3 if both cases are running at the same FSB). Insignificant difference in latest versions (at time of review) of 3dmark01, 03, and 05. At 1:1 ratio none of the 3dmarks would even bench.

I thought that my review had been biased due to a unstable power supply or perhaps a bad batch of chips. It turned out to be the latter. I've read rave reviews on the chips and obviously better grade memory were used in those reviews. This pair I got however, is unmistakably a bad overclocker.

Go for OCZ's PC-4800 Platinum Elite Eidtion instead! It's only more expensive and but has both tighter timings and can run at higher frequencies.

By oof_ow - May 15, 2005

better than ocz gold series

Strengths: overclocking capacity. cool heat spreader

Weakness: nothing

I had a head-to-head comparison of this memory with ocz gold series. both are dual channel. benchmark (sandra 2005) scores shows better performance when corsair is used (I am not sure why and how this could happen). Temperature wise, this is cool, compared to the ocz, when 192MHz FSB is used.

By tumorim - May 3, 2006