Tuesday, October 21st 2008
Corsair Releases Tri-Channel DDR3 Memory for X58 Platform
Corsair has announced the availability of two tri-channel DDR3 memory kits for the upcoming Core i7-supportive X58 platform. Corsair claims to have extensively tested these kits for stable operation on various X58 chipset-based motherboards. The kits are value-oriented, and come under the XMS3 series.
There's a 3GB (3x 1GB, model: TR3X3G1333C9) kit, and a 6 GB (3x 2GB, model: TR3X6G1333C9) kit. Both kits operate at 1333 MHz, with timings of 9-9-9-24. The modules use simplistic aluminum heatspreaders, with no fancy DHX cooling mechanisms. This could be attributed to the fact that they are value oriented, and that they could be operating at low voltages of 1.60V, and therefore, small thermal footprint. The 3 GB kit is priced at US $ 167, while the 6 GB kit is priced at $ 316.
Source:
TechConnect Magazine
There's a 3GB (3x 1GB, model: TR3X3G1333C9) kit, and a 6 GB (3x 2GB, model: TR3X6G1333C9) kit. Both kits operate at 1333 MHz, with timings of 9-9-9-24. The modules use simplistic aluminum heatspreaders, with no fancy DHX cooling mechanisms. This could be attributed to the fact that they are value oriented, and that they could be operating at low voltages of 1.60V, and therefore, small thermal footprint. The 3 GB kit is priced at US $ 167, while the 6 GB kit is priced at $ 316.
22 Comments on Corsair Releases Tri-Channel DDR3 Memory for X58 Platform
www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=3426
They are not sure if it is a problem only related to RAM voltage, but apparently they did witness CPUs dying only after few days of operation with 2.0V Vdimm. So if 1.65V is safe and anything above 2.0V will damage the CPU in days, would you use 1.7-1.8V RAM, because they tested it and worked properly in tests that couldn't last more than a few weeks? IMO concerns about the voltage at which the DDR3 modules work are very well founded.
2. To test if a 1.6v kit damages the CPU over time requires..well, some time.
3. All they can test, is stability, and they do that perhaps with memtest86 for a said amount of time.
4. If a 1.6v kit damages a CPU, blame Intel, because it falls well within its 1.65V threshold.
5. If an overvolted kit damages a CPU, blame yourself, not Corsair or Intel.
And I didn't have any problems with any of them. There is no need to doubt Corsair.
They don't need to test it to see if it will damage the CPU or not, they only need to test stability of the memory, follow Intel's warning and use modules under 1.65v.
A-Data Releases Tri-Channel Memory Kits for Intel X58 Platform
As you can see the title does not grant anything and you should not take anything as granted from an announcement. Or do you think A-Data didn't test their modules?? Ask always, as we did, and we were just expecting the response: "Don't worry, they are 1.6V".
EDIT: Oh BTW. Because the tone of your post and because I had no chance to dodge your (:slap:) here you have: :slap::slap::slap:. God knows you deserve them well.
:toast:
alexp999, I didn't see a problem with your comment.
Good to see some companies getting ready for the x58 release, even if the prices suck.
Look, the way I see it, the system integrator is responsible for knowing the specs / requirements and is therefore responsible for acting accordingly. Its very simple, if it violates the tolerances (spec) don’t use it. Also note that while we would all like to see lower voltage DDR3 1333RAM due to the recommended 1.65v DIMM Vcc upper limit for Intel Core i7, not all DDR3 RAM is predestine for X58 boards. There are a number of LGA775 boards that can probably handle 1.7v and higher just fine. Also, finding DDR3 1333 RAM with 1.5v spec and or at or below 1.65 spec isn’t as hard as some people seem to make it out to be. Such in spec 1.5v DDR3 RAM doesn’t even have to be particularly expensive. You can buy 3GB (3x1GB) DDR3 1333 1.5v for under $100 USD.
I don’t really intend to buy any DDR3 1333 RAM with a spec above 1.5v but I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the RAM with higher operational voltage ran fine at lower voltage. Some of the higher voltage RAM may SPD to 1.5v for what its worth.
Even if that’s not the case it doesn’t matter. This isn’t necessarily an issue of buyer beware its an issue of builder / buyer know your stuff and that always applies,….always!
NOW the market is full of DDR3 with voltages well above Intels specs for X58, including newly released ones (announced as X58 tri-channel versions) that are above specs (A-DATA 1.75V) or just in the threshold (OCZ 1.65V). Being those the precedents I find it legitimate to have concerns about that issue, being Corsair or not. I have had many Corsair RAMs and they are of best quality and performance, but they DID use to have a little bit more voltage than other ones in order to achieve better timings/speeds. This of course, does not mean they would do it now, being that now lower voltage is a must, but doesn't mean they SURELY had to be of lower voltage, when other BIG PLAYERS are releasing modules with voltages higher than the requirements (mentioned above). A-DATA and OCZ surely tested their RAM too, but they are above the specs, AND just as Corsair they had no time to test the possible damage that high voltage could cause over the time. And YET they are selling those modules as tested RAM aimed for X58, just as Corsair here. The only way to ensure that, right now, is by following Intel's recomendations, which Corsair did BTW, and that's the difference, the one me and alex (I think) were hoping to see here, not if they were tested RAMS o not. ALL brands sell tested RAMs, but that doesn't mean those modules are free of troubles. It's neither a matter of trusting one company or not, they just can't reproduce the kind of stress that would demostrate if a high voltage could cause any damage in say 6 months, when they only had 2. Some manufacturers (according to Anand) have seen that 2.0V can destroy the CPU in days though. If that's not any indication for you I don't know what would be. So where's the limit? Anything below 2v is safe? 1.9v? 1.8v? I'd say NO. If 2.0 = days, 1.9v = weeks, 1.8v = months. As of now only 1.65v is safe.
And honestly, I don't care how much you trust one company, if it is to the point to blindly buy their tested RAM that according to another company is above te safe threshold. And obviously I'm not talking about Corsair, but many people trust OCZ and A-DATA and I wouldn't be safe running Nehalem with those TESTED modules from them. That's why I asked (implicitly) about the voltage of Corsair's modules. Period.
\end of rant.
And since things only got worse after my polite request to calm down, please don't mind removal of some comments.