Introduction

It is no surprise that DDR5 has taken the spotlight alongside Intel with the recent launch of the 12th Generation Intel Core processors. This is not without a mixed reception among PC enthusiast. Many have speculated leading up to the launch that the first generation of DDR5 would suffer initially from a high entry price point and increased latency, negating any benefits it may bring, thus ranking it a tier below any current DDR4 offerings.

After a few weeks, the dust has settled and we can get a clearer picture of what became of the mysteries surrounding DDR5 performance. TechPowerUp already has an article with an in-depth comparison of DDR4 and DDR5 performance with Intel's Alder Lake for those who want a bit more than what this review offers on its own in that regard. The quick article recap is that DDR4 still offers plenty, and recycling memory for a new system isn't much of an issue.

This of course begs the question of why any consumer would currently choose DDR5 under these circumstances. This isn't a simple question with a single answer owing to the sheer number of applied applications utilizing memory in different ways. The current benefits of switching over are higher operating frequencies, lower voltage, higher density modules, and select games and applications seeing a performance uplift, albeit small. Future benefits will build upon the foundation laid out, as was evidenced with DDR3 and DDR4. DDR4 started out as DDR4-2133 with 4 GB per module. As of today, that has increased to 16 GB at a blistering DDR4-4800. The long-term benefits of the transition to DDR5 are clear, which is why companies like Corsair are already supporting consumers who want to take the plunge.

Corsair is no stranger to enthusiast-grade products as it has been in the computer hardware market for many years with gaming peripherals, flash drives, and SSDs. Of course, let's not forget about the highly successful memory division. Choosing the right memory for a computer is a critical step in any system build. It is important to understand what impact it will have on the applications you are going to use. The Corsair DDR5 lineup is currently comprised of the Vengeance and Dominator lines. Both offer 4400 MT/s and 5200 MT/s speeds with configurations of 32 GB and 64 GB. In this review, we will cover the Corsair Vengeance (2x 16 GB) kit rated for 5200 MT/s.


The Corsair Vengeance kit I have for review today keeps steady in the middle of the pack by offering 38-38-38-84 timings at 1.25 V for its XMP profile. It should be noted that DDR5 is not compatible with DDR4 slots even though they both share the same 288 pins or vice versa. Those who try will be unable to install the DIMM due to the notch having been moved to avoid it from happening. Without further ado, let's now see how this Corsair Vengeance DDR5-5200 kit stacks up to the competition!

Specifications