A Closer Look

The Corsair Vengeance DIMM modules are black with a matte finish, with a rectangular heatspreader covering the entire PCB with a repeating pattern of triangles that start small on the sides and steadily increases in size towards the center.


Laying the DIMMs on the side, the triangle pattern is flush across, adding little for any extra thermal dissipation. The pattern is just for aesthetics.


The Vengeance logo is centered across a bushed aluminium section. The white and yellow lettering is as expected and follows the Vengeance Corsair branding.


On one side of each DIMM module is the identification sticker listing the SKU, rated XMP operating frequency, corresponding voltage of 1.25, and XMP timings. One thing Corsair does well is to included a revision number that quickly identifies which memory ICs are used. Corsair changes this number every time an internal revision is made. So far, this has held true and is appreciated among those looking for specific ICs.


The Corsair Vengeance weighs in at 37 grams on my scale, which is incredibly light and indicates that the aluminium heatspreader is a bit more for show than actual cooling, though I will once again point out that the operating voltage is lower for DDR5, which means this heatspreader is just fine for the targeted frequency.

For Z-height, it is 35 mm rounding up with my calipers. The ideal height for the broadest compatibility with air coolers is 40 mm or below. I also suggest checking with the manufacturer of the air-cooler you intend to use. Often, all you need to do is raise the attached fan; other times, the actual heatsink fin-stack is in the way, preventing the installation of the memory DIMMs altogether.


After taking the heatspreader off, we see that these are single-sided DIMMs with eight 2 GB ICs, which is as expected for a DDR5 32 GB kit since densities increased with this generation. The thermal pad covers the entire length, with a piece on the PMIC as well.


Getting a closer look at the ICs, Corsair is using Micron (IQA45D8BNJ) for this 3.43.01 revision. Currently, Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix are the three suppliers of DDR5 ICs. Pickings are slim, leading to many companies using the same IC packages until supply catches up with demand. The binning process is new as well, leaving many wondering about the best brand for overclocking, and acceptable long-term voltages.


With DDR5, one of the major changes is how the motherboard provides 5 V to the memory module's PMIC, which is then stepped down and split accordingly. No longer is the motherboard responsible for regulating the voltages seen with DDR4.

The PMIC used has the part number P8911Y0-Z001GR-2131KT. Nothing comes up with a quick search for the manufacture. That being said, it is too early to tell how important this will be for overclocking or voltage tolerance outside specifications. We can document it now and revisit it at a later date.