Warning! Corsair XMS 3200c2 v5.1 may stink!!

The more time that passes I get more irritated with this stuff. I ordered a pair of XMS 3200c2 back in late 2004 when it was a well recommended, good reputation brand. I paid $200 for these and as luck would have it all of a sudden they switched to some cheap garbage chips and that's what I got with the v5.1. The RamDude from the Corsair support site told me my particular lot were Promos-5 Rev A which absolutley stink! I can't even overclock them above 210MHz with 2.85v(my mobo limit)! Now the Egg has them for a way cheaper price,($135) most likley due to all the negative feedback. I just wanted to warn people that this particular line may not live up to it's reputation any more. I really got the shaft!!!
Anyway I want to buy a new pair, I was wondering if I could get some suggestions. I'm looking for 1GB(2x512) around $200, that I can run 1.1 on my Neo2 at about 250MHz with decent timings. My board can only do 2.85v, and I think I'm still too green to attempt a volt mod, what would be a good replacement for these pieces of junk? I will keep them as spares.

Mate,

You could always return them to Corsair if you are not satisfied.
The RAM guy over at houseofhelp.com is the offical Corsair Rep. I'm sure your concerns will be addressed.

Hope this helps,

S-N

The best available ram for use with relatively low voltage would have to be a TCCD based stuff. The least expensive used to be the Patriot/PDP or the PQI ($220 and $250) but lately, both Mushkin and Kingston have had theirs on sale and the OCZ ($240) is also priced better. G.SKill will typically be the higher priced and among best binned stuff. The Kingston was available a week or so ago at Directron for $170 per gig, but is up to about $190 now (plus shipping), the Mushkin was at newegg for just under $210 yesterday...now its on sale for $180, after a $20 rebate. Awesome price on the Mushkin!

Here are some links for newegg product pages.

Mushkin:
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146355

OCZ
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146890

PQI - PC3200 and PC4000 (2.5-3-3-7) are both TCCD
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141194
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141138

At this moment I've got a set of the PQI PC4000 running 216 at 2-2-2-6 (2.7v) Memtest clean (at 218 I got 2 errors on the 5th loop of test #5). I'm just trying these out for the first time on this mobo (MSI K8N Neo2 Plat).

Patriot
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220033

Another good option would be the Ballistix, available at the egg for just under $220 for two 512 sticks.

This review covers both Ballistix and TCCD based ram.

http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2386

This one covers the Patriot ram.

http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2390

Well, that should give you some choices to ponder.

Super Nade said:

Mate,

You could always return them to Corsair if you are not satisfied.
The RAM guy over at houseofhelp.com is the offical Corsair Rep. I'm sure your concerns will be addressed.

Hope this helps,

S-N

Click to expand...

Yeah I read on their forum the sometimes do that, if you aren't satisfyed they will replace. But I saw one guy on there did just that, for the same reason, awful v5.1, and they sent his replacements as........ you guessed it, two new sticks of awful v5.1! If I get the option I may just do that and see how my luck is and see what I get. But, who knows how long the process would take, and my rig would be down as I have no spares unless I borrow one of the 2x512 sticks out of my parents Dell,(they may not even notice )or just go ahead and buy some new stuff. (I really should get a new job first ) But I was lookin at these OCZ EL Platinum Revision 2 they are reportadly TCCD, but can they pull the "Ol' Switheroo" like Corsair did and give me some junk chips. I don't want to get ripped off again, anyone have any recommendations? Are these OCZ EL Platinum Revision 2 gonna be the TCCD as long as I order the "Revision 2" that the Egg has listed?

[Edit]Reefa_Madness, thanks for the input, I'll check those links out! [Edit]

Well, I soon will be kissing the Corsair XMS goodbye. I ordered a pair of these TCCD bad boys,
PDP Patriot PDC1G3200+XBLK !
These are rated and tested by PDP to run at:
PC3200 (400MHz) 2-2-2-5-1T 2.6-2.7v
PC3500 (436MHz) 2-3-3-6-1T 2.6-2.7v
PC3700 (466MHz) 2-3-3-6-1T 2.7-2.8v
PC4000 (500MHz) 2.5-3-3-7-1T 2.75-2.85v
PC4200 (533MHz) 3-4-4-8-1T 2.85-2.95v
So I know I can run at those speeds/timings at the very least, beyond that would be the bonus.
Thanks again, Reefa_Madness for the links, I found these to appear to be a good amount of bang for the buck, And to think it's only a little more then what I paid for the disappointing XMS 3200c2 sixmonths ago. Now I can see what my rig is really capable of doing, not to mention a good addition for when I pick up a San Diego.

Glad to be of assistance. Good luck with the Patriot ram.