FEATURED Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 2x8GB DDR4-3600 CL18 - CMT16GX4M2C3600C18

[Woomack]

Recently we can see a flood of 3600 CL18 memory kits. Most of them are rated at 3600 18-22-22 while some are at a bit tighter timings. All that is related to new memory IC but also AMD Ryzen 3000 premiere. New AMD is working the best at memory clock between 3600 and 3800, but the maximum guaranteed frequency is 3600.
Corsair decided to release AMD and Intel memory kits, which at the first look, are the same. Both have the same clock and main timings, but the difference is in additional timings, so in short, slightly changed XMP.

Today I will present Corsair Dominator RGB, which is rated at DDR4-3600 18-19-19 1.35V but is also designed for Intel 100/200/300 chipsets. Since recently AMD is more interesting then I will test it on the Crosshair VIII Impact motherboard with the X570 chipset.

The memory has one XMP profile which works without issues on various motherboards. Memory itself is based on Micron E-die but can also be found with Samsung or SpecTek (these 2 brands are listed under the same product number on motherboards QVL).
Below is quite a long stability test at XMP settings.



Here is how Thaiphoon Burner sees the memory. As we can see, there are also thermal sensors that are usually not available in cheaper memory series.



Whatever is not in this thread then can also be found in my previous Corsar review - https://www.overclockers.com/forums...o-RGB-2x8GB-DDR4-3600-CL18-CMW16GX4M2D3600C18
Both memory kits are based on the same Micron E-die. However, in both can also be found Samsung B or other IC that meets the XMP profile.

 

[Woomack]

All below settings are stable in various tests or longer stability test. 4800 setting is my daily setting just because it's about as fast as 3800 which on current CPU doesn't work well. Also, 4800 looks good

DDR4-3600 18-19-19 1.35V / XMP

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DDR4-3600 16-19-19 1.35V

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DDR4-3733 16-19-19 1.35V
My current CPU doesn't like 3800/1900 1:1 setting but the memory works fine at 3800 too.

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DDR4-4400 18-24-24 1.40V

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DDR4-4666 18-24-24 1.45V

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DDR4-4800 18-26-26 1.55V

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The memory is capable to run at 5000+ but my CPUs can't. The maximum boot with my CPUs is 4933 but Windows is crashing. The same with better Micron E kits that I have. Maybe will add some more results once I find a better CPU.

One thing to add. Corsair Vengeance 4800 CL18 kit costs ~$700 right now. The one in this review costs about ~$170 but Vengeance Pro RGB costs ~$100. All depends on the store but all these kits are based on Micron E-die which can overclock the same (or at least can be as lower clocked series can also be based on Samsung, Hynix or Spectek IC).

If you have any requests regarding this memory kit then please let me know soon. I may switch kits in 1-2 days but if anyone wish to see some settings then I can test them.

 

[Nefestor]

Thanks for the review! Nice results!

Soo, for Ryzen CPUs the best RAMs are 3733mhz or 3800mhz (CPU dependency) and to get this frequency with tighter timings i need a mini itx motherboard or can get strong result with a 'normal' motherboard?

Higher clocks needs this kind of motherboard, but what about a lower clock plus lower timings?

 

[Woomack]

I have similar results on ASRock X570 Extreme4, so ATX, Gigabyte X570 I Pro WiFi, so ITX and ASUS Crosshair VIII Impact so DTX (like ITX but 2 PCI slot size wide instead of 1). On all these motherboards, I could stabilize memory at 4800, but as I mentioned, results in games or other things are about the same as at 3733-3800 CL16.
Not all CPUs like 3800 memory/1900 IF(can be FCLK) clock. It also depends on the motherboard. For example, my 3700X runs at 3800/1900 on Gigabyte, but on ASUS (which supposed to be top overclocker) is randomly crashing at 1900.

In real, the difference between 3600 CL16 (even 16-19-19) and 3733/3800 CL16 or even CL14 is so low that I don't know if it's worth to spend money on anything that at all cost will run at the tightest timings. For example, there are G.Skill Neo memory kits. 3600 CL16-19-19 has Hynix IC and is about 40% cheaper than the 3600 16-16-16, which is on Samsung IC. Results in pretty much everything are like +/-1% or 1 FPS (in games that already have 100+). Even 3600 CL18 kits are not really slow. The main problem with this platform is the limited memory controller and its internal bandwidth. I have no idea how the Threadripper will act with higher frequency memory, but for now, everything at the higher clock (higher than 3800) is more for a sport to see how high the memory will go.
It doesn't change the fact that if your memory can't run at 3800, then there is still a chance to get nice results at 4600+ with similar performance.


Added XMP stability test and Thaiphoon Burner screenshot with memory details. Photos will be added one day in not so far future

 

[maxfly]

Thanks Woomack! I can appreciate how time consuming ocing memory can be. Lots of solid info and great results, those ics are very impressive.

 

[Woomack]

The clock is more impressive than the benchmark results I know that this memory (and 3 other kits that I have) can make 5000+ but I hit a wall on multiple CPUs at ~4800-4866. Like in this review, 4800 is 100% stable, it's actually daily setting right now, but 4866 has already problems with stability and 4933 can't even boot. I have better Microns too and the situation is exactly the same. I'm considering 3950X or maybe a new TR but I doubt that quad-channel will run at 4800+.

 

[Mandrake4565]

I agree Woomack, based on clock speed alone, I find it impressive that there are kits now able to run 4800+. I'll also add I like that you are able to do this on an AMD based setup as well.

 

[fzaman92]

Help With Timings

Hello!

I have the same memory with the same speed and timings, but in a 4x8GB configuration.

I'm using a X570 Crosshair VIII with a Ryzen 9 3950X.

I would like to achieve the 4800MHz overclock but I was wondering if you can provide input on how you got it that far?

Would you be so kind to provide your timings and settings in the BIOS?

Also, is that voltage at 4800MHz safe to run 24/7?

Thank you.

 

[Woomack]

I already replied in another thread so here only an info that 1.50-1.55V should be safe for 24/7. It also depends on used IC but I noticed that Microns at too high voltage simply don't want to boot so it's really hard to damage them.