Hours after Kingston Technology revealed its DDR2 memory modules validated to work at 750MHz frequency, another top manufacturer of advanced memory modules for overclockers and enthusiasts – Corsair Memory – announced its memory products certified to operate at 800MHz, the world's record speed-bin. The firm said the modules were “optimized for the latest NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition platform.”

Corsair’s new XMS2 6400 memory modules which are available immediately can function at 800MHz with CL5 5-5-12 latencies with 1.9V voltage. The manufacturer, however, programs SPD of the memory modules for CL5 5-5-15 settings. The XMS2 6400 are available in 512MB modules and in 1GB dual-channel kits that consist of two memory sticks. Pricing of XMS2 6400 memory products is unclear.

It is unclear how CL5 relaxed timings affect performance in actual applications; DDR2 memory at 533MHz used to demonstrate performance similar to that provided by DDR SDRAM at 400MHz due to far more aggressive latency settings of the latter in spite of tangibly increased clock-speed of the former. Currently Corsair also ships PC2-5400 (667MHz) DDR2 memory modules with CL3 2-2-8 timings, which may offer competition to its PC2-6400 products with CL5 5-5-12 settings.

The XMS2 6400 products are intended strictly for overclocking, as NVIDIA’s nForce4 SLI Intel Edition core-logic officially supports only dual-channel 667MHz DDR2 memory. Furthermore, as another memory maker indicated, few mainboards powered by Intel’s current premier 925X and 925XE chipsets can function stably with 750MHz memory. Corsair said it could reach 800MHz DDR2 memory speed even on NVIDIA’s reference nForce4 SLI Intel Edition mainboard, which may be an pointer that the company’s latest chipset suits well for enthusiasts, who push their computers to the limits by overclocking processors, memory sub-systems and graphics cards.

Later this quarter Intel Corp. is projected to release its 955X and 945P/G chipsets that officially support dual-channel 667MHz memory, up from dual-channel 533MHz DDR2 supported by current i925X and i925XE core-logic sets, which may add some options to overclockers seeking for Intel Pentium-based platforms.

It was not officially revealed which DRAMs are used on Corsair’s XMS2 6400 memory modules. So far only Elpida Memory officially declared plans to produces chips capable of operation at 800MHz speed in May, 2005.