Corsair Memory, a leading producer of high-performing memory modules, has unveiled its new series of memory modules called “Dominator” with modified heat-spreader and ball grid array (BGA) memory chips. The top-of-the-line product in the family works 1111MHz, currently the world’s highest speed-bin for DDR2.
“The DHX XMS2 Dominator series is a culmination of all the latest performance module research and design conducted by Corsair. This highly proprietary module design has the most advanced module thermal dissipation technology in the industry, providing unparalleled performance and reliability,” said John Beekley, vice president of applications at Corsair.
The new XMS2 Dominator modules feature Corsair’s new dual-path heat eXchange (DHX) radiators that cool down memory chips from the back and from the front, like any conventional heat-spreaders, as well as take the heat away from print-circuit board (PCB), which incorporates some additional elements to remove heat from BGA memory chips. In addition to that, Corsair offers to install Dominator airflow fan that provides extra cooling through airflows.
Overall, the module has four heat sinks, two connected to the memory devices and two connected to the PCB. These heat sinks were designed specifically for the personal computing environment, with fins oriented both in latitudinal and longitudinal orientation to take advantage of air provided by CPU fans as well as case fans. The result is a module with superior thermal characteristics that will run cooler than a module with stamped or mesh heat spreaders, and thus have greater reliability and over-clocking capability.
Currently Corsair offers two flavours of XMS2 Dominator memory modules: PC2-8500 (1066MHz, CL5 5-5-15, 2T) and PC2-8888 (1111MHz, CL4 4-4-12, 2T) without and with additional airflow fan, respectively.
The new DHX XMS2 Dominator series and the Dominator airflow accessory will be available at retailers by the first week of September. Expected retail prices for these modules are from $600-$650 for the TWIN2X2048-8888C4DF and $380-$400 for the TWIN2X2048-8500C5D. The Dominator Airflow is expected to retail for under $25.
Comments currently: 7
Discussion started: 08/29/06 06:38:00 AM
Latest comment: 09/07/06 12:44:54 AM
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1.
Probably good memory but mostly just marketing fluff.
[Posted by: Bornfree | Date: 08/29/06 06:38:00 AM]
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What more do you want?
Corsair makes great ram without a doubt, but the extra heatsinks and all the other fluff are just that and will not give incredible real world performance increases.
[Posted by: Yogibear | Date: 08/29/06 10:05:35 AM]
2.
I agree with the comments here. These DIMMs are most likely using the same top grade Micron modules that are currently binned for DDR2 Twin 800 MHz 6400[C3] and DDR2 Twin 1066MHz 8500[C5] with the addition of the fancy heat spreaders. I think Corsair is crazy to think they will sell for such ridiculous prices of $600+ for just adding heat spreaders. Currently the two top binned DDR2 mentioned above are selling for about $400 to $500 and only the extreme gamers and overclockers are willing to even buy these. Imagine Corsair now trying to sell for even more $ for the same product repackaged. And only the smart ones will see and know that they can overclock the current DDR2's to and above the Dominator series default speed quite successfully without the need of fancy heat spreader.
I think if Corsair was thinking correctly they would have done this with the top binned modules from the very beginning for a reasonable price not much beyond current prices and sold more then they will for this fluffy overpriced Dominator series.
[Posted by: stratos | Date: 08/29/06 11:18:15 AM]
3.
I wonder how this new heat spreader design will will perform compared to their big XMS PPO Heat spreaders...
[Posted by: Kage | Date: 08/30/06 12:03:45 AM]
4.
this is a total gimmick :( pay an extra $50 for worthless heat sink
[Posted by: Panther V | Date: 08/30/06 03:35:20 AM]
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I would have to agree. They would have to provide a very tangible benefit to your OC to be worth the extra cash.
Corsair ran some tests a little while ago...
Standard Corsair stamped heatspreaders and the OCZ XTC heatspreaders performed the same - giving you a measly +3MHz to your overclock over good quality bare modules. The Big-ass pro heatsink increased the overclock by about 1 or 2MHz... A little better but definatly not worth the price premium. Especially considering that 2MHz to your mem OC is gonna count for maybe 5 or 10MB/s of extra bandwidth ... Insignificant.
I am however, still curious as to how much better these new heatsinks are compared to the XMS PRO heatspreaders...
[Posted by: Kage | Date: 08/30/06 03:22:38 PM]
5.
For sure I would like to see how well these perform. But paying $600 for the top DIMMS would be a hard thing for anyone to do and feel that it would be worth it. Unless of course you have a lot of money and it wouldn't matter much. LOL.
The Heat Sinks will probably help give some extra performance as well as allowing higher voltages if that would be helpful. If you added a cooling fan kit on top you might actually see some decent gains in speed as long as the Mobo chipset is up to helping push the bandwidth. Maybe Micron is getting more performance out of newly developed modules and these are a sneak peek. Could be they are still the same we have now. Hope to see more at a lower price if they really do perform. :)
[Posted by: pwrpc | Date: 09/07/06 12:44:54 AM]
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