Review: The world's fastest desktop RAM? Corsair stakes a claim with DOMINATOR GT 2GHz

by Tarinder Sandhu on 16 February 2009, 08:20 4.0

Tags: DOMINATOR DDR3-2,000 CL7 6GB, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Corsair

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Say hi to red-top DOMINATOR GT

The magic, if you will, is with the latencies - or lack thereof - for the triple-channel pack. Guaranteed to run at 2,000MHz with 7-8-7-20-2T timings and 1.65V on select Core i7 motherboards. The underlying Elpida Hyper ICs appear to confound the usual belief that latencies rise along with memory speeds. Work it out for a second and actual clock/cycle latency is wonderfully low for DDR3.

Taking the cream of the crop is the 2GHz kit, but the same ICs will be used on DOMINATOR GT DDR3-1,866 kits, along with the same latencies and voltage. These, presumably, will be the modules that don't test perfectly at 2GHz.

Cooled in a multitude of ways, the red fins can be removed so that you can, if it's your wont, fashion cooling appendages of your very own. An over-the-top AIRFLOW fan, as found on the DDR3-1866 DOMINATOR pack, is bundled, too. Thinking farther along the line, you might have seen news of a TEC-cooled waterblock option, and it will be available later, most likely from the Performance Store, as well.

Taking a look


The red 'go-faster' line indicates that this is Corsair's flagship DOMINATOR GT. However, the heatspreaders haven't changed to accommodate the higher frequency. Rather, they're the same as found on the DOMINATOR DDR3-1,600 and DDR3-1,866 modules that we have taken a look at previously.

Note the speed, timings, and voltages.

The chunky heatspreaders' fins can be removed via the three bolts.

And the back. Nothing new here.

Packaged together, as a trio, they'd look good on a Foxconn Bloodrage motherboard, we reckon.


Lined up against some regular DOMINATOR DDR3-1,600 and 1,866 modules, the red-topped sticks stand out.
 

Supplied with the aforementioned DOMINATOR GT-branded AIRFLOW fan that clips on over the modules and uses a couple of 60mm fans to keep the ICs cooler, cutting-edge memory ain't cheap. Available in 3GB and 6GB packs, GT is available exclusively from Corsair's Performance Store. Priced at $299.99 and $579.99, plus taxes, prices are wonderfully premium, but that's to be expected at the ultra-high-end of the market.

Corsair's modules are backed up by a limited lifetime guarantee. By keeping a close eye and looking at user posts on an eclectic range of forums over the past eight years, the company's support infrastructure is well above average for the industry.