Original Link: https://www.anandtech.com/show/1148




Today, Corsair officially introduces the PRO series of XMS memory. All of the new PRO series modules feature a new cast aluminum heatsink and flashing LED “activity lights”. According to Corsair, the following modules will be immediately available:
  • TwinX1024-4000PRO — matched pair of 512MB, DDR500 modules
  • TwinX1024-3200C2PRO — matched pair of 512MB, DDR400 modules
  • CMX512-4000PRO — 512MB, DDR500 module
  • CMX512-3200C2PRO — 512MB, DDR400 module
We will be taking a closer look at the improved DDR500 memory in a 1GB kit. In our DDR500 roundup in Searching for the Memory Holy Grail — Part 2, Corsair was competitive, but was not the best-performing memory in the roundup. With the new 4000 PRO, we will be comparing Corsair’s second generation DDR500 to the earlier Corsair TwinX1024-4000 and the best DDR500 modules from our recent tests.



As you can see, the Pro modules are taller, at 1.75" than regular XMS memory. This is most likely to allow room for the LED array that shows memory activity. The cast aluminum heatsink has fins that Corsair claims increases surface area by 95% compared to standard aluminum ramsinks, which should increase the cooling ability. There are also 18 LED’s in 3 different colors — green, yellow, red — which show the level of memory activity.

Certainly, the new flashing LED’s will give another option to case modding. Those who prefer side windows and an attention-grabbing appearance will welcome the activity LED’s. The flashing 3-color display puts on quite a show compared to the more conventional memory designs.



Corsair tests the DDR500 modules in an Asus P4C800 motherboard and the modules are programmed to JEDEC 3200 (DDR400) values There is no official standard yet for DDR500, but all of the manufacturers seem to be using the 875/865 chipset motherboards to verify their high-speed performance. There is frankly no real need for DDR500 on the current fastest Athlon chipsets, since neither the chipsets nor the Athlon CPUs have shown any capability of reaching DDR500 performance levels. While this may change with the introduction of Athlon64, the DDR500 and high-speed memory phenomenon is, for now, an Intel chipset playground — primarily related to the Intel 875/865 chipsets.

With the TwinX1024-3200C2PRO, Corsair tests performance in both an Asus A7N8X nForce2 Ultra 400 board and the P4C800 Intel 875 motherboard. This looks very sensible since Athlon fans will more likely need DDR400 to DDR433 memory for best performance.



Performance Test Configuration

The Memory testbed is the same used in Searching for the Memory Holy Grail — Part 2 and Mushkin & Adata: 2 for the Fast-Timings Lane. All test conditions were as close as possible as those in our earlier memory reviews.

 INTEL 875P Performance Test Configuration
Processor(s): Intel Pentium 4 2.4GHz (800MHz FSB)
RAM: 2 x 512MB Corsair TwinX4000 PRO (DS)
2 x 512MB Mushkin Level II PC3500 (DS)
2 x 256Mb Adata DDR450 (SS)
2 x 512MB Adata PC4000 (DS)
2 x 512MB Corsair PC4000 (DS)
2 x 512MB Geil PC4000 (DS)
4 x 256MB Kingston PC4000 (SS)
2 x 256MB Kingston PC4000 (SS)
2 x 512MB OCZ PC4000 (DS)
4 x 256MB OCZ PC3700 GOLD (DS)
Hard Drives 2 Western Digital Raptor Serial ATA 36.7GB 10,000 rpm drives
in an Intel ICH5R RAID configuration
PCI/AGP Speed Fixed at 33/66
Bus Master Drivers: 875P Intel INF Update v5.00.1012, SATA RAID drivers installed, but IAA not installed
Video Card(s): ATI 9800 PRO 128MB, 128MB aperture, 1024x768x32
Video Drivers: ATI Catalyst 3.6
Operating System(s): Windows XP Professional SP1
Motherboards: Asus P4C800-E (875) with 1.010 Release BIOS

Corsair is very clear that their PC4000 PRO is aimed at the Intel 875/865 user. They consider the better memory for an Athlon user to be their new PC3200 PRO. For that reason, performance on an Athlon nForce2 Ultra 400 was not tested.

Corsair TwinX1024-4000PRO Specifications


 Corsair TwinX1024-4000PRO Memory Specifications
Number of Dimms & Banks: 2 DS
Dimm Size 512 Mb
Total Memory 1 GB
Rated Timings 3-4-4-8
Rated Voltage 2.75V Test Voltage,
Maximum Voltage Not Specified

Test Settings

The following settings were tested with Corsair TwinX1024-4000PRO:
  1. 800FSB/DDR400 — the highest stock speed supported on 875/865 motherboards.
  2. 1000FSB/DDR500 — the specified rating of the memory modules we were testing.
  3. Highest Stable Overclock — the highest settings we could achieve with the memory being tested.



Test Results

To test overclocked stability, we used the very demanding Gun Metal 2 — Benchmark 2, which pushes systems with its DX9 routines. To be considered stable for test purposes, Gun Metal, our Quake3 benchmark, UT2003 Demo, and Super PI had to complete without incident. Any of these 4, and in particular Super PI and Gun Metal, will crash a less-than stable memory configuration.


Corsair TwinX1024-4000PRO — 2 x 512Mb Double-Bank
Speed Memory Timings
& Voltage
Quake3
fps
Sandra UNBuffered Sandra Standard
Buffered
Super PI 2M places
(time in sec)
400DDR
800FSB
2-3-3-5
2.65v
322.33 INT 2847
FLT 2832
INT 4847
FLT 4806
130
500DDR
1000FSB
2.5-3-4-6
2.75v
395.9 INT 3282
FLT 3312
INT 5920
FLT 5973
105
539DDR
1078FSB
3-3-4-7
2.85v
422.00 INT 3559
FLT 3543
INT 6311
FLT 6313
99

The new Corsair 4000 PRO performed significantly better than its rated 3-4-4-8 specification. In fact, at DDR400, it allowed the fastest timings we have seen with DDR500 memory, which is a remarkable accomplishment.

According to information provided by Corsair, the SPD on the XMS4000PRO modules sets the best timings for the memory speed settings. While the Corsair SPD settings at DDR500 and 539 provided performance that was similar to our tests, the Corsair timings for DDR400 were far too relaxed. For best performance at DDR400 to DDR450 range, you should manually set memory timings.



We do not know whose memory modules Corsair is using in these new 4000 PRO modules. The new cast aluminum heatsink is glued to the memory modules using thermal adhesive. There is also the added complexity of the top LED’s, which makes it very difficult to look at the memory chips without destroying the module. Corsair has not told us the chips used, and it appears they do not want end-users snooping at what many in the memory industry regard as trade secrets.



Performance Comparisons

Performance of the Corsair TwinX1024-4000 PRO was compared to all of the memory recently tested in Searching for the Memory Holy Grail — Part 2 and Mushkin & Adata: 2 for the Fast-Timings Lane. Memory performance was compared at DDR400, DDR500 (the rated speed for most of the modules), and the highest stable overclock we could achieve that would run Gun Metal 2 Benchmark 2, Quake 3, UT2003, and Super PI to 2MM places.

Results are compared for Quake 3, Sandra UNBufferred Memory Test, and Super PI. SiSoft Sandra Max3 reports 2 results for each memory test – an Integer value and a Float value. Results reported in our charts are the result of averaging the INT and FLOAT scores, which are normally close in value. INT and FLOAT scores were added and divided by 2 for our reported score.




DDR400 Test Results






DDR500 Test Results






Highest Memory Test Results






Final Words

Corsair’s new PRO Series memory provides some unique choices in quality memory. They are the first Memory Modules to provide top-mounted LED’s that show memory activity in each of the memory banks. Frankly, it is difficult to think of a practical use for the LED array, except possibly to tell you the module is mounted correctly in the slot or your computer is on. The LED grabs attention, and that is probably the real reason we are seeing them. With memory LED’s, you can visually announce to the world that you own some of the best memory available. As case modders have proven, they are a market willing to spend money, and the new Corsair PRO memory will likely become the case modder’s preferred memory until other manufacturers release LED memory.

The important feature, however, is how this expensive Corsair PRO performs. Corsair has an enviable reputation of delivering some of the best memory performance in the industry, and gimmicks are just that if performance doesn’t match.

The TwinX1024-4000PRO kit we tested performed much better than the Corsair XMS4000 memory that we tested just a few weeks ago. Of the 10 modules tested, Corsair 4000 PRO is among the top 3 performers in virtually every test we ran at DDR500 and at the highest overclock of DDR539. While Corsair still does not quite match the overclocks we could achieve with OCZ DDR500 or Geil Platinum4000, they are much closer than Corsair’s previous DDR500. The matched CMX512-4000PRO modules also perform at significantly better timings at DDR500 to DDR539 than specification, which is the pattern also found in the best DDR500 modules. Based on DDR500 performance alone, we would have a hard time choosing among OCZ, Corsair, and Geil.

At DDR400 — the memory spec for Intel 875/865 boards — Corsair 4000 PRO is the only DDR500 that can actually run at a fast CAS2 memory timing. At 2-3-3-5 timings, it is, in fact, just as fast at DDR400 as Corsair’s recently introduced 3200 PRO. It appears Corsair has made a different trade-off than other DDR500 manufacturers, and it is a tradeoff we applaud. This DDR400 performance from a DDR500 module is very impressive and hopefully, the first of many similar modules. In fact, in many of our tests at DDR400, Corsair 4000 PRO results are in the same league with OCZ 3700 GOLD and Mushkin PC3500 Level II. The OCZ GOLD and Mushkin L2 are neither rated as DDR500 modules, but they have a reputation for providing very fast DDR400 performance and reasonable 1:1 overclocks. The ability of Corsair 4000 PRO, a true DDR500 memory, to perform at these levels is unique for now.

If your goal is the highest 1:1 overclock you can achieve, then OCZ PC4000 or Geil 4000Platinum should be your choice. If you want the fastest DDR400 memory performance you can get and a reasonable overclock, then Mushkin 3500 Level II or OCZ 3700 GOLD should be your choice.

However, if you want it all — great timings at DDR400, top performance at DDR500, and a reasonable compromise on the top overclock you can achieve above DDR500 — then Corsair TwinX1024-4000PRO should be your choice. The Corsair CMX512-4000PRO modules and the matched modules in the TwinX kit are the only DDR500 that we have tested that come close to Universal High-Speed memory for the 865/875 platform. They even make sense for Athlon fans who want decent DDR400 performance now and a hedge for that future Socket 939 that will handle regular unbuffered memory.

We have heard that Corsair 4000 PRO is the first of many “Universal” modules that will soon appear from other manufacturers and that is certainly great news. But for now, Corsair 4000 PRO is the only Universal high-speed memory.

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