Hi Nate,
I just wanted to ask you a few questions about Corsair's Value Select memory. According to a posting on the RamGuy forum VS is a downgraded XMS DIMM that failed the cert. testing at a higher speed. By that I mean that an XMS chip that fails the cert process at the PC3500 level is downgraded to a PC3200 VS chip/kit. I can't, of course, get them to confirm this, but my theory is that in some cases the VS 3200 might in fact be better than the XMS 3200 because it may have failed the certs for 3500 by a very narrow margin. I asked Corsair if they could give me the timings , other than CAS 2.5, for the VS1GBKIT400, as I could not find it published online. They responded by saying they do not post those numbers and will not say other than all settings are by SPD. I would love to see a review or get any info you have that pits the TWINX1024-3200c2 kit against the VS1GB400kit. If my theory is true XMS would not sell as well, but I sure would like to know if my hunch is correct or if my newfound knowledge about memory and how it works is flawed in some basic way.
Thank you,
Merlin
Value select VS. XMS
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Immortal
This is true of many manufacturers, same with the CPU and GFX card market
Because such a thing isnt new, what makes you think that all P4 2.4C CPU's arent actually downgraded 3.2Ghz parts, even thought they ran fine at 3.2ghz?
It is all due to market demand. if the consumer wants more of one thing, the manfufacturer will supply. Market wants more 2.4Ghz, Intel will downgrade their 3.2Ghz by locking the multiplier at a lower value. (same with GFX cards except they lock pipelines AND lower core speeds)
The same concept is true of RAM, if some chips fail, they will downgrade, but more commonly, they are downgraded to fill market demand.
In the end its all to do with luck, wether u get one thats truly been downgraded because it cant do anything, or it has been downgraded to fill market demand.
Because such a thing isnt new, what makes you think that all P4 2.4C CPU's arent actually downgraded 3.2Ghz parts, even thought they ran fine at 3.2ghz?
It is all due to market demand. if the consumer wants more of one thing, the manfufacturer will supply. Market wants more 2.4Ghz, Intel will downgrade their 3.2Ghz by locking the multiplier at a lower value. (same with GFX cards except they lock pipelines AND lower core speeds)
The same concept is true of RAM, if some chips fail, they will downgrade, but more commonly, they are downgraded to fill market demand.
In the end its all to do with luck, wether u get one thats truly been downgraded because it cant do anything, or it has been downgraded to fill market demand.
I realize this is sometimes done to fill market demand but from what I read it seemed they were saying that all VS chips were downgraded XMS, not because they couldn't do anything but because they didn't meet the speed requirements of the next speed category up. I can't think of any other reason why they would not publish the full specs of VS other than they don't want people to know that as a general rule VS 3200 would perform at the same level as XMS 3200. I also realize that they may not publish data on the VS to avoid warranty issues but they could simply say that performance beyond CAS2.5 with all other settings being by SPD is not guaranteed on the VS series and their liability would be eliminated if someone got a chip that didn't go beyond CAS 2.5.
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Apoptosis
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Merlin,
The memory world is a little bit different than the CPU world so let me explain a bit about how Corsair manufactures their memory. I highly advise you to read my articleabout my tour at Corsair Memory. I am one of the few people that have taken a trip to the factory and spent days there with the staff watching their process.
I'll jump right into your question. Corsair's vaule select line (VS) is manufactured by a 3rd party. In recent times I believe it's A-Data doing Corsairs value line. Meaning Corsair receives the modules from A-Data does some spot checking and they are sent out. These modules are build on reference PCB's using IC's that Corsair asks for.
The XMS series on the other hand is completly assembled here in the USA at Corsair's plant. These modules are individualy built, programmed, and tested in Fremont. Usually the XMS line comes with agressive SPD settings and are made using selected IC's. I know the application specialist at Corsair and he tests all the IC's on the market and picks the best one for each speed grade. I've seen the numbers and know the testing that they are doing and it pays off every launch they do. These modules also come "paired" where as you can see in the pictures of my article they are tested on real platforms. If a chip fails testing it is likely that something went wrong with the assembly process or an IC is bad. Corsair doesn't downgrade these. Actually the way Corsair's product line is designed you really can't downgrade modules that fail. Corsair uses select IC's on their products. If a PC-4400 part fails testing it can't be sold as a PC-3200LL part. The IC's can't support those settings.
Basically in a nut shell Corsair XMS & Corsair VS are totally different in terms of IC's, PCB, SPD settings, and assembly/testing.
So all in all I hope this helps you out. There is a difference between the lines in all honesty. I'll give Corsair a ring on Monday and find out the exact timings on the VS1GBKIT400 for you. Corsair isn't trying to hide the numbers for warranty reasons. They are set in the SPD so you can't hide them! ;)
- Nate
The memory world is a little bit different than the CPU world so let me explain a bit about how Corsair manufactures their memory. I highly advise you to read my articleabout my tour at Corsair Memory. I am one of the few people that have taken a trip to the factory and spent days there with the staff watching their process.
I'll jump right into your question. Corsair's vaule select line (VS) is manufactured by a 3rd party. In recent times I believe it's A-Data doing Corsairs value line. Meaning Corsair receives the modules from A-Data does some spot checking and they are sent out. These modules are build on reference PCB's using IC's that Corsair asks for.
The XMS series on the other hand is completly assembled here in the USA at Corsair's plant. These modules are individualy built, programmed, and tested in Fremont. Usually the XMS line comes with agressive SPD settings and are made using selected IC's. I know the application specialist at Corsair and he tests all the IC's on the market and picks the best one for each speed grade. I've seen the numbers and know the testing that they are doing and it pays off every launch they do. These modules also come "paired" where as you can see in the pictures of my article they are tested on real platforms. If a chip fails testing it is likely that something went wrong with the assembly process or an IC is bad. Corsair doesn't downgrade these. Actually the way Corsair's product line is designed you really can't downgrade modules that fail. Corsair uses select IC's on their products. If a PC-4400 part fails testing it can't be sold as a PC-3200LL part. The IC's can't support those settings.
Basically in a nut shell Corsair XMS & Corsair VS are totally different in terms of IC's, PCB, SPD settings, and assembly/testing.
So all in all I hope this helps you out. There is a difference between the lines in all honesty. I'll give Corsair a ring on Monday and find out the exact timings on the VS1GBKIT400 for you. Corsair isn't trying to hide the numbers for warranty reasons. They are set in the SPD so you can't hide them! ;)
- Nate
Nate,
Thank you very much for being patient with an excited newb who thought he found a way around spending $ 335.00 or so on TWINX1024-3200LL. I guess I have been reading too many overclockers review stuff with a negative perception of corporations. Anyway thank you for being patient with me and straightening out my flawed perception of memory. If you will humor me one last time. I have what appears to be an unlocked Barton 2800+ that I just bought from NEWEGG and I am running an MSI K7N2 Delta-L with dual channel capability. Would a 512 kit of 3200LL be enough memory to handle some video editing from a DV camera and First person shooter games like HAlf life and counter strike? or should I go ahead and save up for the TWINX1024-3200LL. Thanks again for all your help, Legit Reviews lives up to its name and then some.
Thank you very much for being patient with an excited newb who thought he found a way around spending $ 335.00 or so on TWINX1024-3200LL. I guess I have been reading too many overclockers review stuff with a negative perception of corporations. Anyway thank you for being patient with me and straightening out my flawed perception of memory. If you will humor me one last time. I have what appears to be an unlocked Barton 2800+ that I just bought from NEWEGG and I am running an MSI K7N2 Delta-L with dual channel capability. Would a 512 kit of 3200LL be enough memory to handle some video editing from a DV camera and First person shooter games like HAlf life and counter strike? or should I go ahead and save up for the TWINX1024-3200LL. Thanks again for all your help, Legit Reviews lives up to its name and then some.
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Apoptosis
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For basic video editing and playing older games such as HL and CS I believe 512mb will get the job done with ease. Although if you are doing MPEG to VCD or heavy multimedia usage I'd suggest saving up for 1GB of memory.
When I moved from 2x 256mb modules to 2 512mb modules in my personal system I noticed that when using Photoshop 7 and Dreamweaver MX that everything was quicker. When playing Half-Life I noticed no difference. As for newer titles like Farcry I'm not sure because I've only played it on a gig of memory.
When I moved from 2x 256mb modules to 2 512mb modules in my personal system I noticed that when using Photoshop 7 and Dreamweaver MX that everything was quicker. When playing Half-Life I noticed no difference. As for newer titles like Farcry I'm not sure because I've only played it on a gig of memory.
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Illuminati
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I currently have 512 gig of memory in my system... I do notice some lag time loading up some programs like photoshop, and games like FarCry.
When I make the move to 1gig... I'll be sure to let everyone know the difference, if any... I very much expect there to be a considerable performance benefit for loading and closing applications.
When I make the move to 1gig... I'll be sure to let everyone know the difference, if any... I very much expect there to be a considerable performance benefit for loading and closing applications.
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Immortal
