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Corsair introduces DOMINATOR memory modules, and a funky heatsink design

Corsair has unveiled its new DDR2 memory modules with Dual-path Heat Xchange technology. The new DHX XMS2 DOMINATOR memory modules are available in PC2-8500 CL5 and PC2-8888 CL4 for enhanced overclocking performance. Corsair’s DHX technology improves memory performance by delivering greater cooling capabilities to the memory chips. DHX technology uses a specialized memory PCB that is slightly higher than the traditional memory stick PCB. This allows Corsair to install larger heatsinks with greater dissipation capabilities.

Corsair’s two DHX equipped DOMINATOR offerings slightly differ from each other. The DHX XMS2 DOMINATOR PC2-8500 CL5 modules are equipped with the DHX cooling solution, however the modules are passively cooled and rely on the case airflow. DHX XMS2 DOMINATOR PC2-8888 CL4 modules come with an active cooler consisting of three 40mm fans for improved cooling performance, allowing the high clocked modules to operate with a CAS latency of 4.

DHX XMS2 DOMINATOR modules are fully compatible with NVIDIA’s Enhanced Performance Profile memory extension that allows greater predefined memory settings. Availability of Corsair DHX XMS2 DOMINATOR modules is expected the first week of September in 2x1GB dual channel memory kits. Getting a hold of a pair of DHX XMS2 DOMINATOR modules won’t exactly be cheap. DHX XMS2 DOMINATOR PC2-8500 CL5 modules are expected around $380-400 while the DHX XMS2 DOMINATOR PC2-8888 CL4 modules are expected around $600-650. Users that purchase the DHX XMS2 DOMINATOR PC2-8500 CL5 modules and want the active cooler can pickup the DOMINATOR Airflow for under $25.

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name :)
By rqle on 8/28/2006 5:09:54 PM , Rating: 2
dont like the name, but do like the heatsink design/feature. Seem better and more practical then OCZ "holes" design, that does nothing from my temp testing.




RE: name :)
By Desslok on 8/28/06, Rating: 0
RE: name :)
By carlostequila on 8/28/2006 5:48:11 PM , Rating: 2
but it's not camouflage so if you drop it while you're upgrading your computer in the forest at least you'll be able to find it.


RE: name :)
By Hare on 8/29/2006 4:36:02 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Seem better and more practical then OCZ "holes"
OCZ and their heatsinks remind me of Fatality brands. Just PR with absolutely no added performance or other benefits.


RE: name :)
By JarredWalton on 8/30/2006 4:57:37 AM , Rating: 2
The big problem with these is height. Lots of mobos have DIMM slots in locations where tall DIMMs interfere with the use of a lot of aftermarket coolers.


Does RAM
By Merry on 8/28/2006 5:40:13 PM , Rating: 2
Really need that sort of cooling?




RE: Does RAM
By feelingshorter on 8/28/2006 5:51:40 PM , Rating: 2
Not for 600 bucks!


RE: Does RAM
By carlostequila on 8/28/2006 5:54:08 PM , Rating: 2
maybe it will be cheaper in the future. everything is expensive when it first comes out. I paid $500 for a DVD player in 1998, and I paid $80 for a much better one three days ago. :(


RE: Does RAM
By Lonearchon on 8/28/2006 6:15:42 PM , Rating: 2
Yes the price is high but compared to other ram set at this speed it is right in line a quick look on newegg show the only other PC2 8500 2gb set with 4-4-4 timings at $500 witch this set is rate higher and most like will sell for under it msrp. the other set is in line with what other are charing for PC2 8000 while it is rated at 8500


Quake Announcer!
By Kromis on 8/28/2006 5:28:45 PM , Rating: 1
DOMINATOR is DOMINATING!




RE: Quake Announcer!
By Googer on 8/29/2006 2:51:40 AM , Rating: 1
$600! You would be better off with $150-200 ram and spending the remaining $400 upgrading from a $315-400 e6600 to an x6800. Stop blowing money on slow processors, $75 heatsinks, overpriced motherboards, and expensive ram to overclock your celeron like it were an extreme edtion. Instead save your cash, buy a cheap motherboard, quality budget ram, and a stock heatsink, and then spend the rest on real fast (extreme edtion?) CPU.

The end result will be a stock clocked faster computer for the same price.


RE: Quake Announcer!
By sxr7171 on 8/29/2006 6:21:05 AM , Rating: 2
Well, or a $600 video card if you are doing it for gaming. It's still a better purchase than $400 RAM.


RE: Quake Announcer!
By Trisped on 8/29/2006 12:35:22 PM , Rating: 2
I believe the point is to spend $1000+ on a CPU, $1200+ on a dual GPU combo, $300+ on a mother board $300 on a Raptor drive or $1000+ on a iRam drive, and $600 on RAM so you can get the fastest PC money can buy.


lol
By barjebus on 8/28/2006 5:32:14 PM , Rating: 4
Over 600$ for RAM? Definately only for the very obsessed enthusiast. It would be interesting to see some bench marks that can conclusively show the amount of time saved using regular applications and games by using such ridiculous memory. I agree that memory technology must move forward, so this is good, but its still ridiculously priced.




RE: lol
By BladeVenom on 8/28/2006 6:07:06 PM , Rating: 2
Why do you think it's called the Dominator? It's going to dominate your wallet.


Ribbed for Pleasure?
By Fnoob on 8/28/2006 5:39:57 PM , Rating: 2
CL5 - expensive CL4..? Tight timings just not possible with this stuff? Or does it just not matter as much now? At least they're ribbed...





RE: Ribbed for Pleasure?
By carlostequila on 8/28/2006 5:47:36 PM , Rating: 2
CL4 at 1111 MHz is pretty impressive, I'm sure it would do tighter timings at lower frequency.

They already have a 800 MHz CL3 part I think.


That active cooler...
By PrinceGaz on 8/28/2006 6:40:33 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Users that purchase the DHX XMS2 DOMINATOR PC2-8500 CL5 modules and want the active cooler can pickup the DOMINATOR Airflow for under $25


Anyone considering either buying the cooler or buying the modules which include it should be turned off immediately by the fact that
(a) it has three 40mm fans (remind anyone of a 5 1/4" drive-bay cooler?)
(b) it is available for $25 (definitely cheapo 5 1/4" drive-bay cooler quality if it's that cheap from Corsair)

A quick visit to the corsair webby confirms the worst. Scroll to the bottom of the Dominator memory page and have a look at the picture of the "DOMINATOR Airflow Fan"
http://www.corsairmicro.com/corsair/dominator.html

It is basically a 5 1/4" bay cooler with the usual three (probably poor quality) 40mm fans, but with a modified mounting. I wouldn't pay $5 to have that inside my box, let alone $25 or the premium they are charging for the hand-picked PC2-8888 CL4 modules. You just know that the fans on that cooler will fail pretty quickly, and make a lot of noise while doing so. You'd probably be willing to pay $25 to have it removed within a year!

The only people who should spend upwards of $400 on a pair of non-parity non-registered 1GB modules are extreme overclockers, and they aren't going to be doing extreme overclocks with any sort of cooler like that.




RE: That active cooler...
By lopri on 8/29/2006 2:19:19 AM , Rating: 2
Wonder if this mounting kit will fit regular memory slots? (Without the "Dominator", that is)


Dominator
By GoatMonkey on 8/28/2006 11:07:35 PM , Rating: 2
Oh man, what was the name of the movie where the guy was going to buy some speakers and the salesman was pushing him to buy the "Dominators"? "If you can't afford it, f***ing finance it!"




RE: Dominator
By GoatMonkey on 8/28/2006 11:40:44 PM , Rating: 2
I remembered now, it was Ruthless People. Here it is a little censored...

[trying to sell a new stereo system to a teenage couple... before he realizes they're expecting a baby] ... Check it out! Thirty feet of thigh-slapping, blood-pumping nuclear brain damage! If you can't afford it, FINANCE IT! And here's the best part: when you die, they can BURY you in it!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091877/quotes



I paid $187.00
By lopri on 8/29/2006 2:13:37 AM , Rating: 2
for 2 x 1GB TeamGroup Xtreem DDR2-667. Happily does 1066MHz (DDR2-8500) at 2.3V. For someone who said memory didn't need active cooling - You're right if memory is running at standard (i.e. JEDEC) speeds/voltages. But if you overclock any working sillicon and give more juice than what it is meant to run with, it will inevitably heat up.

I just looked at the spec sheet of the "Dominator", and the required voltage is 2.4V for the advertised speed! Do you know that DDR2 memory's standard voltage is 1.8V? Oh my goodness, standard voltage for DDR is 2.6V! P965 Intel board doesn't not allow anything other than 1.8V.

In my case, while I think 2.3V is within safety, I still have a fan running above my sticks. (Using an arm attached to the case) I'm willing to bet these sticks will do 1100MHz at 2.4V like Corsair's $600 Donator or something. :D

I'm sure folks at Corsair wasted much time binning these sticks so they somehow need to get paid, but if you're smart you can find sticks just as good for much lower prices. (G-Skill, Patriot, etc.)




RE: I paid $187.00
By lopri on 8/29/2006 2:15:11 AM , Rating: 2
Oh BTW the timing @1066MHz/2.3V is 4-4-3.


Where is the Terminator memory ?
By armagedon on 8/28/2006 8:19:48 PM , Rating: 2
I think that the Terminator memory should owned the Dominator memory.




$600 memory
By FXi on 8/28/2006 8:51:35 PM , Rating: 2
The $600 stuff is overdone, but if they make it people will come, sad as it may be. I do know folks who will be chomping at the bit for it.

The cheaper stuff isn't really much different than the 8500 CL5 now, save for the different heat sink. And speaking of that, do they really thing they have the ability to go higher around the socket area with enthusiasts? Maybe water coolers will like this. It's possible. But the super air coolers are going to run afoul of the height for sure.

8500 really needs to be more plentiful. Higher is definitely pushing the envelope a little for a lot of $$.




Subject
By Howard on 8/28/2006 10:40:16 PM , Rating: 2
RAM heat sinks can't get wider, so they have to get taller. I was waiting for this to happen.

I also like how they're keeping with the same style as on the CMPSU power supplies.




ummmm
By squirrelfriend on 8/30/2006 3:45:43 AM , Rating: 2
what do you expect the highest performing parts should cost. people WILL pay a price to have the best. there are plenty of very rich computer enthusiasts. also, competition, whether price or performance (and other factors) drives the industry and creates better products for us whether from corsair or not. they are pushing other companies to make better products to compete. thats just common sense.




ya
By GhandiInstinct on 8/28/06, Rating: 0
What a waste...
By Beenthere on 8/28/06, Rating: -1
RE: What a waste...
By quizzelsnatch on 8/28/2006 6:19:16 PM , Rating: 2
i think this is about as cool as those LED ones they sold. Those were soooo awesome


/sarcasm


RE: What a waste...
By AnotherGuy on 8/28/2006 10:36:15 PM , Rating: 2
dude no clueless person will buy $600 memory..... wtf r u smoking.... this is only for extreme overclocks


"Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment -- same piece of hardware -- paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that's a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be." -- Steve Ballmer











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