Discussion thread for Corsair Dominator 2x1GB DDR3 PC3-14400 Review

[3oh6]

Another impressive DDR3 kit has hit the pages of Hardware Canucks, this time from Corsair. The particular star of the show was not only the memory but the motherboard as well. Here is a link to the review...

Corsair Dominator 2x1GB DDR3 PC3-14400 Review

This thread is about to get stuffed with some pretty crazy results using this kit of memory. I had an exhausting benchmarking session with some fun video cards this past weekend and the Dominator memory performed flawlessly through the extended 30 hour+ marathon...and it still has plenty more in the tank.

Thanks again to Corsair for a superb kit of memory!

[3oh6]

Max RAM Frequency w/Corsair Dominator PC3-14400 - CPU-Z Validation :: 1100MHz
click for validation page...

Naturally it took a bit of effort and vDIMM set to 2.125v (2.1v ish actual) to get the magic 1100MHz validation but I managed. I tried getting Everest but it was a no go so this frequency is extremely un-stable. Once I get some more vmods done to the board and increase vDIMM, I am sure I can get 1100MHz benchable with this kit and others. Heck, loosening timings up could make a world of difference...but 8-7-6 at this frequency would be so much nicer. Mmmmm, 550*9 1:2 1100MHz 8-7-6 with P1/P2 enabled :D

Max RAM Frequency w/Corsair Dominator PC3-14400 - 1M SPi :: 1086.0MHz
click for full size...

A bit of a drop off from the max CPU-Z and I was actually able to get a 1090MHz 1M done but when trying to run Everest bandwidth the system would reboot. Next up is single 32M and then an abbreviated dual 32M SPi OC Report on this kit of memory.

Max RAM Frequency w/Corsair Dominator PC3-14400 - 32M SPi :: 1070.1MHz
click for full size...

Only 2.153v (actual) was used because more voltage didn't help. I am finding that perhaps the vDIMM circuit on this board is a little weak at higher voltages because there seems to be stability issues going over 2.200v set in the BIOS. It could just be this kit of memory as well so further testing will be needed. I will try a few other kits and if the same results are found, then it will be Maximizer time for this board.

Dual 32M SPi OC Report w/Corsair Dominator PC3-14400

As mentioned, this is an abbreviated session since time is constrained but it gets the general view of how this board clocks memory as far as dual 32M is concerned. In the future, I am sure I will be using this board for other memory OC Reports and will either post the results directly here or a link to the thread.

Dual 32M at 1060MHz with only 2.102v is a mighty fine accomplishment and 960MHz at 7-6-5 is pretty decent as well. As we saw in the full review, stability at CL7 was much lower. I am still not sure what the issue is here but hopefully it is something to be sorted because although dual 32M SPi is not a complete sign of stability...it generally is close. Closer than this kit on this motherboard anyway. Here are the screenshots, from left to right...

6-6-5 @ 830MHz // 7-6-5 @ 960MHz // 8-7-6 @ 1060MHz

[3oh6]

I started off easy with a single HD3870X2 in the 790i board. Yes, I will probably be burned at the stake over at green camp for benching with a red GPU in the NVIDIA board but it handled it quite well when all was said and done.

click all images and screenshots for full size...

AquaMark3 :: 307705 (PB) @ 5031MHz 945MHz//1017MHz



3DMark 03 :: 74838 @ 4995MHz 918MHz//1017MHz



3DMark 05 :: 32339 @ 4950MHz 891MHz//999MHz



3DMark 06 :: 21112 @ 4950MHz 918MHz//999MHz

Then it was time to see what these Dominators could make some NVIDIA cards do in this wonderful setup.

[3oh6]

2 x BFG 9800GTX OC in SLI
This is where things just get crazy. Again, the Corsair Dominator memory worked like a horse and never once put up a fuss. There were zero corruption issues throughout the entire session and I can't say as I saw a blue screen once. Considering the issues some folks have been having with these 790i motherboards and the stress the system was under, it is hard not to say that the Dominators really did dominate here.

Here are the results with un-modded cards...

AquaMark3 :: 314964 (PB) @ 5073MHz 841MHz//1240MHz//2050MHz

AM3 loves higher frequency on memory...the Dominators didn't dissapoint.

3DMark 01 :: 104615 (PB) @ 5022MHz 831MHz//1241MHz//2050MHz

ORB - Compare

The memory was cranked right up for 3DMark 01 and I managed to easily break 100K. Obviously the video cards and CPU ar mostly responsible but memory plays a role in some of the tests and really helped squeeze the last couple thousand points out of the setup at these frequencies.

3DMark 03 :: 88802 (PB) @ 5022MHz 820MHz//1251MHz//2050MHz

ORB - Compare

3DMark 05 :: 34247 (PB) @ 5051MHz 820MHz//1231MHz//2050MHz

ORB - Compare

3DMark 06 :: 23657 (PB) @ 5000MHz 820MHz//1231MHz//2050MHz

ORB - Compare

The last of the 2-way SLI results are nothing short of great...but the real show was just getting started. Corsair Dominator DDR3 + NVIDIA 790i + 3-way 9800GTX SLI = in 3DMark 03


3 x BFG 9800GTX OC in SLI

If you look hard you can see the Dominators in there...okay so maybe not

3DMark 03 :: 108025 (PB) @ 5032MHz 820MHz//1250MHz//2000MHz

ORB - Compare

As of right now, this is tops on the ORB for 9800GTXs in 03 and obviously my personal best. That also wraps up the benchmarking for this session with the Corsair Dominator PC3-14400 kit that did everything and more for me. Once again, superb effort by the Dominators in this grueling benching session

[Eldonko]

Congrats Jody! Huge benches, post those suckas!

[3oh6]

thanks buddy. sorry i didn't have anything new that you hadn't seen but i figured the results should go here as well since this kit ran that rig the whole weekend. still can't get over how much benching i got done and how well the setup held up.

[Eldonko]

Yeah gotta love those days when everything goes the way you hope. I wish it happened more often heh.

[3oh6]

you bet...they don't happen often so when they do, enjoy them!

[sswilson]

Just so folks who aren't thinking about the clocks you're posting get the full picture..... CPU-Z's reported dram speed is half of what folks normally use right? (Hence DDR2 800 displays as 400).

So your memory is actually running at DDR3 2000+?

[Wankerfx]

Originally Posted by sswilson

Just so folks who aren't thinking about the clocks you're posting get the full picture..... CPU-Z's reported dram speed is half of what folks normally use right? (Hence DDR2 800 displays as 400).

So your memory is actually running at DDR3 2000+?

Yup!

@Jody, is your chip cold-bugged? You have a decent amount of voltage going through that chip for a "small" overclock. (In comparison to others)

Nice review BTW =)