RAM integrators are doing the best they can to provide high quality DDR3 modules, while lowering production costs and that should result into more affordable prices for end-users. However, the big players on the RAM market have also been racing for the highest standard frequencies lately. OCZ was the first to announce a 4GB 2000MHz DDR3 kit and now, after a month, Corsair is ready presents its response in the DDR3 market – the new Dominator 4GB kits clocked at 2000MHz .

The 2x2GB kits will integrate Corsair's improved DHX (Dual-path Heat Xchange) cooling solution that comes with both optimized fins and a dedicated PCB heat sink. OCZ has announced its 2GHz kits in May, but these still remain to be produced in sufficient quantities as the kits can only be found listed at online retailers and availability is still ambiguous. Apparently, the unbeatable price of €370.97 makes it pretty hard to be provided in good stocks.

Corsair, on the other hand, leaves us thinking. According to the Corsair's press release, the new 4GB Dominator DDR3 2000MHz kits will be priced at US$675 when they become available sometime in Q3 2008. Now that doesn’t quite make sense. If Corsair is planning to release these kits as true competitors for OCZ’s kits, why would they price them that high? OK, we know that the Dominator brand is well-known for its overclocking capabilities, but OCZ has also worked at improving this aspect in their modules and they keep prices pretty tight. Anyhow, the new Dominator kit will be showcased at this year's Computex, and I’m sure tests will show us if the Dominator kits are worth that extra money.

[tags]Corasir, DDR3, Dominator, module, OCZ, RAM[/tags]

Corsair is not a perfect company, despite some people's claims. Anyway, we can't underestimate the hidden powers of this notorious memory (and not only) manufacturer, the latest event proving the fact that Corsair is one of those companies able to break world records, and we're not talking about market share or popularity, but about raw performance!


On Tuesday, Corsair made public the fact that its engineers broke the world record for the DDR3 memory frequency. Using the new Dominator memory module, together with the Intel X48-based platform, Corsair managed to overclock DDR3 memory to an amazing 2462MHz, using CL9 9-9-24 latency settings, which provided 19.696GB/s of bandwidth in single-channel mode. Impressive!

Regarding this performance, Martin Mueller, senior director of engineering at Corsair, said "Corsair is obsessed with pushing memory technology to its limits and beyond. This world record demonstrates the overclocking and high speed memory expertise within Corsair Labs and definitely pushes the memory enthusiast community to achieve even faster, more outrageous speeds."

Sounds good to me! So...when to expect 3GHz?

Hopefully, as memory integrators release more and more DDR3 modules, their price will considerably drop to a more affordable point during this year’s course. Also, AMD presented its future DDR3 platforms and this should also contribute to the memory price decrease. Speaking of DDR3 RAM, OCZ is known to be among the best memory integrators on the market, and just recently they’ve announced the release of new DDR3 modules that will feature their signature cooling system.

The two new DDR3 kits will be available in both 2 and 4GB dual-channel editions. The fastest of the two is the PC3-14400 kit which works at 1800MHz with 8-8-8-27 latency and at 1.9V. OCZ offers the usual extended voltage protection at 1.95V. The other kit is clocked at 1600MHz with 7-7-7-24 latencies and also works at 1.9V with 1.95V EPV.

In order to unlock the overclocking potential of these two new models, OCZ provides its signature Reaper HPC heatsinks and lifetime warranty. The press release does not say anything on the actual price and availability of these products, but judging from the fact that OCZ releases its product in a month or two after the press release, we can expect these kits to be available this summer.

Memory is extremely cheaper these days, and this is great news for all memory-hungry users, as well as for programmers that bother less with each day to optimize the code of their applications(which is not that good, in my opinion). Alliances between hardware producers usually lead to better and cheaper products, and it's my pleasure to inform you about a new such alliance which has just been forged between Hynix and ProMOS.


Hynix Semiconductor and ProMOS Technologies, currently engaged in a strategic alliance, announced they signed an agreement which allows Hynix to receive manufacturing capacities, while providing ProMOS with process technology. At the same time, Hynix Semiconductor will buy a stake in ProMOS Technologies.

According to Min-Liang Chen, chairman and president of ProMOS Technologies, "Hynix has always been recognized as one of the foremost technology leaders in global DRAM industry. This is particularly so in the case of the 50nm-class stack process technology. With the signing of the new strategic alliance agreement today, the relationship between Hynix and ProMOS will become much closer."

The details look like this - Hynix licensed the 50nm-class DRAM stack process technology to ProMOS, and ProMOS will offer DRAM products made using the fabrication process from its 300mm fab capacity. At last, Hynix will cooperate with some investors and plans to buy 8 to 10 percent of ProMOS through private placement, in order to strengthen their present relationship.

Mr. Chen concluded by saying that "Instead of being mere technology partner, Hynix will now become one of ProMOS’s major shareholders. I believe this synergistic relationship will be of great benefits to both companies and their respective customers."

Are you sure your DDR2 800MHz memory is still fast? Fast, indeed, but not fast enough. In fact, it may soon become "almost vintage," just as DDR1 memory seems to have become these days. Why? Well, OCZ just reached the 2GHz memory barrier!


Obviously, we're talking about DDR3 memory, and here's what Dr. Michael Schuette, vice president of technology development at OCZ Technology, has to say about this breakthrough: "It is no myth that higher memory densities make it harder to push higher clock frequencies. OCZ Technology pulled off this seemingly impossible task with the release of the world’s fastest high-density memory solution. The new OCZ DDR3 PC3-16000 Platinum Edition kits combine two 2GB modules for 4GB system density running at 9-9-9 latencies and a record-breaking 2GHz data rate. All of this is achieved at only 1.9V which falls well within the voltage tolerances of any DDR3 memory controller currently on the market."

That should say it all, don't you think? Oh, yeah, you avid upgraders, I know - you want to know the price, don't you? For now, no detailed pricing figure has been made public, but everyone expects to see the 4GB kit selling for over $500, so only a few will probably experience this ultimate memory kit in the coming months, at least until the price reaches a decent level...