Corsair 3GB DDR3-1333MHz CL9 Memory

Product: Corsair 3GB DDR3-1333
Price: Find Lowest Price Here

Introduction:

After a few rough years of ridiculously high prices, I think it's safe to say that DDR3 has finally arrived for the masses.  While 6GB kits are still a little expensive for the average user, mainstream DDR3 is finally affordable.  This makes the 3GB Triple-Channel kit of DDR3-1333 CL9 a great deal for the mere $65 you can find it for online.  When it comes to overclocking, this kit actually surprised us and did quite well.  Make sure you keep on reading to see how it stacks up to the 6GB Crucial DDR3-1600 we've take a look at really.

This kit features 3x 1GB sticks that have 9-9-9-24 timings at 1.5v and this is what sets it apart from a lot of DDR3 - it runs at a mere 1.5v - Standard JEDEC.

DDR3 Top

DDR3 Back

First Impressions:

The Corsair XMS3 PC3-10666 3GB is a pretty basic kit that doesn't have the flash and beauty of other Corsair XMS3 DHX, Dominator or Dominator GT memory.  The heat spreaders are quite plain, but when you consider that the memory only has a mere 1.5v coursing through the traces, you realize that it really won't begin to generate the heat of a 2000MHz Dominator GT CL7 kit will.  This is probably one of your most basic triple-channel kits for the Core i7.

DDR3 Profile

DDR3 Long

These modules come packaged in a nice tidy kit that claims to be matched and shouldn't have any issues running on any X58 setup.

Specifications & Info:

The information below has been pulled from the PDF white paper on Corsair's site.

The XMS Series TR3X3G1333C9 is a 3072MByte kit of DDR3 SDRAM DIMMs built using Corsair’s high performance heat sink. This part delivers outstanding performance in the latest generation of X58 DDR3-based motherboards. It has been tested extensively in popular X58 motherboards to ensure compatibility and performance at its rated speed. This memory has been verified to operate at 1333MHz at latencies of 9-9-9-24 at 1.50V VDIMM.

• Each three module set is tested at 1333MHz - Packaged together immediately following system test
• Tested together at 1333MHz, Vdimm = 1.5V, at latency settings of 9-9-9-24 on X58-based motherboards with a Corei7 CPU
• SPD programmed at: JEDEC standard 9- 9-9-24 values at 1333MHz.
• 3072 Megabytes of DDR3 memory - Three matched 1GB modules
• 100% tested at 1333MHz in X58-based motherboards
• Lifetime warranty

On the next page we'll cover the test setup and do some overclocking before we dive into the performance numbers.