Corsair intros world’s fastest Dominator GTX, DDR3-2250

Robert Hallock 3 Dec, 2009 at 11:23am ET Article published in Tech

Memory maker Corsair has today regained the memory speed crown with the introduction of the Dominator GTX lineup of DDR3-2250 DIMMs.

Pictured above, the 2250MHz modules have been “screened by hand, in multiple passes, by Corsair’s lab in Fremont, California” to hit their target frequencies at 8-8-8-24 timings and 1.65V V_DIMM. The modules will be sold individually beginning December 8 at noon EST, though price is not mentioned (if you have to ask…) and availability will be “extremely limited,” prompting Corsair to sell on a first come, first serve basis.

“Corsair Dominator GTX modules are the most tightly-screened, highest-quality and fastest DDR3 memory modules in the world, and we look forward to seeing what the enthusiast and overclocking community can do with these exciting new products,” said Kevin Conley, VP of Engineering at Corsair.

While DDR3-2250 is blazing fast, contemporary integrated memory controllers and motherboard signaling limitations do impose some restrictions on how these DIMMs can be run at their rated speed. Corsair provided the following table which illustrates tested and supported configurations.

Corsair Dominator GTX — Baseline Performance Characteristics By DDR3 Platform

	1 DIMM	2 DIMMs	3 DIMMs	4 DIMMs	6 DIMMs
Intel X58 Max. 6 DIMMs	DDR3-2250 (8-8-8-24)	N/A	DDR3-2133 (8-8-8-24)	N/A	DDR3-1800 (6-6-6-18)
Intel P55 Max. 4 DIMMs	DDR3-2250 (8-8-8-24)	DDR3-2250 (8-8-8-24)	N/A	DDR3-2133 (8-8-8-24)	N/A
AMD 790FX Max. 4 DIMMs	DDR3-1800 (6-6-6-18)	DDR3-1800 (6-6-6-18)	N/A	DDR3-1750 (6-6-6-18)	N/A
1. Corsair GTX is screened and tested on Intel P55 “Lynnfield” platforms to meet DDR3-2250 8-8-8-24 specification.
2. Performance characteristics by platform are based on performance and qualification tests on selected test configurations.
3. Baseline performance is not guaranteed on every motherboard brand and model of each platform.
4. Corsair GTX performance on Intel X58 chipset platforms presented in the table may not be typical.
5. Corsair Airflow is required to meet baseline performance on all platforms.

Given their fairly strict limitations, these modules are probably more appropriate for record-breaking overclocks than day-to-day usage. Even so, all due respect for Corsair to taking the speed crown back from A-DATA, G.SKILL and Super Talent.

FREMONT, California, December 3, 2009 — Corsair, a worldwide leader in high-performance computer and flash memory products, today announced the launch of its new Dominator GTX ultra-high performance DDR3 memory modules for Intel® and AMD™ platforms, designed specifically for performance enthusiasts, gamers and extreme overclockers.Corsair Dominator GTX modules are individually screened and tested on multiple high-performance Intel X58 and P55 chipset platforms to ensure that they operate at the incredible frequency of 2250MHz at low-latency timings of 8-8-8-24 at 1.65V. They are designed specifically for performance enthusiasts and overclockers who want to achieve the highest performance possible and to break benchmark world records.

“Corsair has a long history of delivering the fastest overclocking memory on the planet, and our engineering expertise and unique understanding of the enthusiast market allows us to continue to push boundaries,” said Kevin Conley, VP of Engineering at Corsair. “Corsair Dominator GTX modules are the most tightly-screened, highest-quality and fastest DDR3 memory modules in the world, and we look forward to seeing what the enthusiast and overclocking community can do with these exciting new products.”

In addition to the incredible frequencies possible on Intel platforms, Dominator GTX modules have also been tested and verified to operate at up to 1800MHz CL6 in high-performance Socket AM3 motherboards for AMD Phenom™ II processors, providing AMD enthusiasts with a powerful new weapon in their overclocking arsenal.

Dominator GTX modules use Corsair’s unique DHX+ heatsink and are supplied with extra-tall cooling fins to maximize heat dissipation. The part number for this module is CMGTX2, and it is sold as a single module, allowing enthusiasts to purchase two modules for dual-channel configurations or three modules for triple-channel configurations. For the highest performance and frequency scaling, Corsair recommends using the GT Airflow fan with tall mounting brackets, which is also available from the Corsair Online Store (part number CMXAF2 GTL).

The CMGTX2 is screened by hand, in multiple passes, by Corsair’s lab in Fremont, California, and availability will be extremely limited. It will be launched exclusively on the Corsair Online Store on December 8, 2009, at 9AM Pacific Time, and will be sold on a first come first served basis.

Comments

3 Dec 2009 ~ 11:33am BuddyJ Holy crap that's fast. What are the capacities? I assume they're 2GB DIMMs?
3 Dec 2009 ~ 11:46am Thrax No word on capacities, either. I'd be willing to say 2GB is likely, yes.
3 Dec 2009 ~ 1:27pm Tim Instead of hand picking modules that somehow barely squeak by the cutoff to operate at this slightly higher speed and charging a bonus for them, why not just build better modules? Someone will have DDR3-2300's in the next couple months, then they will be the new hottest thing.
3 Dec 2009 ~ 1:40pm Thrax Why not just invent teleportation while we're at it? Engineering limitations appear to be no challenge.
3 Dec 2009 ~ 1:49pm Winfrey Yeah, they are pretty easy to build in TF2. Mebbe irl engineers are just always having their teleporters sapped by spies.
3 Dec 2009 ~ 2:18pm MAGIC Yeah, why do anything ever? I mean damn; I'm waisting all this money and time eating when I know I'll just be hungry again in a couple hours.

Do want that memory tho.
3 Dec 2009 ~ 2:32pm Serp Need.....higher.....Vantage......score.....*head 'splode*
3 Dec 2009 ~ 2:40pm Ryder Faster memory doesn't always mean higher scores
3 Dec 2009 ~ 2:42pm Thrax 1:1 or GTFO!
3 Dec 2009 ~ 3:12pm _k Screw this I am just going to strap rockets to my RAMBUS and call it a day.
3 Dec 2009 ~ 4:22pm Zuntar What Buddy J said!!!!!!!
3 Dec 2009 ~ 5:17pm Sledgehammer70 Faster memory doesn't always mean higher scores ...

So what your saying is depending on the system is could mean higher scores... Overall who is truly going to see the benefit of this? The guys trying to break vantage mark scores?