Corsair Twin2X1024-4300C3 DDR-2 Memory Review

The technologies and platforms are different this time around, but the current DDR-2 memory situation is definitely bringing up some deja vu.... remember the VIA KT133A/SDRAM vs. VIA KT266A debates? Currently, DDR-2 memory really doesn't offer any dramatic performance gain over traditional DDR memory, but that's going to change in the very near future.

Intel has already released its 1066 MHz FSB parts, albeit in limited quantities. Conventional DDR memory cannot run fast enough to supply these Intel processors with enough bandwidth, so DDR-2 is a real necessity. AMD allegedly also has DDR-2 memory in its future plans, although the company is being quite tight-lipped about when, and in what form we can expect it to appear alongside an Athlon64.

So for the moment, DDR-2 is an interesting evolutionary step in the world of system memory, and manufacturers can only wait for consumer interest to catch up. If you are one of the very few to have a performance PC powered by DDR-2, this review is for you! In it, PCSTATS is testing out two brand new 512MB sticks of Corsair Twin2X1024-4300C3 DDR2 memory. Corsair is consistently a market leader in the memory field, and they were among the first to announce performance grade DDR-2 RAM for enthusiasts. Talk about being on the ball.

Corsair Twin2X1024-4300C3

Each of these Corsair Twin2X1024-4300C3 memory modules are unbuffered, non-ECC in nature and are rated to run at PC2-4300 (or DDR2-538 speeds) with a voltage of 1.8V. The SPD timings are set at 3-3-3-8. Like all other Corsair TwinX DIMMs, the Twin2X1024-4300C3 memory is wrapped in aluminum heatspreaders that are supposed to keep the memory 'nice and cool'. While the heatspreader's cooling effect is negligible, they do protect the fragile DRAM from potential physical damage.