Corsair Xpert XMS 3200XL Memory Review :: Packaging, Aesthetics, Specifications

These Modules Came to us in a relatively oversized blister pack, showing off the modules themselves as well as the LED modules in the front, and giving a generous amount of specifications and marketing hype on the back. The package left no question as to what was inside, nor the specifications and capabilities. While this package would be unlikely to protect the modules if it was shipped alone, it is not intended to do such - rather, is intended to hang on a retail shelf up until it's time of purchase and journey to a new home. Upon opening the package, we were greeted with a colour quick start guide, the CD containing Corsair's Memory Dashboard utility, and the modules themselves, held snugly by form fitting foam blocks to their sides as well as their rear.

Packaging aside, the focus shifted to the appearance of the Modules themselves. Even from the first glance, these modules made it clear that they had been meant to be seen - through a window most likely, rather than buried inside a generic beige case formed from bottom dollar steel. On the appearance of the modules themselves, the cast aluminum heatspreaders featuring Corsair's logo, as well as the small ribs to increase surface area. While these modules are highly reminiscent of Corsair's First LED offering (in the way of the XMS Pro series), they are noticeably larger. A quick peak up the side of the heatspreader revealed a blob of whiteish goop beaded on the side of a memory module.

While it appears that Corsair chose the route of thermal grease over the more popular (and decisively less effective) thermal tape (also known as frag tape), we just wish they had chosen to use a quality thermal compound, such as Arctic Silver Ceramique or Arctic Silver 5. While such a thing isn't a deal breaker, it's nice to see premium quality when dealing with parts priced to fit that market. Granted, with this being the only questionable point of quality for the module, we're sure Corsair is in good standing. When the modules were installed in the system, and the display modules attached, they added an exotic and aggressive feel to the machine. Upon powering up, the modules made short work of illuminating everything around them, via the continuously on blue LEDs behind the Corsair logo, as well as the scrolling marquee and the RAM usage bars. Again, borrowing from the XMS Pro series, these ram usage bars trace system memory usage quite accurately, and provide minor amusement while the system completes rudimentary benchmarks or tasks.

Alongside these is the star of today's show - the 10 character parametric display, pushing out data in the traditional red on black. At the system's startup, these modules scroll Corsair's message (the module part number), as well as temperature, frequency, and voltage. Through the utilization of Corsair's Memory Dashboard Software, near anything can be output on this display, including custom messages up to 23 characters a piece, with the possibility of becoming longer, provided the messages are appended. The software also allows you to choose the format of temperature and frequency display (Celsius/ Fahrenheit and DDR XXXX, PC XXXX and MHz respectively). Along with this, you can choose (as previously stated) to run Corsair's own message or one of your own creation. One disappointment to the software however is that it did not allow for plug-ins to allow data extraction from other applications - it would have been incredible if these screens could function just like a typical LCD - perhaps using one to display your system's temperatures, while the other scrolls Winamp info - the possibilities would be endless!

The only issue to the Aesthetics of these modules is that with no less than four colours glowing, blinking, pulsing and scrolling, they may seem tacky or possibly throw a system's theme in a loop, although at least all of these different colours have their functionality - unlike the random, uncontrollable lighting of Crucial's Ballistix Tracer line. As to the ram's official Specifications, these modules are rated for 2-2-2-5 (CAS, RAS to CAS, RAS Precharge, TRAS) at 2.6V. While these specifications are quickly becoming the standard, they are also becoming quickly unimpressive; and while there is essentially no lower frequency, it would be nice to see manufacturers guaranteeing even higher speeds at these timings without ludicrous voltages turning the memory modules into miniature hot plates (the modules found an average maximum temperature of 44C during testing).