[CPU/RAM] Corsair Dominator Platinum Dual-Channel DDR3 Memory Kits Review

Corsair Dominator Platinum Series

Testing Participants

Corsair Dominator Platinum PC3-12800 C9 2x4 GB (CMD8GX3M2A1600C9)

Corsair Dominator Platinum PC3-15000 C9 2x4 GB (CMD8GX3M2A1866C9)

Corsair Dominator Platinum PC3-17066 C9 2x4 GB (CMD8GX3M2A2133C9)

Corsair Dominator Platinum PC-19200 C10 2x8 GB (CMD16GX3M2A2400C10)

Corsair Dominator Platinum PC-21300 C11 2x4 GB (CMD8GX3M2A2666C11)

Testbed Configuration

We are going to test Corsair Dominator Platinum memory kits in an LGA 2011 system built on Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe mainboard based on the newest Intel Z77 Express chipset. Since overclocking memory modules are primarily purchased by enthusiasts, we also used Intel Core i5-3570K processor overclocked to 4.5 GHz.

As a result, the complete list of hardware and software components in our testbed looked as follows:

• CPU: Core i5-3570X, overclocked to 4.5 GHz (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 6 MB L3);
• CPU cooler: NZXT Havik 140;
• Mainboard: ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe (LGA 1155, Intel Z77 Express);
• Memory:
  • Corsair Dominator Platinum CMD8GX3M2A1600C9 (2 x 4 GB, DDR3-1600, 9-9-9-28);
  • Corsair Dominator Platinum CMD8GX3M2A1866C9 (2 x 4 GB, DDR3-1866, 9-10-9-27);
  • Corsair Dominator Platinum CMD8GX3M2A2133C9 (2 x 4 GB, DDR3-2133, 9-11-10-27);
  • Corsair Dominator Platinum CMD16GX3M2A2400C10 (2 x 8 GB, DDR3-2400, 10-12-12-31);
  • Corsair Dominator Platinum CMD8GX3M2A2666C11 (2 x 4 GB, DDR3-2666, 11-13-13-35).
• Graphics card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 (2 GB / 256 bit GDDR5, 1006/6008 MHz);
• Drive: Intel SSD 520 240 GB (SSDSC2CW240A3K5);
• Power supply unit: Corsair AX1200i (80 Plus Platinum, 1200 W);
• Operating system: Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate x64;
• Drivers:
  • Intel Chipset Driver 9.3.0.1025;
  • Intel Management Engine Driver 8.1.2.1318;
  • Intel Rapid Storage Technology 11.6.0.1030;
  • NVIDIA GeForce 306.97 Driver.

Overclocking

Corsair Dominator Platinum PC3-12800 C9 2x4 GB (CMD8GX3M2A1600C9)

Corsair Dominator Platinum PC3-15000 C9 2x4 GB (CMD8GX3M2A1866C9)

Corsair Dominator Platinum PC3-17066 C9 2x4 GB (CMD8GX3M2A2133C9)

Corsair Dominator Platinum PC-19200 C10 2x8 GB (CMD16GX3M2A2400C10)

Corsair Dominator Platinum PC-21300 C11 2x4 GB (CMD8GX3M2A2666C11)

Performance