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Is Domminator better than XMS?

post #1 of 19
12/24/11 at 7:59am
Thread Starter 
Picking a memory for 990FX - there will be no overclock!!!

How would you compare XMS3 DDR3 1600 MHz CL7 VS Dominator DDR3 1600 MHz CL8?

http://www.corsair.com/memory-by-product-family/xms-classic/cmx4gx3m1a1600c7.html

VS

http://www.corsair.com/memory-by-product-family/dominator/cmp4gx3m2a1600c8.html

Obvioulsy the XMS3 looks faster, so why is Domminator considered the fastest RAM? Is Domminator 1600 MHz CL8 actually somehow faster than XMS3 1600 MHz CL7? The price is the same.
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post #2 of 19
12/24/11 at 8:11am
Dominator is more for overclocking and enthusiasts, they are higher binned and have a larger/better heatsink to be able to handle high overclocks. XMS is more for the regular guy who just want a PC to work at either stock or mild overclocks. I have XMS3's in my main use rig at stock clocks and dominator's in my gaming/benching rig... they are both great at what they are designed to do. If you arent into overclocking I would recomend you the XMS3. You wont notice much(if any) difference between the two as a regular user. The difference is more visible in benchmarks and test scores.
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post #3 of 19
12/24/11 at 8:15am
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post #4 of 19
12/24/11 at 8:20am
There is no evidence to indicate that the Dominator's have better binned IC's.... It used to be with Corsair RAM that the higher binned chips were the Micron based IC's (as opposed to Elpidia for example).

What you are getting today with Dominators over standard XMS RAM is niftier looking heatspreaders - an oxymoron there as RAM doesn't even need heatspreaders, especially the newer low voltage DDR3.

Heatspeaders on RAM has always been pretty much a marketing gimmick wink.gif

I'd buy whichever was cheapest at the lowest timings. The stock timings on the RAM kit you buy determines how it is binned.
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post #5 of 19
12/24/11 at 8:22am
Thread Starter 
I am not going to overclock MHz, but i am going to lower the timings a bit. I know that good RAM has it's default SPD timings same as tested.

But my real question was: is there any difference in perforamce between Domminator and XMS3 when both RAM have the same properties in MHz in timings, or are the Domminator only better in the quality of heatsink?
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post #6 of 19
12/24/11 at 8:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robilar View Post

There is no evidence to indicate that the Dominator's have better binned IC's.... It used to be with Corsair RAM that the higher binned chips were the Micron based IC's (as opposed to Elpidia for example).

What you are getting today with Dominators over standard XMS RAM is niftier looking heatspreaders - an oxymoron there as RAM doesn't even need heatspreaders, especially the newer low voltage DDR3.

Heatspeaders on RAM has always been pretty much a marketing gimmick wink.gif

I'd buy whichever was cheapest at the lowest timings. The stock timings on the RAM kit you buy determines how it is binned.

Exactly.

The Dominators also have that "Pro Connector" so you can attach that usage LED thing on your RAM fan.... kinda pointless, but it's a difference I suppose.

I for one liked the look of the Dominators and bought them mostly for aesthetic reasons... overall they're just an average RAM kit that looks good... those XMS sticks are exactly the same or better. Just take the XMS sticks smile.gif

Quick edit:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshock View Post

I am not going to overclock MHz, but i am going to lower the timings a bit. I know that good RAM has it's default SPD timings same as tested.

But my real question was: is there any difference in perforamce between Domminator and XMS3 when both RAM have the same properties in MHz in timings, or are the Domminator only better in the quality of heatsink?

Only the heatsink differs, the performance when the settings are identical will be the same.
Edited by Munkypoo7 - 12/24/11 at 8:27am
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post #7 of 19
12/24/11 at 8:27am
I have dominators and I haven't been able to go past the tested speed of 1600mhz or better the timimings... mad.gif
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post #8 of 19
12/24/11 at 8:28am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshock View Post

I am not going to overclock MHz, but i am going to lower the timings a bit. I know that good RAM has it's default SPD timings same as tested.

But my real question was: is there any difference in perforamce between Domminator and XMS3 when both RAM have the same properties in MHz in timings, or are the Domminator only better in the quality of heatsink?

No difference in performance whatsoever when they're at the same timings and clocks.
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post #9 of 19
12/24/11 at 8:29am
Hey I have RAM with nifty heatspreaders on it as well. I completely agree from an aesthetic sense that heatspreaders make RAM look much better and I was always fond of the Dominator look.

I just hope that no one is buying them because they think the RAM will overclock better because of the branding or overlarge spreaders....


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post #10 of 19
12/24/11 at 11:47am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robilar View Post

There is no evidence to indicate that the Dominator's have better binned IC's.... It used to be with Corsair RAM that the higher binned chips were the Micron based IC's (as opposed to Elpidia for example).

What you are getting today with Dominators over standard XMS RAM is niftier looking heatspreaders - an oxymoron there as RAM doesn't even need heatspreaders, especially the newer low voltage DDR3.

Heatspeaders on RAM has always been pretty much a marketing gimmick wink.gif

I'd buy whichever was cheapest at the lowest timings. The stock timings on the RAM kit you buy determines how it is binned.

I wholeheartedly agree.

If you were comparing an XMS3 DDR3-1600 CL7 kit to a Dominator DDR3-1333 CL9 kit, then the XMS3 would most likely clock better as the Dominator DDR3-1333 CL9 kit is likely binned as with every other "generic" (i.e. 1333 CL9) RAM kit with no overclocking capabilities and is just generic RAM with heatspreaders on it.  Heatspreaders are just as they are.... heatspreaders.  The ICs underneath are what counts and the rated speeds/timings serve as some evidence as to an idea of what the ICs might be on the kit.

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