Attention! Corsair 6400C4 no longer D9

Hi guys, I just wanted to post this up, in hopes it keeps even one person from not getting the expected sticks. Up until recently, if you got the C4's, you could expect to get Micron D9 chips on it, and be a very happer OC'er, this may no longer be the case. Today, I just bought another 2gb set of Corsair XMS2 6400C4's, and found out I didn't get my wonderful Micron D9's like on my first set .

My first set of this ram is v1.2, and is Micron D9. It overclocks like an animal, and can go well over ddr21000 with 4-4-4-8 timings no problem.

My new C4 set is v2.1 and is Promos chips it seems. There's a thread I found about this also, found here: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=117720
Anyway, it's not that they're bad sticks, they're just not the D9's, and apparently I shouldn't expect such stellar OC's from these as the D9's.

I'm disappointed, but not too bummed, cause they'll do what I need. Right now, I'm memtesting them at 445fsb (ddr2 890) with 2.15vdimm @4-4-4-12 timings, and it's passed twice so far. That fbs puts my e6400 in rig2 at almost 3.6ghz (everday oc on it is 3.5ghz), so they'll do my OC. But I may not be able to drop the multi on a whim, and go well over 500fsb with ease, like I can on my D9 set. It remains to be seen how far I will be able to take them, but from what I read ddr2 1000 might be pushing it.

So for me (actually for alot of people's oc's) this Promos set is OK, but for some of you hardcore fsb guys, you might wanna stick with Gskill HZ's or something if you want some D9 love. With the Corsair 6400 C4's, if it's v1.x it should be D9's, if it's 2.x it's probably Promos, if 5.x or 6.x it's probably Infineon's (I think 5.x or 6.x would be more the C5's though, I had a pair of these, Infineons and didn't oc that well). Happy trails!!

--@Nasgul, if you read this, I wonder if that's why your Corsair C4's didn't OC so amazing?

Well, that's fine, you can trust whatever you want. I believe this for several reasons.

1) If you look here at Corsair's Ram Guys own database http://www.houseofhelp.com/forums/sh...24-3200c2+v1.6 you'll see whenever it's a 1.x it's always Micron, whenever it's a different version number it's something else, and yes there is rhyme and reason to the version numbering system. The 2.1's are promos from what I can tell, if they were Micron D9's believe me, they'd be v1.x. Trust me, those version numbers do mean something about what IC's they use. They put them on there so you don't have to pull off the heatspreaders, the version number tells you what they are. So honestly I don't see why pics are even required.

2) In that thread at XS, check post11, Redbeard is an actual Corsair employee. He's actually saying this is true, why would he lie?

3) I'm starting to hit a wall with my Promos at around 455fsb, and memtest is starting to fail. I've only given them up to 2.35v, but my D9's don't even need that much and go much higher. And it's starting to get a little high on the vdimm for my tastes, even though I know they can be run higher.

So ya, of course there's an occasional pair of Micron D9's that don't OC so well. You would get that with any ram ic's. But almost every set of Micron D9 sticks will overclock like a monster, but you will only find those in the v1.x C4 sticks. Believe what you will, it's enough proof for me.

Ya, I'm sure OCZ has their own numbering system. But the stickers on the heatspreaders should always signify what IC's are used in that stick. That is a handy book mark, unfortunate thing is that ram guy doesn't update it much. Kinda funny, if someone complains about it, they give this attitude like they're doing you some kind of favor, by letting you know what IC's the ram you just paid $350 for have on them.......pfff please.

Personally, since heatspreaders are now used, I think they and all manufacturer's, should be required to post what IC's are used on different versions, on their website. They'll give the argument "well, they perform at least to spec, so we're not obligated to tell you what IC's, we'll get to your answer when we please basically".

Which I guess by the way the laws are now, they're right, but I still call BS on it. That's like selling me some random car, but you won't tell me what engine it has in it, and you padlocked the hood. Then you act like the altitude of your high horse is giving you a nose bleed, as you tell me your doing me a favor by telling me what engine it is, and you'll get around to it when you please. You'll email me sometime and let me know, or you won't we'll see... I'd better ask nice and in an exact sort of way lol.

I guess why it pisses me off, is that Corsair could have ONE random guy jot down real quick what versions are what IC's, as they produce them. Instead they don't bother, then make ram guy figure it out later, and only when someone asks. It would be so easy for them to keep this list updated, and save alot of people hassle.

Also, I like how they're saying they're reserving the Micron for PC8500 and CAS3 ram. Talking like the C4 sticks are value stuff, so they can throw whatever they please. I guess as long as they perform spec, ya you can Corsair...technically, but you're dirty for it, dirty, dirty in my book. You know dam well the C4 are supposed to be good stuff, it's the stuff enthusiasts and ocer's will buy.
It's supposed to be premium ram, with a premium price, and people expect premium results. So when they hide behind their specs, I don't know how they keep a straight face when they claim this promos is what I paid for. Hell Corsair, you can go get some Gskill HZ for less money, and have far superior ram to this. If the Micron is hard to find right now, then the C4's should be hard to find right now, until they get more D9. Thx for putting a Taurus engine in my porsche, and still charging me full price, jerks...

Well, yes that's the ram. I got mine at Fry's, so I don't know what newegg has right now. If it's older stock, it has a better chance of being micron. The last month or so, Corsair has been starting to spew this mediocre "wolf in sheeps clothing" promos stuff.

The only thing that will tell you is the version and batch numbers on the sticker, on the heatspreader. This is information unfortunately newegg or other sites, never give. Both sets of sticks whether micron or promos, will have the same timings and the same model numbers, so you won't know til you get them I guess. Basically, look at the sticker on the chip, if it says v1.x jump for joy you've got micron. If it says v2.x, you got the promos, and around 450fsb will probably be where they start to really need the volts. Then how much higher you'll get, if any, I don't know. Even with 2.35v, mine won't pass memtest at 460fsb . Still not a bad oc for my e6400, but these ain't no D9's.

?? I have them set to the correct timings, that's a non-issue for me. I'm not even talking about timings anyway. I'm talking about how far they'll oc. Read my posts, my microns do over 500fsb without breaking a sweat. Promos is walling at 450fsb (not a bad oc, nothing to write home about, and not $350 worth of ram). In both cases, I'm using both sticks running dual channel. I'm not going to bother seeing how far a single stick can oc, cause I won't ever run either set like that anyway.

I'm not going to return them, cause they will do my e6400's OC with 4-4-4 timings. But if I was a guy with phase wanting uber fsb expecting some D9 sticks, I'd be pretty pissed at Corsair for switching the cards mid-hand on me.