Overclocking and Conclusion
Memory Overclock Speed Testing
Getting the Corsair Dominator Platinum modules to run at their stated memory speeds was not as straight forward as we would have liked, but is possible with the correctly dialed-in settings. Its not as simple as cranking up the memory multiplier to 34x and adjusting the memory voltage and timing with the board at stock settings. The board was not stable with a memory multiplier above 32x, requiring tweaking to get to the modules to their rated 3400MHz speed. System stability was tested over a multi-hour period running the AIDA64 stability test in conjunction with EVGA's OC Scanner X graphical benchmark running at 1280×1024 resolution and 8x MSAA in stress test mode.
The following settings were found to be necessary to achieve the 3400MHz speed using the Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4-3400 kit:
- Base Clock Frequency – 102.05MHz
- Base Clock Gear Ratio – 1.25x
- Memory Multiplier – 26.66
- CPU Clock Ratio – 24
- Uncore Ratio (Ring bus) – 24
- System Agent Voltage – +0.400V
- DRAM Voltage – 1.35V
- CAS Latency – 16
- tRCD – 18
- tRP – 18
- tRAS – 36
- All other voltage/bus frequency settings – Auto
To run the memory modules at 3400MHz, the Base Clock Gear Ratio and Base Clock Frequency had to be adjusted, resulting in a system base clock frequency of approximately 127.5MHz. With the memory multiplier set to 26.66, this resulted in a 3400MHz memory speed. The CPU and Ring Bus ratios were set to 24 to keep their frequencies as close to stock settings as possible (3.0GHz). To stabilize the overclock, the System Agent Voltage had to be set to +0.400V over stock settings. Corsair engineers recommend that the System Agent Voltage settings be set to +0.300V to +0.450V to stabilize the memory at the 3400MHz speeds with exact voltage settings dependant on the system processor in use.
As you can see from the AIDA64 memory results, bumping up the system bus speed and memory speed resulted in a small performance increase over the results record with the memory running at 3200MHz and 2133MHz with a 100MHz base clock value.
Performance
Their is no doubt that speed-wise, the Corsair Dominator Platinum DD4-3400 memory kit is among the fastest DDR4 memory kits on the planet. However, when you start to look at the benchmark test results in conjunction with the memory speeds, a very different performance picture emerges. The effects on system performance relative to the memory speed increases seems to begin to flatten out as you increase past the default 2133MHz DDR4 speeds. This is most likely attributable to the LGA-2011-v3 processor and Intel X99 chipset design and internal memory handling, rather than results specific to the Corsair modules.
Pricing
As of March 28, the Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4-3400 16GB memory kit was available at Corsair.com for $999.99.
Conclusion
Corsair is well known for the quality and performance of their Dominator memory line. The Dominator Platinum DDR4-3400 16GB memory kit is no exception, customized for uncompromising performance with a price tag to prove it. The modules and kit are well designed, sporting aesthetics closing matching that of the GIGABYTE X99-SOC Champion motherboard with which this kit was designed to be paired. The memory modules feature the latest Corsair heat spreader innovations integrated into the DHX series spreaders, ensuring optimal memory operation no matter the heat load. Corsair also integrated LED light bars into the tops of the modules, giving them a customizable under-lit effect when used in conjunction with the Corsair Link control module. While dialing in the modules for full 3400MHz speed presented a challenge, I have no doubt that the kinks with this will be worked out through future BIOS releases.
Strengths
- Stock performance
- Module and fan unit aesthetics
- Construction and design quality
- Customizable LED lighting capabilities with Corsair Link integration
- Cooling potential of integrated DHX heat spreaders
Weaknesses
- Price
- Challenging to dial-in at 3400MHz
- Real-world performance gains with modules running at 3400MHz
on the benchmarks you put
on the benchmarks you put ddr-3200 and not 3400
The test setup page explains
The test setup page explains this. Benchmarks were run at 3200MHz, not 3400MHz b/c 3200MHz was achievable with 100MHz base clock while 3400MHz speed required overclocking of the base clock speed to 127.5MHz. This overclocking would have skewed the benchmark results, making them not a good basis of comparison to the non overclocked numbers.
Is overclocking the base
Is overclocking the base clock bad?
No overclocking the base
No overclocking the base clock is not bad, it just affects the running speed of all other components in the system, adding some stress to those components. The gear ratio settngs help with that, but you are still running the components at a higher base speed with a lower ratio setting.
I did try running the memory at 34 x 100, but it was not stable at all with the 34x multiplier on the board. The 32x multiplier was the highest memory multiplier that would remain stable at the stock base clock speed…
Running stable here at 34×100
Running stable here at 34×100 (DDR4-3400) on my Rampage V Extreme with a decent 5960x. Maybe you should switch boards. 😉
so you dont show the actual
so you dont show the actual potential of the product, just undercut its performance so things aren’t “skewed.”
The “potential” of the
The “potential” of the product is indeed shown: it cannot run at full speed without overclocking the CPU.
If Corsair wanted it benchmarked at full speed, they should have made it capable of running at the rated speed without needing overclocking. I’d feel absolutely ripped off if I paid $1000 for memory and it couldn’t even run at it’s rated speed.
There’s nothing Corsair can
There’s nothing Corsair can do about what DRAM ratios work on which BCLK straps, that’s all Intel. 3200 is the highest you can go on 100BCLK, period.
was expecting better timing
was expecting better timing by now
Corsair didnt get the memo.
Corsair didnt get the memo. The 90s light up disco ball PCs are over. That RAM is ugly but hey its got cool lights the per-verbal spinners.
1000 $ for a Kit of RAM. I
1000 $ for a Kit of RAM. I thought those times where long gone and buried forever.
It is an anonymous epidemic.
It is an anonymous epidemic. Save us before it is too late.
This might come off sounding
This might come off sounding bigoted and ignorant, but I find it hard to tell anonymi apart. No doubt they are not an endangered species, at least in these parts.
lol what a waste of copper
lol what a waste of copper and silicon. this ddr4 is too expensive, too bulky, and held back back the current batch of cpus. someone forgot to tell ddr4 makers that we’re still in the ddr3 era.