Corsair PC150 512MB DIMMS are nowhere near PC150!

[sharkeeper]

These modules (PN: CM654S512LP-150) are supposed to work at 150 MHz CAS 333 or 133 MHz CAS 222. They will do neither! CTSPD indicates 333 at 133 MHz! I talked to Robert at Corsair and he said that information is correct; he also said they should work in my board! I've tried A7V133 and KT7A boards with same results. These modules have Infineon 7.5 nS chips that are spec'd to run at 133MHz CAS3. Corsair tests them to 150 MHz, but they don't work if I try one, two or all three DIMMs. The fact that there is no such thing as a PC133 CAS 2 512MB DIMM irritates me. They are basically selling overclocked parts! They should tell you! :| At least now I know WHY Crucial doesn't sell 512 MB PC 133 CAS 2 parts...they don't exist! Even Sandra says the modules are CAS2 up to 67MHz, CAS3 to 133 MHz which is the max. Pretty sad for so called PC150 SDRAM. Worse yet from Corsair which is (supposedly) a respected company.

Cheers!

 

[Kingofcomputer]

so it's a hype.

 

[compuwiz1]

PC150 is not an official spec. All the PC133 that I know of, including the Infineon I pretest are PC133, tested to run at 150MHz fsb. So, yes, it is overclocked. Can you not get it to run at 150MHz, or is it just that the programs you are using for testing, are simply reading the default SPD chip? If they are reading the programming of the SPD, that would most likely come up the way you say.

 

[fkloster]

Good info. Thats irritating as hell! :|

 

[NucleusWDS]

Too Bad ...

 

[LXi]

Hm... it just gives me more reasons to recommend Crucial than Corsair, a lot of people had great sucess with their Crucial CAS2 RAMs.

 

[John]

<< These modules have Infineon 7.5 nS chips that are spec'd to run at 133MHz CAS3. Corsair tests them to 150 MHz, but they don't work if I try one, two or all three DIMMs. The fact that there is no such thing as a PC133 CAS 2 512MB DIMM irritates me. They are basically selling overclocked parts! >>



I guess we should also lose respect for Mushkin as well, since they sell memory that is &quot;overclocked&quot;.

 

[LuNoTiCK]

Does it work at 150mhz? If it does why does it really matter?

 

[sharkeeper]

Steve, I know there is no PC150 specification. Crucial chips actually show 222 at 133 on the SPD. These are 333 at 133. I was told (by Corsair) that even their CAS2 PC133 part would indeed show 333 at 133. They won't even POST at 150 with all timings at their most conservative settings. Mushkin is indeed doing the same! I have no problem with buying these components as long as I'm told they're running at a speed they're not intended to! I also expect them to work! I have a 1.33 GHz AXIA that I bought from Steve (he guaranteed it to 1.5) that works perfectly through 1.51 GHz.

On another thought, is it even possible to write to SPD with the module in a PC?



<< Hm... it just gives me more reasons to recommend Crucial than Corsair, a lot of people had great sucess with their Crucial CAS2 RAMs. >>



I have three PC133 CAS2 modules on the way. I should get them tomorrow. I'll just stick with Crucial. Silvia at Crucial tells me they'll have a 1 GB DDR module in July or August! Just in time for a KG7/Palomino upgrade.

Cheers!

 

[zippy]

Dude...you were expecting otherwise? PC133 is no different than PC100 except a higher rating nor is PC150. PC150 is for overclocking anyway- there is NO platform that works with a 150MHz FSB at default.

PC150 is not a standard, it indicates that the RAM will work at 150MHz FSB. If you test that stick of RAM at 133 at 2-2-2 I bet it will work, also, if you test it at 150 at 3-3-3, I bet it will work. Basically, they just took the guess work out of it.

Kingmax and all the other PC150 is the same.


<< They won't even POST at 150 with all timings at their most conservative settings. >>


Maybe your CPU is maxed out? Try dropping the multiplier and see if it will work at that FSB.

It doesn't matter what the SPD says. All the SPD does is tell the BIOS what settings to use when it's not being done manually. It could be rated and could work very well otherwise. I wouldn't get all bent out of shape about this if I were you, because, as I said, I would bet that it works at 150.

 

[Charles]

Kingmax PC150's uses 6 NS memory chips.

 

[sharkeeper]

<< Dude...you were expecting otherwise? PC133 is no different than PC100 except a higher rating nor is PC150. PC150 is for overclocking anyway- there is NO platform that works with a 150MHz FSB at default. >>



PC100 has 8nS chips, PC133 has 7.5 or 7.0 nS chips. What do I expect? I expect it to work! LOL



<<
PC150 is not a standard, it indicates that the RAM will work at 150MHz FSB. If you test that stick of RAM at 133 at 2-2-2 I bet it will work, also, if you test it at 150 at 3-3-3, I bet it will work. Basically, they just took the guess work out of it. >>



Nope, as I said above, at 133 MHz the RAM will ONLY work 333. 332 works, 322 produces many errors, 222 locks up right when windows starts. IDENTICAL response from both machines.



<< Kingmax and all the other PC150 is the same. >>

Doesn't Kingmax use different style chips? TBGA comes to mind.



<< Maybe your CPU is maxed out? Try dropping the multiplier and see if it will work at that FSB. >>



I tried 150x8 and it still doesn't post. This cpu will run as high as 12x133! I was trying 10x150 and same as 150x8. I figured it could be the KT7A as they do have issues, so I tried the A7V133 (same chip too!) and the result was identical. No post at 150 CAS3 and lock up after HDD shown in Promise BIOS at 133 CAS2.



<< It doesn't matter what the SPD says. All the SPD does is tell the BIOS what settings to use when it's not being done manually. It could be rated and could work very well otherwise. I wouldn't get all bent out of shape about this if I were you, because, as I said, I would bet that it works at 150 >>



I bet the SPD is conservatively set as many users just let the mainboard set it. If the SPD was indeed CAS2 this module wouldn't work in most cases. Yes, I will get bent out of shape because I spent $600+ overnight shipping for something that I cannot use and will probably get slapped a 20% restocking fee.

If you look at this article here, you'll notice that Crucial definitely programs their modules to 222 at 133 whereas Mushkin does not! After reading that I can only say that Crucial definitely will stand behind their product. This is precisely why you cannot buy a PC133 222 512 MB module from Crucial at this time!

Cheers!

 

[Kingofcomputer]

so what's the spd setting Corsair wrote into that pc150 dimm?
If the spd is not written as 150 and they sell it as pc150, that's false advertising, cheating, bad, you don't get what you paid for.



<< guess we should also lose respect for Mushkin as well, since they sell memory that is &quot;overclocked&quot;. >>

Why should you respect Mushkin at first? You should know they're selling hype at first - just hand picked and pre-tested.

 

[sharkeeper]

<< so what's the spd setting Corsair wrote into that pc150 dimm?
If the spd is not written as 150 and they sell it as pc150, that's false advertising, cheating, bad, you don't get what you paid for. >>



You're damn tootin' right there!

Of course, there's truly no standard for PC150 so I wouldn't even expect that. I was very surprised when I saw CAS 333 at 133 though.

Here's what these modules say to Sandra and CTSPD:

Sandra

CTSPD normal view

CTSPD extended view

Notice the CAS2 at PC66? LOL!

Another extended view

Wouldn't you be upset if ram you bought wasn't running at the speed and timings it should and you saw what those SPD's are programmed at?

These modules cost $200. For what they run at, I could easily have purchased PQI or NANYA chips (cheap generic JUNK) for under $80 that would run at 133 333! :| :| :|

Cheers!

 

[Pabster]

It is very common for 256 and 512 modules to not hit the speeds that 128 or 64 modules do. That's why Mushkin's highest performance memory is only sold in 128MB DIMMs. I hadn't seen any 512MB PC150 modules, but I'm not surprised they don't run at 150, or at least not at CAS2.

 

[SammyBoy]

Ive got ram with 7.5ms INFINEON CHIPS and it does PC150 2,2,2 thank you very much.

got it from bonkers325 for 85 bucks.

hahaha lucky me.

However I doubt that yours wont do pc150 3,3,3

i bet mine will do pc160 3,3,3 just my a7v133 doesnt really like anything over 148mhz fsb,
the 150 was just to test out the ram

 

[WaTaGuMp]

All i will say about this topic is i have Corasir 150 mhz ram, and my system is at 155 fsb cas2 4 way interleave turbo mode the whole shabang. Now granted i am running 2 sticks of 128 mb but as i said i have NO problems at 155 fsb, and i have had it at 160 fsb also with the 222 timings.

 

[sharkeeper]

SammyBoy: You're comparing apples to oranges here. Your DIMMS aren't 512MB either! From what I was told, (Corsair) nobody makes a 32MB single chip that's 133 MHz CAS2! Go figure.

So I either stick with 3 512 MB chips at 133 CAS3 or go with 3 256MB chips that will do 133 222 or even 150 222. The answer there is easy. My gripe is (as said above) I can get PC133 modules that are 333 for under $80. That's what you call getting ripped off. :|

Cheers!

 

[thermite88]

The Crucial PC133/CL2, PC133/CL3, Mushkin Rev.3 and Corsair PC150/CL3 all use 7.5 ns SDRAM chips.

Mushkin Rev. 3 is available in 128MB only and they did programmed the SPD to run at CL2. The module is guaranteed to run at 150MHz 2-2-2, but the user pays a high price for that.

The general concensus is that Infineon chips has an edge over the Micron. That is why both Mushkin and Corsair use Infineon chips in their hand-picked PC150 modules. But with the variation in quality and associated components, it is difficult to predict performance of individual module.

Mushkin's customer service is excellent. They usually accept return with no restocking fee if the part does not meet spec. Crucial will do the same if you insist and ask to talk to a supervisor.

 

[Insane3D]

I think it is the high density that is causing the problem. I have two 256mb sticks of Crucial PC133 Cas2 (-7e) with Micron 7ns chips and it does up to 168mhz @ cas3 with all the fastest memory settings, and up to around 154 @ cas2 with all the fastest settings on my Iwill KK266-R. I remember that Mushkin's REV 2 256mb modules were only certified to Cas3 before, and the 128mb versions with the same chips were Cas2. At 165mhz , Cas3, 4-way, fastest settings, I get 675/751 in Sandra with 512mb.

 

[zippy]

<< PC100 has 8nS chips, PC133 has 7.5 or 7.0 nS chips. What do I expect? I expect it to work! LOL >>


Right...a higher rating.

In response to the rest...well, that just plain sucks! You should definitely return it for a FULL refund (including shipping) and not have to pay ANY restocking fee. It didn't work as advertised and that just isn't right! Hell, you even tried it on two platforms!

Good luck dude!

 

[Kingofcomputer]

It's interesting, &quot;CL2 upto 67MHz&quot;.
Shouldn't any CL3 133 memory able to do CL2 at 100?
Corsair wrote something wrong into the spd?

This is really bad memory!
you got ctspd reports
&quot;JEDEC 2&quot; for SPD version,
&quot;JEDEC 2error&quot; for Intel-spec. data,
&quot;error&quot; for SPD-EEPROM bugfree.

I got such similar bad result from Mushkin pc100 budget unknown ram chip.
A good memory should get &quot;Intel SPD 1.2&quot; for SPD version, &quot;ok&quot; for the others.

Also, it's so interesting, &quot;3&quot; for 100MHz CAS latency, what's point of getting &quot;2&quot; for RAS-to-CAS delay and RAS precharge when CAS latency can't get 2? Why don't they just write all of them to &quot;3&quot; to make it more conservative.

So this is a PC66 cas2 memory.

compuwiz, do you sell Infineon 512M DIMM?

 

[compuwiz1]

I've got my own system with 256mb x 2 Infineon PC133 running at 150MHz @ 2-2-2. Not bad for sticks that cost under $70 apiece.

 

[sharkeeper]

<< I've got my own system with 256mb x 2 Infineon PC133 running at 150MHz @ 2-2-2. Not bad for sticks that cost under $70 apiece. >>



I should have the equivalent tomorrow from Crucial.

Cheers!

 

[tristramshandy]

I've had a similarly deflating experience with Corsair DDR. We all know that Corsair is good, but for the premium price, we should be able to expect a great deal better.


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