Difference between Corsair XMS3200 and Corsair PC3200?

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
PC3200



XMS3200


I plan on overclocking a 1700 xp t-bred b or a 2100 xp t-bred on an Epox 8rDA+ board, I understand that the XMS3200 is tested for Cas2 at 200mhz but is that really much of an improvment, and will I even be going for that high of a FSB speed with that setup?


Thanks
 

Mikki

Golden Member
Jun 13, 2002
1,488
0
0
There's no difference between the two, they're both XMS. PC3200 is the memory name, or spec, it's rated at ddr400 (whereas PC2700 is rated at ddr333, etc.), XMS stands for "X-treme memory system" or something like that and is a Corsair name.

...and no cas 2 doesn't make much of a difference...:)
 

OatMan

Senior member
Aug 2, 2001
677
0
71
There is some difference, but not significant unless your an overclocker or speed freak.

The first module allows 400DDR @ 2-3-3-?-1T memory times. This is the lesser XMS version

The second allows 400DDR @ 2-2-2-6-1T. These are faster memory settings and is the 'faster' XMS version you'll notice these are more expensive.

There is a third version that is the twin series. These are hand picked and tested pairs of modules that will run at the highest memory settings for Hyperthreading or TwinBank and such.

All of these are smoking fast. I have no idea how much of a differnce it makes going to the slightly faster memory settings.

I can say that the difference on my old Athlon 1.4 with "normal" PC2100 Crucial and faster Samsung (similar to Corsair) memory was a mild FSB OC of 145/290 and a nice FSB OC over 160/320 or so. I had to underclock my CPU as it wasn't even a paly. This was on an Epox 8k7a board, so this is not new stuff.

Hope I got this right and this helps. One of the experts if they are willing might even chime in to explain the timings which I have little clue about.
 

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
I plan on overclocking so it will make a bit of a difference to me, but I don't plan on putting an extra 20 dollars in if the only difference is the cas 2 at 200mhz vs only guaranteed cas 2 at 166.

Thanks for your responses. I've been out of the "overclocking" game for over a year now and am fighting hard to catch back up before i order all my parts =)
 

Goi

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
6,766
7
91
AFAIK, the normal PC3200 uses Winbond BH-5 chips but XMS uses hand-picked Winbond BH-6 chips.