High Corsair Failure Rates?

[RadiclDreamer]

I've been a user of corsair memory since the original XMS line and havent really had any issue until the last 2 years. It seems I am getting failures very frequently. Is it just me or have others noticed this as well?

 

[nwo]

What do you have to lose? Maybe a couple of days worth of downtime, but you lose no data and all memory has lifetime warranty.

There are always going to be lemons here and there. I have not heard anything bad about Corsair in particular.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

The only thing I have to lose is my time which I value since its something I dont get a lot of these days. I have been in the IT field for around 15 years and am well aware that there are dead parts here and there, but I'm starting to feel like the quality is slipping with corsair.

 

[Doomer]

I've had the same experience with GSkill lately. In the last 6 months I've gotten 2 bad sticks and have had 2 sticks fail in existing systems. Dunno if it's solar flairs or what.

 

[Cerb]

It's probably handling, not unlike Newegg and issues w/ HDDs. Ever notice how your SSDs, HDDs, mobos, video cards, etc., come in anti-stat bags? Memory may be packaged in plastic, that helps insulate it, but it's no anti-stat bag. Then, there's potential for mechanical damage, as that thin flexible plastic can allow the DIMMs to be flexed too much, without any visible signs. Server memory not uncommonly does come in anti-stat bags, and in cardboard boxes .

 

[RadiclDreamer]

It's probably handling, not unlike Newegg and issues w/ HDDs. Ever notice how your SSDs, HDDs, mobos, video cards, etc., come in anti-stat bags? Memory may be packaged in plastic, that helps insulate it, but it's no anti-stat bag. Then, there's potential for mechanical damage, as that thin flexible plastic can allow the DIMMs to be flexed too much, without any visible signs. Server memory not uncommonly does come in anti-stat bags, and in cardboard boxes .

Thats true, Corsair does package their product in plastic. However you would think they would be intelligent enough to use something that wouldnt cause a static buildup.

I'm always careful when handling my components so I doubt its my handling, besides I install several TB of memory in servers at work every year and the failure rate there is very low.

I'm gonna see how this latest RMA pans out and hold judgement until then. So far its been a few days and while I have a tracking number its spent 2 days with zero progress which makes me think they just generated a label and havent actually shipped it.

 

[CrimsonWolf]

I was wondering the same thing too. I got a Corsair XMS 4 x 4GB kit when I did my Ivy Bridge upgrade last year. One of the sticks was bad on arrival. Stability problems and instant errors when testing. Oh well, it happens. I sent it back to Amazon and got a replacement. About 6 months later, I get stability problems again and turns out one of the sticks went bad. That kit gets RMA'd. In the meantime, I bought a 2 x 8 GB kit for my computer so I don't have down-time and all is well. After getting the replacement back, I tested it on another computer. After about 12 hours of testing, errors pop up on one of the sticks. I'm done wasting my time on it and will just keep the other three as spares.

I can chalk up a failure or two to bad luck but three defects in a row? Screw that!

 

[Soulkeeper]

I don't have a high opinion of corsair
I see them as similar to thermaltake

 

[bryanl]

That is the risk of using slow chips to make fast memory. Everybody has done it except Samsung.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Its good to hear im not the only one that is seeing this decline in reliability. Its really sad to see yet another vendor sacrifice stability for an extra low single digit performance increase. If it werent for the 16GB kit costing nearly $200 I would just dump it and grab something else, but for now I'm stuck with it.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Ok, so what RAM is currently considered to be a reliable brand? I'm not necessarily concerned with the fastest, DDR31600 with average timings is more than fine, I don't overclock much and when I do I use unlocked and dont mess with memory settings.

 

[generalmx]

I've had problems with Corsair memory for a while...basically, if the Corsair memory is above the JDEC spec of 1.5v, there seems to be a much higher chance of problems; and I've had lots of other people relate this to me as well. In terms of overall reliability, I'm now more of a fan of G.Skill for desktops. But I am still swearing off of any DDR3 memory that's above 1.5v.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

I've had problems with Corsair memory for a while...basically, if the Corsair memory is above the JDEC spec of 1.5v, there seems to be a much higher chance of problems; and I've had lots of other people relate this to me as well. In terms of overall reliability, I'm now more of a fan of G.Skill for desktops. But I am still swearing off of any DDR3 memory that's above 1.5v.

Funny thing is, I had the same thing which is why I changed my last buy to 1.5v rated memory. This died equally fast.

Still looking for suggestions on good quality, stable RAM with decent performance. It doesnt need to be stellar, but a notch above basic is always nice.

 

[spdfreak]

I've had an 8GB stick of XMS3 DOA recently, but also 3 bad sticks of GSkill. All 1333, 1.5 stuff. Nothing exotic. You're right OP, it is annoying since it always holds up the build and causes extra troubleshooting. I build at least 1 system a week and the wasted time and money to return it has made me use Amazon exclusively since they will cross ship stuff and returns are free shipping with Prime.

I've had very good luck with Mushkin and Crucial recently...

 

[ctk1981]

I've only had to use RMA for ram with one company, and that was with crucial. Most recently a matched set of 1066mhz DDR2 ram....they asked for my date of manufacture on the ram and found a stick that matched it and sent it out, otherwise they were going to replace both of them so I would have a match set. First class service in my book.

Currently I'm running the Geil corsa ram, 4x4GB 1600mhz ddr3. No problems since I bought them. Before that I ran 4x4GB of mushkin ram in another system, also very reliable and no problems.