What's better Corsair XMS2 or Crucial Ballistix?

nx02nx02

Senior member
Dec 26, 2001
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I am building a new Conroe System, E6400 with ASUS P5B Deluxe and all I have left to decide on is the memory.


I think I am going to get 2X1GIG memory but I am having a hard time deciding between Corsair XMS2 and Crucial Ballistix. They are about the same price.

So which ones better?


Thanks in advance for any advice. :)
 
Oct 4, 2004
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The Crucial Ballistix. Reason?

From a quality/warranty point-of-view, most people would say they are the same.
However, all the Ballistix modules use Micron D9 ICs (Micron owns Crucial or is the other way round?) which are known as great overclockers (and are sought after by all top memory makers).
Only the Corsair Dominator line guarantees you are getting D9s. The regular XMS series - it is a lottery and you most probably won't get them.

The Microns overclock really well - they run high bandwidth with decent timings and low bandwidth with really tight timings. Gives you more choice.
 
Nov 23, 2006
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it sounds like the dominator series are gaurunteed to have the D9s but its hard to tell if you meant getting it in dominator is luck or not, i recently got some dominator ram that runs at DDR2 800, are these likely to be D9s
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
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Not all Dominators are Micron D9GMH!

The DDR2-800 kit is actually Promos, IOW, overpriced value RAM :roll:

If i could make one suggestion to anyone buying RAM to OC, it's to avoid Corsair, as they consistently switch ICs, meaning you never really know what you are getting.

Best bet would be the Crucial, or perhaps Team Xtreem, as they are two of the few (for around $300) still using D9GMH for sure.
 

divinemartyr

Platinum Member
Oct 18, 2000
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I've really been a fan of the OCZ platinum line and had EXCELLENT luck with them. They are about $80 more than the current deal on the Ballistyx model at newegg though so for the price difference looks like the Crucial memory may be the way to go.

The timings on the OCZ platinum are just as good as the Crucial (the PC8000) at 5-5-5-15. You should buy the Crucial memory.
 

Atheus

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2005
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Check xtremesystems.org for recommendations on overclocking memory.

OCZ, Gskill, teamgroup all offer good products.
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

Moderator<br>Distributed Computing
Moderator
May 13, 2003
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this is wonderful news. After spending some time on the Corsair forums, I am disinclined to purchase anything from that company again.