Corsair XMS XPERT TWINXP1024-3200XL

Contents:

Cracking open the plastic packaging, we found the two matched pairs of Corsair 512MB DDR DIMMs (with foam to protect during shipping), two LED display modules, Corsair Memory Dashboard CD, and a small quick installation guide. The Corsair Memory Dashboard CD contains a Microsoft Windows application, which allows you to control different memory parameters, track memory usage, and retrieve software updates from Corsair. As a whole, everything was packaged well and arrived in great condition.

Examination:

The Corsair XMS XPERT RAM, concisely, reports memory speed, voltage, and temperature. Overclockers should find this information quite useful in obtaining appropriate information regarding their RAM's condition. In addition, a custom message can be displayed statically or it can dynamically scroll across the LED display; if you aren't interested in the memory information.

With two key parts to the XPERT memory, the actual RAM, and the display module, we'll first discuss the most important part, the actual RAM. As with all memory modules that comprise the Corsair XMS series, we find aluminum heatspreaders on each of the modules. As there's a 34-pin male connector at the top of the PCB, the black aluminum heatspreaders aren't attached using their traditional method of metal clips and thermal glue, since there's a good portion of the PCB extending beyond the top of the heatspreader. This 34-pin male connector is used to connect with the LED display module.

Defacing the heatspreaders was quite a challenge, as a good amount of thermal glue is used to bond the pieces of aluminum to each of the modules. Luckily, after using a screwdriver, we were able to pry off the heatspreaders, revealing the Samsung TCCD (Batch 504).

Moving onto the bottom of the display modules, are two sets of 34-pin connectors. Both of these connectors don't need to be occupied, but are designed to be universal among motherboards. Depending upon your DIMM placement, the display module connector to use depends upon what side of the module is open so it won't hinder the installation or placement of any other memory modules. One of the pre-production issues Corsair engineers faced was that the lamination around the display module would fall back, but this issue should be corrected with all current XPERT modules. On the top of the module, towards both ends, are Corsair's blue sail logos that illuminate once the RAM is powered. In between the two logos is the LED display and two rows of activity lights, which indicate memory activity. These activity lights are very similar to the ones found on the XMS PRO series, except are substantially smaller to allow for the 10-digit alphanumeric display.