Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 2800 C16 Review
Category : DDR4
Published by Hiwa Pouri on 03.10.14
As we all know Intel has released their new Haswell-E HEDT processors, which support DDR4 memory. A new platform launch by Intel is always the perfect occasion for memory makers to bring new products to market. Today we're having a look at Corsairs new Vengeance DDR4 memory. By default this quad channel kit is supposed to run at 2800 MHz and CL16 timings.
 Article in English |
 Artikel in Deutsch |
 Article en français |
 Articolo in italiano |
| Manufacturer | Corsair |
| Series | Vengeance LPX |
| Part Number | CMK16GX4M4A2800C16PK1 |
| Type | DDR4 |
| Capacity | 16 GB (4 x 4GB) |
| Frequency | 2'800 MHz |
| Timings | 16-18-18-35 |
| VDIMM | 1.2 Volt |
| Registred/Unbuffered | Unbuffered |
| ECC | No |
| Cooling | Passive Heatspreader |
| Waranty | Lifetime warranty |
| Package Type | Boxed |
With the Vengeance LPX DDR4 C16 kit, Corsair has memory modules in its portfolio, which serve the high-end market. A more detailed look at the specifications reveals, that these Corsair appears to be cautious in choosing frequency as well as timings. The Hynix MFR chips on these modules are set to run at CL16-18-18-35. If you keep in mind, that other memory makers drive these chips at CL15-15-15-35 and DDR4-3000 one can quickly understand why we're saying Corsair is being conservative.
Closer Look
The new Vengeance modules from Corsair are being shipped in its own cardboard box. Apart from that they have been enclosed in blister packaging.
Heatspeaders of Vengeance are finished in a blend of black and some small spots of yellow, which is likely to fit with quite a few motherboard models out there. The heatspreaders on these modules are rather simple, since there are thin aluminum plates, which stick to the memory chips via adhesive heatpads.
Taking the heatspeaders off Corsairs Vengance series is not something we would recommend doing at home due to strong adhesive that requires a very careful approach. Once the heatspreaders have been removed we see that Corsair is putting MFR chips from SK Hynix on these modules. These are basically the chips every DDR4 memory maker is using these days.
The SPD of these modules contains some basic information such as maker, part number and manufacturing date. It also features JEDEC profiles up to DDR4-2800, as well as an XMP profile, which will make these modules run at DDR4-3000.
A detailed overview of the top JEDEC profiles and the XMP can be seen on screenshots above.
Photo Gallery
Test Setup
In order to thoroughly test memory as well as memory kits, we're making use of Intels Haswell-E platform in combination with a highly binned Core i7-5960X CPU. This allows use to drive memory at highest possible frequencies and therefore do proper scaling tests. Different memory chips (ICs) have different sweet spots in the case of primary timings, which is why we're altering CAS latency, tRCD, tRP as well as tRAS. Overall we build five different presets, which - as explained - can be different from IC to IC used on a memory module. Other than that we're also changing DRAM voltages, wheras we're setting 1.20V, 1.35V and 1.50V. There are actually reasons why we're using these voltages. 1.20V is the standard voltage for DDR4 memory. 1.35V on DDR4 is used in case of slight overclocking and with 1.50V you can push the module by quite a bit. Last but not least it remains to be explained how we find out whether a certain setting is stable or not. For that purpose we're running HyperPi.| Motherboard | ASUS Rampage V Extreme |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-5960X |
| Graphic card | ASUS GTX 580 |
| Memory | CMK16GX4M4A2800C16PK |
| SSD | Samsung 845DC EVO 960GB |
| PSU | Seasonic Platinum 660 Watts |
| OS | Windows 7, 64 bit SP1 |
CAS latency 12 / 12-14-14-35
We start to test these modules with tight CAS latency, which in this case is CL12. Setting the memory voltage at 1.20V in the BIOS HyperPi passed at 2'200 MHz. Feeding higher voltage (1.35V) to the memory, makes the frequency scale to 2'500 MHz. Driving the memory at 1.50V allowed HyperPi to pass at 2'710 MHz.
CAS latency 13 / 13-14-14-35
When running CL13 we went through the same procedure like with CL12. Setting the memory voltage at 1.20V in the BIOS HyperPi passed at 2'407 MHz. Feeding higher voltage (1.35V) to the memory, makes the frequency scale to 2'702 MHz. Driving the memory at 1.50V allowed HyperPi to pass at 2'815 MHz.
CAS latency 14 / 14-15-15-35
When running CL14 we - again - went through the same procedure like with CL13. Setting the memory voltage at 1.20V in the BIOS HyperPi passed at 2'250 MHz. Feeding higher voltage (1.35V) to the memory, makes the frequency scale to 2'800 MHz. Driving the memory at 1.50V allowed HyperPi to pass at 3'000 MHz.
CAS latency 15 / 15-15-15-35
When running CL15 we went through the same procedure like with CL14. Setting the memory voltage at 1.20V in the BIOS HyperPi passed at 2'755 MHz. Feeding higher voltage (1.35V) to the memory, makes the frequency scale to 3'000 MHz. Driving the memory at 1.50V allowed HyperPi to pass at 3'100 MHz.
CAS latency 16 / 16-18-18-35
When running CL16 we went through the same procedure like with CL15. Setting the memory voltage at 1.20V in the BIOS HyperPi passed at 2'830 MHz. Feeding higher voltage (1.35V) to the memory, makes the frequency scale to 3'055 MHz. Driving the memory at 1.50V allowed HyperPi to pass at 3'120 MHz.
Corsair specifies this kit to run stable at 2'800 MHz and as you can see from our graph, this kit can be overclocked by 30 MHz with stock voltage.
Overclocking
As you can see from the images above, we've been able to push these modules to DDR4-3143. In this case we've been using the stock latency set and we've set the voltage to 1.65V.
Conclusion
| General | + | - | |
| Overall it can be said, that the Corsair Vengeance LPX-2800C16 16 Gigabyte memory kit does what Corsair claims they do and therefore they clear specs without an issue. Nevertheless CL16-18-18-35 at DDR4-2800 is a rather conservative latency set and we would have liked to see Corsair come up with a CL15-15-15-35 DDR4-2800 kit. When overclocking these Vengeance modules, we hit DDR4-3143 at 1.65 volt and with the stock latency set. | - Compatibility with big coolers | ||
| Scaling | + | - | |
| The only latency set with which we've noticed linear scaling was CL14. If we look at CL12, CL13, CL15 as well as CL16 we always see a degression when setting 1.5 volt. This means, that at 1.5 Volt you can drive these sticks close to their maximum frequency. | - Scaling CL14 | - Scaling CL12, CL13, CL15, CL16 | |
| Overclocking | + | - | |
| Using the Rampage V Extreme and our specific memory testing CPU, which has a good IMC, reaching 3.0GHz on the memory was actually easy. Unfortunately the journey stops quite soon at 3143 MHz. In this case we have to feed these sticks with 1.65 volt and it's running with the stock latency set. |
- 3.0+ GHz - 2.8+ GHz @ CL10 |
||
| Recommendation / Price | + | - | |
| Checking Geizhals.at for prices we find the Corsair Vengeance LPX-2800C16 16 Gigabyte kit listed for 340 Euro. Corsair is therefore continuing with their pricing scheme and these Vengeance modules are definitely no bargain. We would honeslty like to find these modules for a bit less then 300 Euro. Considering that other manufacturers are offering DDR4 memory kits with tighter latency for a lower price these modules are facing tough competition. | - Price | ||
| Rating | |||
| The Corsair Vengeance LPX-2800C16 receives excellent 3.5 out of 5 stars. | |||
