The Modules

Without looking at the stickers on Corsair's XMS2 memory, you would be forgiven for thinking that they were all exactly the same. The 5400UL modules are no different and use the regular and effective black heat spreader for heat dissipation. Included is a Corsair sticker which tells you which modules they are - in this case, CM2X512A-5400UL (XMS2-5400 512MB 675MHz).

Corsair offer their 5400UL memory in a matched pair of 1GB (2 x 512MB) or single 512MB kits. All of Corsair's 5400UL memory is hand tested before shipping and includes a lifetime warranty. It's good to know these facts before buying premium (read: more expensive) branded memory.

SPD is programmed at 4-4-4-12 at 1.8 volts. When you first put these low latency modules in your system, you'll have to increase the VDIMM (memory voltage) to 2.1 volts to run at the guaranteed 675MHz DDR 3-3-2-8 tight timings at the aggressive 1T command rate. Corsair claim these defined timings are 100% tested in "high performance DDR2 motherboards" at their labs before shipping. After increasing the VDIMM to 2.1 volts, we had no issues raising the SPD in the BIOS of our C19 Gigabyte motherboard to these aggressive timings and had no issues at all with stability throughout our testing phase.

Corsair has chosen to use hand picked and tested Micron "Fat Body" D9 chips for their 5400UL part. These chips are rated at 3ns which translates into CL 5 at 1.8v. Not all the chips which Corsair receives make the cut and only the best clocking chips make it onto the 5400UL memory. The ones which are able to meet the 675 MHz DDR 3-3-2-8 targets are in and the others would be placed on lower grade memory modules.

As far as pricing goes, the 5400UL memory from Corsair isn't cheap but you pay a price premium for performance memory with very aggressive timings and claims to be able to reach over 800MHz with relaxed timings and 2T command rate, as we read here by "The RAM Guy". The lowest price on our shopping comparison website for a matched pair of 512MB 5400UL modules is $276 USD up to $375 USD ($370 AUD to $500 AUD - 1 USD = 1.34166 AUD). For comparison, you'll be looking at around $176 USD up to $368 USD ($236 AUD to $494 - 1 USD = 1.34166 AUD) for Crucial's Ballistix memory with less impressive timings.

Now we know all about Corsair's 5400UL memory, we are ready to move onto the testing.