Corsair ValueSelect 512MB RAM

(4 star rating)

Corsair Value Select RAM (VS512MB400) - an inexpensive choice for high quality value PC3200 RAM

Background
In my previous PC, a Dell Dimension 8300, I started out with a measly 256MB of RAM. While this would suffice for most day-to-day tasks of web browsing, word processing, etc. it would obviously cause a major bottleneck if I tried to do any gaming or run any graphics intensive applications. As I am an avid gamer, this just wasn't going to cut it and an upgrade was desperately needed. After comparing the offerings from various manufacturers, I decided to purchase a pair of Corsair Value Select 512MB memory sticks. This memory was very competitively priced and I had read many good reviews of the Corsair Value series. I was primarily interested in getting reliable memory that offered good performance  and I did not have enough money to purchase the high-end performance memory.

The value series for most brands of RAM is designed to provide bang-for-your buck, while the performance series is usually the top of the line component that offers the highest level of performance. The value series is, of course, less expensive than the high-performance series. RAM keeps the data moving from the CPU to the other components in your PC, and thus is an absolutely critical component from a performance standpoint. If you have slow RAM, it will be a bottleneck limiting the speed of your PC in every single application or game you run.

Basic information
This RAM is PC3200 or DDR 400(Double Data Rate). This means that, while it really only operates at a speed of 200 MHz, it operates at an effective speed of 400 MHz when set to operate in Dual Channel mode. This effective speed is achieved by doubling the amount of data that can be transmitted by the RAM. What does this mean to the average consumer who has a DDR capable motherboard? It means that you should purchase and install two of the same DDR memory sticks to achieve the best level of performance.

This Corsair memory comes in two varieties - one that offers a CAS latency of 3 and one that offers a CAS latency of 2.5. A long explanation would be needed to explain these specifications, but I will summarize it by saying that these are average timings when compared to other value RAM offered by other brands. I chose the model with CAS latency of 2.5 because it was the exact same price as the CAS latency 3 model.

The following are additional manufacturer specifications for this memory:
Brand: Corsair
Series: Value Select
Model: VS512MB400
Type: 184-Pin DDR SDRAM
Capacity: 1GB (2x512MB)
Speed: DDR 400 (PC 3200)
Cas Latency: 2.5
Voltage: 2.5V
ECC: No
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Heat Spreader: No
Manufacturer Warranty: Lifetime

Included in the box

1) 512MB memory stick (in my case, 2x512MB memory sticks). The memory came in a plastic case that was bubble wrapped on the outside.

That's it! Do not expect any brand of memory to come with a user manual or instruction manual, etc. since it is a component that is very simple to install and to use.

Installation
Installation of the RAM was very simple and it only took about 10 minutes. You may need to refer to the manual to make sure that you are installing it into the correct memory slots on your motherboard. In order for it to operate in Dual Channel mode, you may need to install each memory stick in a specific slot in your motherboard. Most motherboards have 4 slots, so this should not be very complicated.

All you have to do is open up your PC case, slide the RAM into the open memory slots on your motherboard, and then make sure it "clamps" into place. That s all there is to it - no drivers or other software installation is needed. Once you close up your PC case and boot up your system, your BIOS should recognize the newly installed RAM and you should be ready to go without any extra steps needed. If you want to verify that Windows has recognized the new memory, you can always go to Start -> Control Panel -> System and then verify that the amount of RAM listed in the section titled Computer is correct.

My use of the memory
I used the memory for over a year with very good results. It performed well and it met my expectations for performance. My Dimension 8300 was very noticeably faster after I installed the new memory. It was able to run all of the games and applications I use without causing any problems. In short, this memory was rock solid and reliable. It remained behind the scenes and did its job well - just what I expect RAM to do.

Unfortunately, I did not take the time to benchmark the memory for performance results. I sold my computer about a month ago, and no longer have access to it. I will only say that the performance improvement with the newly installed Corsair Value Select memory was substantial.

Corsair has an excellent reputation for building quality memory that overclocks well, but
I did not try to lower the timings or to overclock the memory in any way. I have read on various forums that this memory is capable of being overclocked, but I cannot verify that with any first-hand experience.

Conclusion
Overall, I was happy with the Corsair Value Select memory. It served me well for over a year and offered pleasantly surprising performance. It was reliable and I never had any issues with the memory at all. With the included lifetime manufacturer warranty and a very reasonable price, I think it is a fine value for PC3200 memory.