CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1600C9

Pros: Unshakably stable at 1600MHz, stays solid as you approach 1800MHz. The heat sinks aren't tall and silly, so they fit nicely in a crowded case or under a huge CPU heatsink. The muted black styling should look great in any open-case build or build with a window. I am a very loyal proponent of Corsair for high-end applications, having used their products in my own equipment and hundreds of customers'. I have yet to be let down.

Cons: The compromise here versus Corsiar's Dominator, etc. memory is the timing. The timing settings are pretty loose compared to some more expensive sticks and will obviously impact throughput slightly. To be sure, this compromise is only measurable via benchmark; I'll bet all the beer in Texas that NO ONE can tell the difference between these and similarly clocked RAM with tighter timings just from the seat of their pants by using the machine.

Overall Review: Unless you have an unlimited budget, this is probably the best performance you are going to get for your money. I have used this kit in my desktop (with an FX-8150 and Corsair Performance Pro SSD) and in a few customer machines, as well as the 8GB kit in my faux-server. Get them. They won't let you down.

Pros: -Runs advertized timings @ 1.5V -Cheap

Cons: None

Pros: Fast, capacious, and no spikes to cut your finger.

Cons: Makes an ineffective weapon.

Overall Review: Forgive me a moment of nostalgia here. My first computer, in 1967, was a CDC-6600, designed by Seymour Cray. You could see, and touch (and cut your finger on!), the individual bits of "core" memory -- little round magnetic doughnuts, woven together in a wire matrix. I remember it as having 128k of 60-bit "words", or about 1 Megabyte. The hard disk was five feet in diameter. We've come a long way, baby!

Pros: Very fast and good quality RAM

Cons: Just built this system and it was very unstable - multiple lock ups a day. After further investigation the voltage in the BIOS needed adjusted. Most if not all will set the 'auto' voltage too low (1.5v) where these sticks need 1.65v to operate without any problems.

Overall Review: Most users would not know to do this - I've built systems for years and never had to change the voltage. My system is rock solid now so hopefully this will help others..:

Pros: As usual Great ram once again from corsair, runs at advertised speed, no bad sticks passed all memory test with zero errors.

Cons: none

Pros: Very fast stock speed and quick timings. Heat spreaders look very good.

Cons: Supposed to be stable at DDR3-1600 8-8-8-24 with 1.65V. 1.65V was NOT stable on my system (ASUS P7P55D EVO). Prime 95 would report fatal errors within minutes. Raising the voltage to 1.6625V ran stable for 20 minutes before a crash and raising to 1.675V has had no stability problems. I don't mind such a small increase, but I'm dissapointed that it didn't run stable out of the box.

Overall Review: To reach DDR3-1600, my BCLK had to increase from 133 to 160. I don't mind a mild CPU and bus overclock, though. =)

Pros: Great memory for the price

Cons: See Other Thoughts

Overall Review: Just an FYI to people that buy this memory. I have an Asrock P67 board. For some reason it kept setting this memory to 1333mhz (I have the 1600mhz version) and the voltage to 1.65v. I have a sandy bridge CPU (i5-2500k) and it did not like 1.65v. Make sure you set it to 1.5 volts and force it to 1600mhz in the bios. After that, no more memory errors in Windows or blue screens of death. Just an FYI

Pros: Works great with my Phenom II X4 955.

Cons: None so far