Product: Corsair DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB DDR5 DRAM 5200MHz
Type: Memory (RAM)
Price: From $559 AUD (2x 16GB)
Availability: Now
Link: corsair.com/Memory/DOMINATOR-PLATINUM-RGB-DDR5-Memory

The production and logistics issues and shortages that the tech world has faced over the past couple years has been hard to ignore. We’re now in a world where brand new consoles have been out for well over a year and they’ve yet to reach an actual physical shelf. In the PC space we’ve seen an entire generation of graphics hardware from NVIDIA and AMD face a similar situation, though stock issues there seem to have been sorted in the past couple of months.

So yeah, it’s been a tumultuous couple of years of next-generation technology hitting the scene. Which includes new PC memory and the soon-to-be-the-standard DDR5. So then, what does the jump from DDR4 to DDR5 bring to the table? Well, you can probably guess the first part - faster speeds. Not only that but you’ve got better power efficiency and the ability to up the total capacity to the point where a PC with 1TB of DDR5 memory is possible. Not entirely feasible, but possible.

Also, it paves the way for the future of memory and CPU combos - namely Intel’s impressive new 12th-gen “Alder Lake” CPUs and what AMD has in store. The Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 DRAM we’re reviewing here comes in a few flavours, the more standard 32GB size (2 x 16GB sticks) and the beefier 64GB (2 x 32GB sticks). Due to shortages and recent hardware issues, high memory prices have meant that the launch of DDR5 arrived with a price-tag to match the current climate. Corsair’s offering definitely seems to be one of the more affordable, even though that means it's still pricey.

Plug-and-Play

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Memory or RAM is one of key components of a PC, it’s where data for all of your Chrome tabs are stored alongside anything else that makes switching between tasks and applications fast and seamless. Rated at 5200MHz (with this review testing the 64GB variant) any memory intensive task you can think of is handled in a way that’s substantially faster than anything we’ve ever seen outside of watching one of those videos where a few insane builders overclock their memory with liquid nitrogen.

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"In terms of the Corsair Dominator range, well, you’re getting pure quality through and through. From the custom heatsink to the sturdy aluminium body to the RGB strip light action."

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In terms of the Corsair Dominator range, well, you’re getting pure quality through and through. From the custom heatsink to the sturdy aluminium body to the RGB strip light action. It’s worth stating that these sticks are tall units, far taller than the DDR4 RAM we’re used to.

Throw in a limited lifetime warranty and it’s all par for the course for Corsair - a company known for creating reliable memory modules for PC builds. It’s good to see Corsair getting in on the DDR5 action early, though it’s worth noting that currently the tech is limited to the latest Intel processors and motherboards fully decked with the new XMP profiles - which is that part of the BIOS that allows you to change the speed of your RAM. In a very cool move Corsair allows for this customisation directly via its iCUE software. Which can also be used to sync all of those lights.

Random Access Memories

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So then one of the big questions that comes to mind is how DDR5 affects gaming? Well, with most high-resolution gaming being almost entirely dependent on the GPU and its own VRAM buffer the answer is not all that much. And really, if you’re looking at getting DDR5 memory because it’s the new RAM on the block - it might just be worth taking into account the very limited difference it currently brings to the gaming table when it comes to playing games.

Specs

• Memory: Corsair DOMINATOR RGB DDR5
  
• Memory Type: DDR5
  
• Memory Size: 64GB (2 x 32GB)
  
• Latency: 38-38-38-84
  
• Speed: 5200

But, with 5200MHz being the current sweet spot for DDR5, and Corsair’s Dominator range, there’s a definite benefit for general usage and content creation tasks where RAM plays an important role. If you’re building a rig with a new Intel 12-th gen processor and looking to take advantage of the latest in motherboard technology, then this is definitely a great option. High quality, high performing memory from a brand known for delivering just that. Now, in shiny new DDR5 form.