This whole story stems from a procedure that began more than 3 years ago, against a backdrop of accusations of misleading communication on the part of Corsair concerning the speed of some of its RAM modules. In fact, the speeds claimed by the brand for its DDR4/DDR5 Vengeance and Dominator correspond in reality to XMP/EXPO overclocking profiles, and not to the default JEDEC speeds. In this case, therefore, it’s hard to say whether we’re dealing with a complaint revealing the stupidity of certain consumers, or the vice of professionals watching for the slightest loophole. From the outset of the case, Corsair has denied any infringement or intention to mislead the customer.
Negligence on Corsair’s part or a well-exploited loophole?
As you may have gathered, Corsair is accused of advertising high frequencies, such as 3600 MHz for DDR4 or 6400 MHz for DDR5 on the marketing material for its memory sticks (packaging, product sheet…), without specifying that these are overclocked profiles via XMP for Intel or EXPO for AMD. These speeds are not reached by default, as JEDEC standards impose lower bases, i.e. 2133 MT/s for DDR4 and 4800 MT/s for DDR5. And of course, achieving these speeds can depend on many parameters, such as the capabilities of your motherboard’s BIOS, your processor and your technical knowledge. In order to avoid escalation and the “leafleting” of legal proceedings which would be detrimental to the company’s image, Corsair has agreed to an out-of-court settlement of these proceedings.
Corsair wishes to put an end to this affair
After more than three years of litigation, Corsair has agreed not only to pay $5.5 million, but also to clarify its packaging and product pages with references to “up to xxx Mhz” and warnings about the overclocked nature of these numbers. The settlement covers US purchases between 2018 and 2025, with claims open until October 28, 2025, with a final hearing scheduled for December 4, 2025. Amounts will depend on the number of claims, with up to five unsupported claims possible for small amounts. This proposal to close the procedure amicably will be examined by a court. If the principle is approved, Corsair will pay US$5.5 million, which will be divided among the users who have come forward.