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Yes, the Corsair RAM lawsuit was real—but Corsair was not found liable at trial. McKinney v. Corsair Gaming, Inc. ended in a court-approved class-action settlement over allegations that some DDR4 and DDR5 desktop-memory products were advertised using higher performance-profile speeds without sufficiently clear disclosure that users might need to change BIOS/UEFI settings.
Corsair denied wrongdoing. The court approved a $5.5 million non-reversionary settlement fund on January 8, 2026, without deciding whether the advertising allegations were true. The reported claim deadline was October 28, 2025, so the settlement is now in administration and distribution—not at the stage of accepting routine new claims.
What the Corsair RAM lawsuit was about
The case was McKinney v. Corsair Gaming, Inc., Case No. 4:22-cv-00312-JST, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The plaintiffs alleged that Corsair advertised certain Vengeance and Dominator desktop-memory modules using speeds that were not the modules’ default, out-of-the-box settings.
According to the complaint, some kits initially operated at lower JEDEC-standard speeds. Reaching the higher number shown in product listings or on packaging could require enabling an Intel XMP profile, an AMD EXPO profile, or making another BIOS/UEFI adjustment. The complaint cited examples including Vengeance RGB Pro memory advertised at 3200 MHz and Dominator Platinum RGB memory advertised at 3600 MHz, while alleging a 2133 MHz default speed. These were plaintiffs’ allegations, not findings that applied to every Corsair kit.
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- Disclaimer: Maximum Speed requires overclocking/PC BIOS adjustments. Maximum speed and performance depend on system components, including motherboard and CPU
- AMD EXPO & Intel XMP 3.0 Compatible Only: Dual memory profiles allow you to easily select optimized settings for your platform, whether you’re running an AMD or Intel processor
- Onboard Voltage Regulation: Enables easier, more finely-tuned, and more stable overclocking through CORSAIR iCUE software than previous generation motherboard control
- Maximum Bandwidth and Tight Response Times: Optimized for peak performance on the latest AMD and Intel DDR5 motherboards
- Hand-Sorted, Tightly-Screened Memory Chips: Ensure consistent high-frequency performance with aggressive timing options
The consumer-confusion theory was straightforward: a buyer could reasonably focus on the prominent rated speed, install the memory, and unknowingly run it at a lower default setting unless a performance profile was enabled.
Read the Fifth Amended Complaint for the plaintiffs’ technical allegations.
JEDEC speed, XMP, EXPO, and the advertised number
Modern enthusiast memory commonly has more than one relevant speed:
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- JEDEC/SPD default: a conservative, standardized profile intended to provide broad compatibility and allow the system to boot automatically.
- XMP or EXPO profile: a stored performance profile containing a higher frequency and associated timings and voltage settings.
- Rated or advertised speed: the higher effective DDR data rate associated with the performance profile.
Enabling XMP or EXPO is normally a preconfigured BIOS operation rather than manually experimenting with timings and voltages. It is still a change from the conservative default operating parameters, which is why the lawsuit and settlement documents discussed it as overclocking or requiring overclocking-related adjustments.
That distinction matters. Enabling a profile is common and often takes one setting in firmware; it is not automatically dangerous or equivalent to extreme manual overclocking. But it is also not the same as the computer automatically running at the baseline JEDEC speed.
Rank #2
- Disclaimer: Maximum Speed requires overclocking/PC BIOS adjustments. Maximum speed and performance depend on system components, including motherboard and CPU
- AMD EXPO & Intel XMP 3.0 Compatible Only: Dual memory profiles allow you to easily select optimized settings for your platform, whether you’re running an AMD or Intel processor
- Dynamic RGB Lighting: Individually addressable RGB lighting delivers vibrant effects through a sleek, understated panoramic diffuser
- Onboard Voltage Regulation: Onboard voltage regulation for reliable power at high frequencies
- Maximum Bandwidth and Tight Response Times: Optimized for peak performance on the latest AMD and Intel DDR5 motherboards
Why RAM can boot below the speed on the box
A memory module can contain both a standard compatibility profile and a faster performance profile. Many motherboards select the conservative profile by default. To use the advertised performance setting, a user may need to:
- Enter the motherboard’s BIOS/UEFI interface.
- Open the memory, overclocking, or performance-profile section.
- Enable the relevant XMP, EXPO, or manufacturer-equivalent option.
- Save the changes and reboot.
The exact label and menu path vary among ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, ASRock, and other motherboard vendors. Some firmware may call the option a memory profile, DOCP, A-XMP, EXPO, or something similar.
There is also a measurement issue. DDR memory is marketed using an effective transfer rate. Some utilities display the underlying memory clock, which can be approximately half the effective DDR figure. For example, a tool showing a roughly 1600 MHz clock can correspond to DDR4-3200. That difference alone does not indicate that the kit is malfunctioning.
Did Corsair lose the lawsuit?
Not in the sense of receiving a trial verdict that it violated the law. The case ended through a settlement. Corsair denied wrongdoing, and the settlement documents state that the agreement was reached to avoid the risks and expense of continued litigation. The court approved the settlement without determining which side was right.
Accordingly, it is inaccurate to say that a court found Corsair guilty of false advertising, or that Corsair admitted its RAM was defective. The legally accurate description is that Corsair settled a class-action false-advertising lawsuit while agreeing to monetary relief and clearer disclosures.
Rank #3
- Disclaimer: Maximum Speed requires overclocking/PC BIOS adjustments. Maximum speed and performance depend on system components, including motherboard and CPU
- AMD EXPO & Intel XMP 3.0 Compatible Only: Dual memory profiles allow you to easily select optimized settings for your platform, whether you’re running an AMD or Intel processor
- Dynamic RGB Lighting: Individually addressable RGB lighting delivers vibrant effects through a sleek, understated panoramic diffuser
- Onboard Voltage Regulation: Onboard voltage regulation for reliable power at high frequencies
- Maximum Bandwidth and Tight Response Times: Optimized for peak performance on the latest AMD and Intel DDR5 motherboards
The court’s December 2022 ruling also dismissed several parts of the original case, including certain omission theories, claims involving DDR5 products the named plaintiffs had not purchased, national and multistate class claims, and breach-of-express-warranty claims as then pleaded. Some DDR4-related claims continued, and some warranty allegations could be amended under California law. The final settlement should not be treated as a victory on every theory originally asserted.
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Settlement status as of August 18, 2026
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Case | McKinney v. Corsair Gaming, Inc., Case No. 4:22-cv-00312-JST |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California |
| Final approval | January 8, 2026 |
| Settlement fund | $5.5 million, non-reversionary |
| Covered purchases | January 14, 2018, through July 2, 2025 |
| Reported claim deadline | October 28, 2025 |
| Current position | Administration and distribution |
The final approval order said approximately 62,958 claim forms were submitted, covering at least 266,550 products. The settlement class included approximately 12 million products, meaning valid claims represented only a fraction of the covered products.
The record does not establish one universal payment amount. Payments were calculated pro rata after approved administration costs, attorneys’ fees, incentive awards, and other expenses. The court’s final-approval order required post-distribution accounting and identified July 28, 2026, as a further case-management date related to administration.
Who was covered by the settlement?
The approved settlement class covered qualifying purchasers in the United States. In general, the covered products were:
- Corsair DDR4 desktop memory rated above 2133 MHz; or
- Corsair DDR5 desktop memory rated above 4800 MHz;
- non-SODIMM products purchased between January 14, 2018, and July 2, 2025.
The definition did not cover laptop or other SODIMM memory. It also did not cover every Corsair RAM product, every memory generation, every product sold worldwide, or every kit operating below its advertised profile.
Rank #4
- Disclaimer: Maximum Speed requires overclocking/PC BIOS adjustments. Maximum speed and performance depend on system components, including motherboard and CPU
- AMD EXPO & Intel XMP 3.0 Compatible Only: Dual memory profiles allow you to easily select optimized settings for your platform, whether you’re running an AMD or Intel processor
- Dynamic RGB Lighting: Individually addressable RGB lighting delivers vibrant effects through a sleek, understated panoramic diffuser
- Onboard Voltage Regulation: Onboard voltage regulation for reliable power at high frequencies
- Maximum Bandwidth and Tight Response Times: Optimized for peak performance on the latest AMD and Intel DDR5 motherboards
The speed thresholds were part of the settlement class definition. They were not a court finding that every Corsair module above those speeds was defective or incapable of reaching its rated profile.
What customers could receive
The agreement created a common fund for pro-rata cash payments to people with valid claims. Claimants could generally claim up to five qualifying purchases per household without proof of purchase. Additional purchases could potentially qualify when supported by proof of purchase. Payment options included a physical check or a digital method, depending on the claim process.
The headline $5.5 million figure was the gross fund, not a guaranteed payment for each customer. Individual amounts depended on the number of valid claims and qualifying purchases after permitted deductions.
What Corsair agreed to change
The settlement required Corsair to make commercially reasonable efforts to change representations for covered products on packaging, its website product pages, and specifications supplied to resellers.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe agreed disclosure approach presented rated speeds as “up to” speeds alongside language explaining that the product requires overclocking or PC BIOS adjustments, and that maximum speed and performance depend on system components including the motherboard and CPU.
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- Disclaimer: Maximum Speed requires overclocking/PC BIOS adjustments. Maximum speed and performance depend on system components, including motherboard and CPU
- Dynamic Ten-Zone RGB Lighting: Illuminate your system with ten individually addressable, ultra-bright RGB LEDs per module, encased in a panoramic light bar for vivid RGB lighting from any viewing angle.
- Onboard Voltage Regulation: Enables easier, more finely-tuned, and more stable overclocking through CORSAIR iCUE software than previous generation motherboard control.
- AMD EXPO Compatibility: Compatible with AMD EXPO for higher frequencies and exceptional overclocking performance.
- Maximum Bandwidth and Tight Response Times: Optimized for peak performance on the latest Intel DDR5 motherboards.
This did not prohibit Corsair from selling high-speed memory or advertising its performance-profile speed. It required clearer communication about the settings and hardware conditions involved.
See the settlement agreement for the class definition, payment framework, and disclosure terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was the RAM defective?
Not necessarily. The lawsuit primarily concerned how operating speeds were advertised and disclosed—not a blanket claim, resolved by the settlement, that Corsair modules were physically defective.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11A kit can be capable of its rated XMP or EXPO speed while initially booting at a lower JEDEC speed. Conversely, an individual kit that crashes or produces errors at its profile may have a compatibility problem, an unstable configuration, outdated firmware, or defective hardware. The settlement did not resolve every individual stability complaint.
How to check and configure your Corsair RAM
Check the current speed
- In Windows, open Task Manager → Performance → Memory and check Speed.
- Check the memory information page in BIOS/UEFI.
- Use a reputable utility such as CPU-Z, remembering that it may show the base memory clock rather than the effective DDR rate.
If it is below the rated speed
- Confirm the exact kit specification and whether the advertised number refers to XMP or EXPO.
- Check the motherboard manufacturer’s supported-memory list and the CPU’s memory specifications.
- Update the motherboard BIOS if appropriate.
- Enable the relevant performance profile in BIOS/UEFI.
- Save, reboot, and verify the resulting speed.
- Run a dedicated memory-stability test rather than assuming a successful boot proves stability.
If enabling the profile causes crashes
Possible causes include an outdated BIOS, CPU memory-controller limitations, four-DIMM configurations, mixed kits, marginal modules, incorrect voltage or timing behavior, or a profile that is too aggressive for the platform.
First clear CMOS or use the motherboard’s recovery procedure to return to default settings. Then try a BIOS update, install only the matched kit, select a lower profile if available, test modules individually, and run a memory test. If errors continue, contact the motherboard or RAM manufacturer and check the applicable warranty terms.
What buyers should check when choosing high-speed RAM
- Profile type: Determine whether the advertised speed is a standard JEDEC speed or an XMP/EXPO performance-profile speed.
- Platform support: Consider the CPU generation, motherboard chipset, BIOS version, DIMM count, capacity, rank, and board layout.
- Matched kits: A matched two-DIMM kit is generally safer than combining separate kits, even when their specifications appear identical.
- Stability over headline numbers: A slightly slower profile that runs reliably can be preferable to the highest advertised setting.
- Warranty terms: Check current RAM and motherboard policies before changing voltages, timings, or frequencies manually.
Current options include Corsair memory, G.Skill desktop memory, Kingston FURY, and Crucial memory. The same compatibility checks apply regardless of brand; switching manufacturers does not eliminate the difference between default JEDEC operation and performance-profile operation.
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Timeline
- January 14, 2018: Settlement purchase period began.
- 2022: Lawsuit filed and early pleadings litigated.
- December 9, 2022: Hearing on Corsair’s motion to dismiss.
- December 16, 2022: Court dismissed some claims and allowed others to continue.
- July 12, 2024: Settlement agreement filed.
- July 2, 2025: Covered purchase period ended.
- October 28, 2025: Reported claim deadline.
- January 8, 2026: Final approval and final judgment.
- July 28, 2026: Further case-management date related to administration.
The official settlement website remains the appropriate place to check any administrator updates regarding distribution.
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