Overclocker RAM: G.Skill agrees on OC labeling
A US class action lawsuit accused G.Skill of deception regarding RAM clock speeds. The manufacturer is paying $2.4 million as a result.
(Image: G.Skill)
G.Skill has reached an out-of-court settlement with the initiators of a US class action lawsuit. They accused the manufacturer of misleadingly advertising memory modules for desktop PCs: G.Skill – like some other manufacturers – only state the maximum clock frequency on their website and print it on the packaging, for example DDR4-3200 or DDR5-6000.
However, this is overclocker RAM (Overclocked, OC), which goes beyond the basic specifications of the responsible JEDEC. Anyone who wants faster clock frequencies than DDR4-2133 or DDR5-4800 must either load an overclocker profile in the BIOS (Intel XMP, AMD EXPO) or manually change the values.
Not all processors and motherboards support the maximum clock frequency and best possible latencies of a memory kit. The plaintiffs accuse G.Skill that this is not clear to all buyers.
2.4 million US dollars
G.Skill and the plaintiffs agree on a settlement of 2.4 million dollars. This currently corresponds to just over 2 billion euros. As usual, only Americans can secure a few crumbs from the pie: All those who bought G.Skill desktop memory of type DDR4 or DDR5 between January 31, 2018, and January 7, 2026, are eligible for participation. A household can claim compensation for five kits without proof of purchase.
As with all US class action lawsuits, by far the largest piece of the pie goes to the lead law firm, Dovel & Luner in this case. According to the settlement, they will receive one-third of the settlement amount, i.e., 800,000 US dollars. Some US media like Claim Depot report additional administrative costs of 295,000 US dollars. The amount of further legal expenses is said to still be open. This leaves less than 1.3 million US dollars for participants in the class action lawsuit. If more than 130,000 people register, that amounts to less than 10 US dollars each.
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OC Notes
Meanwhile, G.Skill commits to adapting its product pages and packaging. In the future, "up to" will precede the clock frequencies, and an addition will be included: "Requires overclocking/BIOS adjustments. Maximum speed and performance depend on system components, including motherboard and CPU."
As is often the case with out-of-court settlements, G.Skill emphasizes that it does not constitute an admission of guilt. "The parties have agreed to the settlement to avoid the uncertainties, burdens, and costs associated with continuing the proceedings," the settlement states. A California court still needs to approve the terms, likely on June 5, 2026.
Corsair also changes specification
It is remarkable to look at Corsair. The manufacturer recently adjusted the packaging of some memory kits. Unlike before, the new versions now also include "up to" before the clock frequencies. Other manufacturers without such additions may soon follow suit.
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