Purchasing RAM for your PC can be a daunting task. For gamers, the top priority is to have a powerful and responsive machine, and having good memory will definitely aid you in achieving that goal.
Today we're taking a quick peek at a high performance memory kit from Taiwanese manufacturer G.Skill. Since 2003, G.Skill has been releasing memory to cater for a wide gamut of users, from budget buyers to úber-enthusiasts. In my hot little hand right now is a 6GB tri-channel DDR3 kit designed for Intel's Core i7 platform.
Specifications
- Rated for DDR3-2000 @ 1.65v
- 9-9-9-24 Timings
- 3 x 2GB Modules (for triple channel operation)
- Unbuffered non-ECC 240-pin DIMM
- Lifetime warranty
- Current price: $315
What makes this memory stick out from the rest on the shelf are the giant 3-pronged heatsinks attached to them - hence the name Trident. At first I thought the name referred to the triple channel orientation but the dual channel version of the Tridents proved me wrong there.
The optimised fins allow for maximised airflow through the module and the images on the back of the blister pack indicate up to a 30'C drop in chip temperature. They also make the sticks look pretty damn cool.
Configuration
Running these chips at the advertised speed of DDR3-2000 is part art and part science. If your motherboard supports the "XMP" (eXtreme Memory Profile) standard then you can simply select this option in your BIOS and all the right settings and voltages will be adjusted for you, otherwise you'll have to do a wee bit of tinkering to get there.
Generally you'll have to bump your QPI speed (formerly known as FSB) to 143MHz from the default of 133MHz to select a 2000MHz memory speed, and then you'll want to select 9-9-9-24-1T as your timings. Next step is to set your DRAM voltage to 1.65v, and QPI/VTT voltage to 1.35v - although this will depend heavily on what CPU you are using as requirements will vary.
Overclocking
Nothing gets plugged into my PC without getting pushed to the limits of stability so the first thing I've done with these sticks is to see how fast they'll run.
With a CAS latency of 9, these sticks have virtually no headroom in them at all - this could be different component (like my QPI bus) hitting its limits however.
The take-home message from these results though is that CL7 is the sweet spot for this RAM. Running at speeds over DDR3-1600 CL7 should in theory be faster than at DDR3-2000 CL9 (lower CAS latency meaning better performance of course). I'm not sure why CL6 hits a wall so early, but that's not a biggie.
Conclusion
I like these sticks. Sure, they're not the cheapest, but the price is still reasonable for the speed they deliver, especially considering the blazingly high clocks they can reach at CL7.
The heavy duty heatsinks also provide a nice touch, bringing form and function to the package. Definitely something to add to your PC wish list.
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Our thanks to PlayTech for providing the review hardware.
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