By: Jonathan Kwan
November 30, 2012
Some people suggest that heroes create a time in history. Others argue a time in history allows the emergence of heroes. No matter which side you stand on, one thing we all need to agree on is the recipe for success is not just about being at the right place or the right time. The recipe for success is about being at the right place and the right time. People like Winston Churchill were there when a time in history needed them -- and in this time, they made a name for themselves in history. Even as an Electrical Engineer designing wireless electronics, what would I be doing if I lived, say, two centuries ago? What can I do with my knowledge, and where will I use my talents? Coming upon the G.Skill TridentX F3-2400C10D-8GTX 2x4GB dual channel kit, this DDR3-2400 set is by far the fastest RAM we have touched here at APH Networks. So fast, in fact, if you don't have a third generation Ivy Bridge processor like the Intel Core i7-3770K, you can't even run it at that frequency. Since our old test configuration is based off a Sandy Bridge setup, we decided to discard all of our old results, and test three new memory kits all at once. How well does the sizzling fast G.Skill TridentX compare against offerings from Kingston and Patriot? You have the questions, we got the answers.
Our review unit of the G.Skill TridentX F3-2400C10D-8GTX 2x4GB came in the same package as the G.Skill Ares F3-1866C10D-16GAB 2x8GB kit we have covered back in June, which is, in the computer world, ages ago. I think it was pretty funny how I said I would finish this article in the Ares review "in a few weeks", but come on, let's be realistic here -- it actually ended up being a few months. Oops. On the package itself, using FedEx International Economy service, it did not take too long for the RAM to arrive from the other side of the world to us here in calgary, Alberta. A lot faster than it would take us to write a review, anyway. As I have mentioned before, for some reason, the package was folded in half and taped together to contain two different sets of RAM. At snail's pace, I cracked open the envelope by slicing through a soft matrix of little bubbles for our review today... six months later.
G.Skill continues to use fairly standard retail packaging for their TridentX PC3-19200 2x4GB CL10 dual channel memory kit. The clamshell package is simple and held closed together at the top by two friction buttons; no blister pack techniques were used in this case -- which is, as usual, truly excellent in my opinion. The plastic mould was changed a bit to accommodate the high profile heatspreaders. A black colored insert with G.Skill's logo and TridentX product line branding are placed at the top, with sharp red overlay to highlight give it a more intense feel, as shown in our photo above. Two memory modules can be seen in front through its clear plastic exterior placed vertically next to each other, where differentiating features of similar memory kits can be found on the warranty and specification label placed on each heatspreader. At the back are miscellaneous company, warranty, and specifications information.
Before we move on, let's take a look at G.Skill TridentX F3-2400C10D-8GTX 2x4GB RAM, as obtained from the manufacturer's website:
Model Number: F3-2400C10D-8GTX
Series: TridentX
System: DESKTOP
System Type: DDR3
CPU: 3rd Generation Intel Core Processors*
M/B Chipset: Z77
Capacity: 8GB (4GBx2)
Multi-Channel Kit: Dual Channel kit
Tested Speed: DDR3-2400 MHz (PC3-19200)
Tested Latency: 10-12-12-31 2N
Tested Voltage: 1.65V
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Error Checking: Non-ECC
Type: 240-pin DIMM
SPD Speed: 1600 MHz
SPD Voltage: 1.5V
Height: 54 mm / 2.13 inch
Warranty: Lifetime
Fan lncluded: No
A screenshot of the memory tab in CPU-Z with G.Skill's TridentX F3-2400C10D-8GTX 2x4GB installed. The SPD timings table in CPU-Z reads standard JEDEC specifications programmed into the memory, as well as Intel XMP data for running the memory at various speeds. Using the latest BIOS revision, our Intel Desktop Board DZ77GA-70K motherboard used for testing had no issues detecting and working with the G.Skill RAM right out of the box. It comes with multiple profiles for those who can't operate the memory at full speed (Especially if you have an older processor), which is a nice touch. The G.Skill Ares F3-1866C10D-16GAB 2x8GB retails for approximately $70 at press time.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look, Installation, Test System
3. Benchmark: AIDA64 CPU
4. Benchmark: AIDA64 FPU
5. Benchmark: AIDA64 Memory
6. Benchmark: PCMark 7
7. Benchmark: 3DMark 11
8. Benchmark: PassMark PerformanceTest 7.0
9. Benchmark: SuperPI 1M, Cinebench R11.5
10. Conclusion
