The first consumer platform to support DDR4 memory was Intel's Skylake Z170 family & the respective Z170 motherboards. The memory initially came with native speeds of 2133 MHz but since then, AMD and Intel, have modified their platforms to not only support faster native clock speeds but also allow for higher clocked DIMMs to be supported by XMP profiles that have been tuned specifically by motherboard manufacturers to support a large range of memory kits with clock speeds beyond the native design.
With the launch of Intel's 10th Generation Desktop CPUs, we got to see the brand new Comet Lake-S Z490 platform which features improved I/O and support for fast DDR4 memory up to speeds of 5000 MHz. Today, I will be taking a look at two memory kits that are specifically designed for the Z490 platform and see how raw memory speeds and tightly tuned timings affect the Z490 platform as a whole.
G.Skill Trident Z Royal Series 16 GB DDR4 Memory Kit Specifications
G.Skill is one of the top memory manufacturers known to gamers and enthusiasts in the PC industry. The company has been specializing in the memory industry for several years and their memory kits are very popular among the masses. There are memory lines from G.Skill that have been the eye-catcher since the company was formed, Trident and Ripjaws.
Both of these series have now become the choice of enthusiasts and overclockers as they come with an impressive specifications list and some of the best design schemes on the market. CES 2018 saw G.Skill presenting their new Trident Z Royal RGB memory, a DDR4 memory kit that stays loyal to the Trident Z design but offers a royal touch to it. The memory kit sure seemed spectacular and since then, G.Skill has offered Royal series kits with speeds of up to DDR4-4800 which are truly impressive.
For this particular testing, G.Skill sent me its Trident Z Royal 'F4-4400C18D-16GTRS' 16 GB (8 GB x 2) kit which comes with clock speeds of 4400 MHz (PC4-35200). The memory kit consists of dual 8 GB DIMMs which make up a total of 16 GB in capacity. Following are the full specifications of the kit I'll be testing:
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Capacity: 16GB (8GBx2)
- Multi-Channel Kit: Dual Channel Kit
- Tested Speed: 4400MHz
- Tested Latency: 18-19-19-39
- Tested Voltage: 1.40V
- Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
- Error Checking: Non-ECC
- SPD Speed: 2133MHz
- SPD Voltage: 1.20V
- Fan Included: No
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
- Features: Intel XMP 2.0 (Extreme Memory Profile) Ready
- Additional Notes: Rated XMP frequency & stability depends on MB & CPU capability
The memory kit has a tested latency spec of CL18 and the timings are 18-19-19-39-2N for this specific kit. The voltage set at reference is 1.40V and the memory kit comes in an unbuffered package with non-ECC (Error Correction) design.
The memory kit is fully compliant with Intel's XMP 2.0 and can be easily set to its rated clock speeds through the BIOS shipped on the latest Intel motherboards. Memory compatibility differs from motherboard to motherboard so make sure that your board is high-end and rated to support high clock speed memory sticks.
G.Skill offers a limited lifetime warranty with their G.Skill Trident Z Royal RGB series memory kits. The height of these DIMMs is 44mm or 1.73 inches. They are a bit bulky and the heatsinks extend from the top making it harder to install these with a dual-fan heatsink cooler. Make sure there's enough space with an air cooler before installing these. The kit would go perfectly well with an AIO liquid cooling solution, leaving room for the RGB lighting showcase.
Teamgroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB 16 GB DDR4 Memory Kit Specifications
TeamGroup is the creator of some of the most high-quality memory products for the PC industry. They have come a long way since their inception in 1997 and went on to become one of the fastest-growing product manufacturers and a leading brand around the globe.
Since the arrival of DDR4 memory in the mainstream market, Teamgroup started a separate line of DIMM kits under their new T-Force brand. The T-Force brand is the more enthusiast and gamer aimed memory series with a sheer focus towards quality and performance. For this review, I will be taking a look at Teamgroup's latest T-Force Xtreem ARGB DDR4 series memory.
The Teamgroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB 16 GB DDR4 memory kit is one of the most interesting design choices I have seen on a DDR4 module. The kit I received is optimized at a clock speed of 3600 MHz (PC4-28800). The memory kit consists of two 8 GB DIMMs which make up a total of 16 GB DRAM of capacity. Some main features of the T-Force DARK Z series are listed below:
- Full mirror light penetration
- Latest ARGB technology
- Aluminum alloy heat sink with high performance
- Supports Intel & AMD motherboards
- Selected high-quality IC
- OC profile support
- Energy-saving with ultra-low working voltage
- Taiwan Utility PATENT (number: M584969)
The memory kit has a tested latency spec of CL18 and the timings are 14-15-15-35 for this specific kit. The voltage set at reference is 1.35V and the memory kit comes in an unbuffered package with non-ECC (Error Correction) design. The memory kit is fully compliant with Intel's XMP 2.0 and can be easily set to its rated clock speeds through the BIOS shipped on the latest Intel motherboards.
G.Skill Trident Z Royal RGB 16 GB DDR4 Memory Kit Unboxing and Close Up
The G.Skill Trident Z Royal RGB series memory comes in a standard cardboard package and not cheap plastic material. The box has the G.Skill Trident Z Royal label on the front and that's about the entire marketing or labels that you'd see on this black colored box.
We are looking at the F4-4400C18D-16GTRS SKU which features 16 GB of RAM capacity which is clocked in at 4400 MHz at CL18 timing. The box is sealed by a single holder which can be pushed up or down to gain access to the contents within the package.
Within the package are two DDR4 DIMMs, both of which are held within the black colored foam to protect the package during shipping as this is a very fragile product in design that can easily be damaged.
Outside the package, the G.Skill Trident Z Royal series includes the most stunning DRAM modules I have ever seen. G.Skill has managed to make their existing Trident Z memory modules even more interesting with the Royal theme and it sure would become a nice option for the PC modding community.
G.Skill provided us with their silver-colored Trident Z Royal series memory. Do note that there are both silver and gold-colored DIMMs available, however, I believe that silver is a very neutral color when building a PC compared to Gold. Gold sure amps up the appeal but you'd have to pick up a list of matching components otherwise you won't be doing much justice to your build. The silver color opens room for various build options.
The top of the memory modules houses the highlight of the memory kit, the Radiant Crystalline bar. This unique design is kind of reminiscent to the insides of a Geode with an entirely crystal designed light diffuser that provides maximum light refraction, allowing your PC to shine even when using in low-light conditions.
The crystalline top runs the entire length of the DIMM as was the case with the Trident Z RGB series. As always, G.Skill provides you full functionality of this feature through the Trident Z Royal RGB software which allows various modes and configurations for LED tweaking and the option to set off the RGB LEDs completely.
The frame of the memory DIMMs is of a high-class design that uses polished aluminum heat spreaders of either gold and silver color (silver in our case). There's also the extra Trident Z Tri-Fin design on the top just next to the RGB diffuser that helps deliver extra cooling performance for a memory clocked this high.
The memory modules are bulky and pack a solid heatsink that delivers optimal thermal performance. The sides feature a large Trident Z RGB logo. The DRAMs are fully covered by this aluminum shielded heatsink so higher temperatures won't be an issue on these sticks.
The memory sure looks spectacular but beware that it can easily catch fingerprints and requires you to clean them with the cloth provided in the package or use gloves when installing them in your PC.
G.Skill Trident Z Royal RGB 16 GB DDR4 Memory Kit - RGB Lighting Showcase
The main focus of the new G.Skill memory kit is RGB and boy oh boy, does it look great. The RGB LEDs are controlled directly through signal processing via the DDR4 memory slot. G.Skill has software known as "Trident Z Royal Lighting Control" which is still in infancy but does offer good support for the memory on various Intel 300-series motherboards.
The memory runs in the default "Rainbow Wave" mode when plugged in the slots. G.Skill has enabled RGB support on motherboards from all major vendors to sync in with their RGB tech.
Through the software, LEDs for each memory can be configured individually. There is a range of RGB effects and animations available along with static mode and you can also turn the LEDs on and off.
Teamgroup T-Force DARK Z 16 GB DDR4 Memory Kit Unboxing and Close Up
The T-Force Xtreem ARGB series comes in a small cardboard package. It has red and black accents all over. The front of the package has the name and specifications sticker along with the marketing logos for T-Force and Xtreem ARGB brands.
The back of the box lists down a brief overview of the T-Force brand along with detailed features of the T-Force Xtreem ARGB series memory. The package also includes a warranty paper & a T-Force logo sticker.
Out of the box, I can note that the Xtreem ARGB from T-Force rocks a very premium look with a glossy front face and the use of silver and blue accents on the heatsink shroud.
The T-Force Xtreem ARGB series memory modules feature a large diffuser that is embedded across both sides. The diffuser lights up the reflective shroud which delivers a stunning look on the DIMM.
The other side of the memory modules has a matte black finish on the lower half. The reason for this is that the other side won't be as exposed as the front side of the memory when installed in a PC.
The dual-tone looks fantastic and the ARGB lighting makes this memory kit look great with almost all kinds of build.
The large diffuser does make the modules stand out a bit taller which might cause an issue in terms of heatsink clearance if you're running an air cooler. Otherwise, the memory is one phenomenal piece of work by T-Force.
Teamgroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB 16 GB DDR4 Memory Kit - RGB Lighting Showcase
As stated above, one of the main features of the T-Force Xtreem ARGB series is its unique design and that has mostly do with the stunning all-body RGB diffuser that is placed on the heatsink. The ARGB features of this memory kit are fully supported by major motherboard vendors through their own RGB technologies.
The memory kit supports ASUS's Aura Sync, Gigabyte's RGB Fusion 2.0, MSI's Mystic Light, and ASRock's Polychrome Sync software.
Intel Z490 / Core i9-10900K Memory Test Setup
For testing, I used the latest Intel Core i9 10900K processor along with the ASUS ROG Maximus XII HERO motherboard which can support higher frequencies memory without any issues. The XMP profile for each respective ram kit was enabled. That's 4400 MHz CL18 for the G.Skill and 3600 MHz CL14 for the T-Force kit.
Intel Z490 / Core i9-10900K Memory Test Setup
| Processor | Intel Core i9-10900K @ 3.7 GHz (Stock) |
|---|---|
| Motherboard: | ASUS ROG Maximus XII HERO |
| Power Supply: | ASUS ROG THOR 1200W PSU |
| Solid State Drive: | Samsung SSD 960 EVO M.2 (512 GB) |
| Memory: | G.Skill Trident Z Royal 16 GB (8 GB x 2) DDR4-4400 CL18 T-Force Xtreem ARGB 16 GB (8 GB x 2) DDR4-3600 CL14 |
| Case: | Corsair Graphite Series 780T Full Tower |
| Video Cards: | MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Lightning Z |
| Cooling Solutions: | ASUS Ryujin 240mm AIO |
| OS: | Windows 10 64-bit |
The memory kit comprises of 2 DIMMs that operate in dual channel mode. Since we were running a Z490 platform, the memory was operating in dual channel mode. Additionally, I managed to get an overclock of DDR4-3733 MHz with the T-Force kit while retaining the CL14 (14-15-15-35) timings at 1.5V. For G.Skill's kit, I pushed the memory up to DDR4-4600 MHz with CL19 (19-19-19-38) timings at 1.5V or DDR4-4000 with CL16 (16-18-18-36 2T) timings.
DDR4 Memory Kit Performance Tests With Intel Core i9-10900K
I have separated the performance tests into two sections. The first section consists of pure synthetic and general workload tests while the second section would be focusing on gaming performance and how different games are affected by higher clocked memory sticks.
AIDA64 Memory Bandwidth Benchmark
For AIDA64 memory tests, I ran the kits at both at stock and overclocked speeds. The stock speed was configured at the XMP profile of 3600 MHz CL14 for the T-Force and 4400 MHz CL18 for the G.Skill kit.
SuperPI
Super PI is used by many overclockers to test the performance and stability of their computers. In the overclocking community, the standard program provides a benchmark for enthusiasts to compare “world record” pi calculation times and demonstrate their overclocking abilities. The program can also be used to test the stability of a certain overclock speed.
Winrar
WinRAR is a powerful archive manager. It can backup your data and reduce the size of email attachments, decompress RAR, ZIP, and other files downloaded from the Internet and create new archives in RAR and ZIP file format.
Gaming Performance Tests
Gaming applications generally don't see huge gains with different memory kits but DDR4 has enabled a huge gain in memory frequency which can impact gaming performance. Moving from the stock 3200 MHz to 3600 MHz and beyond 4000 MHz can have a slight effect on performance and the improved CAS timings on some of the high-end SKUs can result in better overall FPS and system responsiveness.
Furthermore, while 8 GB has become the standard for gaming PCs, modern applications such as editing software and multi-tasking users can benefit hugely from 16 GB and 32 GB kits which have become more common in the gaming market over the last couple of years.
The duo of memory kits I tested today show that Intel still offers problem-free support for the majority of memory kits available in the market. I had no problem running the memory kits at default and overclocked configurations. Both memory kits provided by G.Skill and Teamgroup feature solid design and good ICs which are designed to be overclocked so it all boils down to consumer choice.
In terms of overclocking, G.Skill has slightly better-binned DRAM dies although both of them are based on the Samsung B-die chips. For users who are looking for tighter timings, the Teamgroup Xtreem ARGB series is good for them while frequency enthusiasts should go for G.Skill with their higher clocked memory kits which are available in several configurations with different clocks and timings.
Design choices for both kits are very unique with Trident Z Royal's going for a more glossy look with a crystallized RGB diffuser which looks amazing while T-Force's effort is great in itself with a mirror finish with a full-body diffuser to show off those RGB effects. Both kits are compatible with lighting RGB software from major board vendors. To sum it up, both memory kits offer a very premium look and feel that only a few other manufacturers could match when it comes to the RGB memory landscape.
Pricing is a whole another story with the G.Skill Trident Z DDR4-4400 (CL18) kit going for $289.99 US while the T-Force Xtreem ARGB 16 GB DDR4-3600 (CL14) kit going for $174.99 US. The G.Skill Royal series pricing is slightly more than the standard Trident Z RGB modules so if you really want your PC to feature these premium components, then Royal RGB is the way to go otherwise you're well off with the standard Trident Z RGB kit which goes for close to $200 US.
The Teamgroup T-Force on the other hand is priced ideally within what you'd expect of a premium 16 GB memory kit and makes it a good choice for users who want a fast memory kit with a premium design. Both kits do overclock well but my testing showed that G.Skill fares out much better in this department. With that said, both of these kits are superb options built for their specific audiences who want a taste of premium components within their PCs. If you're not a fan of RGB or the premium designs, then there are several memory kits available for much cheaper prices in the retail market. Both memory kits receive an Editor's Choice Award from me!
The post Intel Core i9-10900K CPU & Z490 Platform Memory Performance With G.Skill Trident Z Royal 4400 MHz CL18 & T-Force Xtreem ARGB 3600 MHz CL14 Memory Kits by Hassan Mujtaba appeared first on Wccftech.
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