TheOverclocker Issue 22 | Page 15

All results were obtained at 4800MHz s on an un-optimized Windows7 64-bit and Windows XP SP3. These are our results, yours may vary so only use these as a guideline for a similarly configured system. G.Skill Trident X F32666C11D 8GB Kit 24909 24921 28773 29.9 1.24.922 2400 9-12-12-31-1N 25921 25170 29841 29.2 1.24.656 2600 10-13-13-31-1N 26021 23951 25645 29.5 1.25.046 2666 11-13-13-35-1N 26696 25364 29853 28.8 1.24.625 2800 11-14-14-35-1N Summary with DRAM prices. Consider as well that this is a set for overclocking and thus you’re unlikely to be running this memory at the default speeds of reference timings. For instance in the previous issue we looked at the CORSAIR PLATINUM C10 kit of the same frequency. At no point was it necessary for us to run the default timings as they were always slower apart for the 2800MHz result. We had similar expectations here, but the RAM fell short. For $150 we can’t be too harsh on the memory, and the fact that it will run 2800 MHz reliably at close to or default voltage is enough for us to give this set the nod. For our spend and effort though, once you commit to this kind of money for memory when it can be had for as little as $49, we tend to not be too concerned about the price ultimately. That’s because for a gaming system having 2133MHz memory or 2,666Mhz memory will make absolutely no difference and the only benefit and forte of these kits is for competitive o r at least semi competitive overclocking. Let’s also not forget that as much as all recent 3770K CPUs have good IMCs, that doesn’t hold for all of them especially the ones with very high clock speeds which seem to have rather poor IMCs. In that context you’re likely looking for tight timing memory. Even if you’re not able to get PSC memory any more you’ll want slightly better timings than this RAM is capable of, so we’d urge you to give serious consideration to the G.Skill F3 2,666C10D set instead. Save $30 more and reward yourself with some of the best RAM around. G.Skill has once again produced a competent kit. It’s not new for the outfit and certainly not unexpected. This set functions as advertised and does have some measure of overclocking headroom. However the price difference between this and the significantly better C10 kit does cast some doubt upon the real value of this set in the long run. Overall a fairly standard 2,666MHz set if there is such a thing. If your budget is fixed at $150 do give this set some consideration. Would you buy it? Possibly we’d say. At $150 you could do a lot worse. The Score 8.5/10 [ TheOverclocker ] Issue 22 | 2012 The OverClocker 15