Where performance and scaling
are concerned, this kit is flawless.
Yes, not every single stick can
do the magical DDR4 4133 C12 that
overclockers desire(only one stick
could manage this), there aren’t
many memory sticks that can do
this either and it is likely that
within your four sticks, not even a
single DIMM may be able to
achieve this. It isn’t too important
though, as that is not a timing &
frequency combination which can
be used in any capacity outside of
competitive overclocking with a
liquid nitrogen cooled CPU and a
board with the chops to achieve
this.
If everything until this point
means nothing to you, it’s likely
you’re reading the wrong
publication, but if you’re not - then
at the very least one has to
appreciate the aesthetics of the
kit. In this day where virtually
everything needs to have RGB
LEDs, it’s not only good to see a
simple single colour solution, but
one done in such a tasteful and
exquisite manner. It makes the
case for LED lighting on such
components. The contrast – as the
DRAM kit is aptly named - is to me
the most pleasing colour scheme I
have ever seen on a DRAM kit. I’ve
found previous kits quite
compelling, but as with all things -
preferences change and when one
looks at the Dominator Platinum
Chrome DRAM from issue 40
against this kit , it’s clear which
has the title of the most visually
striking memory kit.
In true Corsair style, what you’re
buying into with the kit is more
than just the numbers and the LED
lighting support, but it’s the entire
package, presentation and to a
large extent brand affinity. There
are plenty of memory kits which
can be objectively said
to offer everything this kit does.
However I’d argue that none of
them present an otherwise
mundane component
in a way that gives it that instant
and aspirational appeal. There’s a
level of attention paid to the
packaging, the labelling, and just
about every other element which
speaks more to what the brand
represents as a whole, than it does
the particular component. In more
familiar terms, the Special Edition
CONTRAST set
is simply more than the sum of
its parts. Few components are
this striking when viewed in the
flesh especially for DRAM. In all
the limited-edition SKUs in all of
Corsair’s DRAM history, none have
been as well rounded in terms of
both performance and visuals as
this one. If I were still giving out
numerical scores to hardware, this
would be a perfect score for what
it is, but I think the editor’s choice
award will have to do. For reasons
perhaps more than what I have put
before you, I think this is one of - if
not the finest memory kit I’ve ever
had the pleasure of testing.
[ The Overclocker ]
Issue 45| 2018 The OverClocker 25