G.Skill TridentX Review: 2x4GB at DDR3-2666 C11-13-13 1.65V
by Ian Cutress on October 28, 2012 12:00 PM ESTMetro2033
Metro2033 is a DX11 benchmark that challenges every system that tries to run it at any high-end settings. Developed by 4A Games and released in March 2010, we use the inbuilt DirectX 11 Frontline benchmark to test the hardware at 1920x1080 with full graphical settings. Results are given as the average frame rate from 4 runs.
Our Metro2033 IGP results seem to mirror the expectations shown from the MemTweakIt results, albeit by a factor of a 1/2 (MemTweakIt predicts 20% gain over 1333 C9, we only see a 10% gain).
Civilization V
Civilization V is a strategy video game that utilizes a significant number of the latest GPU features and software advances. Using the in-game benchmark, we run Civilization V at 1920x1080 with full graphical settings, similar to Ryan in his GPU testing functionality. Results reported by the benchmark are the total number of frames in sixty seconds, which we normalize to frames per second.
Despite the expected difference the 2666 C11 kit should give according to MemTweakIt and Metro2033, we actually fall behind the 2400C10 kit by a very small margin. Overall however we are only getting a ~6.7% gain in frame rates over 1333 C9 for that 127% increase in price.
Dirt 3
Dirt 3 is a rallying video game and the third in the Dirt series of the Colin McRae Rally series, developed and published by Codemasters. Using the in game benchmark, Dirt 3 is run at 1920x1080 with Ultra Low graphical settings. Results are reported as the average frame rate across four runs.
Dirt 3 results seem a little at odds with what we have expected – moving from 2133 C9 to 2400 C10 caused a decrease in frame rates, whereas 2133 C9 to 2666 C11 caused an increase. Nonetheless the biggest gains over 1333 C9 seem to be with 1600 C9 and 1866 C9. Any memory kit above that is a miniscule raise at best.
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Denithor - Monday, October 29, 2012 - link
Seconded.While it's kinda nice to know the RAM companies CAN produce this level of product, for 99.999% of even your audience (the true computer geeks) these products are a useless waste of cash.
I would much rather see more in depth reviews of other components, RAM speed is just so unnecessary in the overall performance of the system.
Tech-Curious - Friday, November 2, 2012 - link
I think reviews like this one are useful precisely because they show, in exhaustive detail, that high-performance RAM is wasteful.Granted, a lot of us don't need in-depth reviews to know that, but FWIW, I'll toss this article in my bookmark folder and link it whenever I need to demonstrate to someone that they should buy cheaper RAM.
mpdugas - Monday, October 29, 2012 - link
Jeepers, why all the hate?Gen-An - Tuesday, October 30, 2012 - link
No idea. If it's not for some people, fine, move on. Why they even bother wasting their time reading and replying to a review on a product they feel is "pointless" is beyond me.Beenthere - Monday, October 29, 2012 - link
Unless people have more money than brains no one really should be paying a premium for RAM with a frequency higher than 1866 MHz. as there is nothing of substance to be gained from it - as countless tests with real applications confirm. The bogus RAM tests that exaggerate the benefits of higher frquency RAM may dupe the gullible, but those with more PC knowledge know better than to be deceived.saturn85 - Tuesday, October 30, 2012 - link
add a folding on cpu benchmark should be great.Gen-An - Tuesday, October 30, 2012 - link
Ugh, you got the single-sided sticks with Hynix H5TQ4G83MFR. Most enthusiasts prefer the double-sided sticks with Hynix H5TQ2G83CFR ICs as they have more headroom than their 4Gbit counterparts. On the other hand, I have a kit of 4x4GB Trident X 2666 and I can't run all 4 sticks at 2800 C11 with stock voltage, though I haven't tried binning the sticks individually. People hate the Trident X 2400C10 sticks when they're single-sided Samsung.Beenthere - Sunday, February 17, 2013 - link
Only gullible sheeple think paying hundreds of dollars for RAM that offers no tangible improvement in system performance is a wise decision.Quote:
"Moving up to 2666 C10 obviously has the advantages of the lower command rate."
Hint: C10 is NOT the Command Rate which is either 1T or 2T