KingstonFE
Contributor
Do you want to go for high performance and save your pocket at the same time?
Kingston HyperX Blu 4GB Kit 1600MHz (KHX1600C9D3B1K2) - Bjorn3D.com
Default Frequency & Lowered Timings
Like many value 1600MHz kits, timings will almost always be in the 9-9-9-24 to 9-9-9-28 range. In general, lowered timings usually equates to increased performance which is why lower timed kits cost more. An easy way to get more performance from any memory kit is to simply lower the timings. To keep things easy with the HyperX blu kit, we lowered each timing value by one and tested for stability with Intel Burn Test. After many stability runs and reboots, here is what we came up with.
8-8-8-24 timings aren't exactly impressive, but coming from 9-9-9-27, they are certainly appreciated. We were hoping to reach the magical CAS 7 latency, but keeping the value aspect and pricing in mind, we can't exactly complain. 8-8-8-24 is still an improvement over default values and performance increases will be evident. Overall, we were happy with what we achieved in the lowered timing results.
2000MHz? Easy.
To really see what the HyperX blu kit was capable of, we had to push the frequency. Sticking to Bjorn3D ritual, we left the timings and voltage at default values and simply raised the memory divider. In a matter of 1-2 minutes, we were running this value HyperX blu 1600Mhz kit at 2000MHz without any issues.
We now had a 1600MHz value kit at 2000MHz at default timings and voltage in literally 1-2 minutes. We rebooted, went into the BIOS, changed the divider to achieve 2000MHz, and booted back into Windows. To verify stability we ran Intel Burn Test and all was well. So in short, this HyperX blu kit is very capable of keeping up with the big brother HyperX kits. If maximum frequency and value is your priority, this kit is far more superior in comparison to the standard HyperX kit. You get similar performance for a lot less dollar.
EVEREST ULTIMATE
In the Everest Memory Read test, Kingston's HyperX blu kit beat G.SKILL's PIS kit at 2160MHz despite having higher timings, a lower frequency (2000MHz), and a lower CPU clock. Even at 1600MHz, the HyperX blu kit shows strong performance easily surpassing Patriot's Sector 5 kit and also manages to keep up with the GSKILL kit at 2100MHz. Nothing about the read test results depicts the Kingston HyperX blu memory as a value kit. Very strong numbers to say the least.
Conclusion
From the numbers we gathered during our review, there is no doubt in our minds that budget enthusiasts will promptly be adding these kits to their favorite e-tailer shopping cart. The mix of affordability and high performance is a hard mixture to accomplish, but Kingston managed to make the perfect recipe. You get a functional, appealing heat spreader, timing adjustability, overclockability, and it doesn't cost you more than $103 USD shipped.
Kingston HyperX Blu 4GB Kit 1600MHz (KHX1600C9D3B1K2) - Bjorn3D.com
Default Frequency & Lowered Timings
Like many value 1600MHz kits, timings will almost always be in the 9-9-9-24 to 9-9-9-28 range. In general, lowered timings usually equates to increased performance which is why lower timed kits cost more. An easy way to get more performance from any memory kit is to simply lower the timings. To keep things easy with the HyperX blu kit, we lowered each timing value by one and tested for stability with Intel Burn Test. After many stability runs and reboots, here is what we came up with.
8-8-8-24 timings aren't exactly impressive, but coming from 9-9-9-27, they are certainly appreciated. We were hoping to reach the magical CAS 7 latency, but keeping the value aspect and pricing in mind, we can't exactly complain. 8-8-8-24 is still an improvement over default values and performance increases will be evident. Overall, we were happy with what we achieved in the lowered timing results.
2000MHz? Easy.
To really see what the HyperX blu kit was capable of, we had to push the frequency. Sticking to Bjorn3D ritual, we left the timings and voltage at default values and simply raised the memory divider. In a matter of 1-2 minutes, we were running this value HyperX blu 1600Mhz kit at 2000MHz without any issues.
We now had a 1600MHz value kit at 2000MHz at default timings and voltage in literally 1-2 minutes. We rebooted, went into the BIOS, changed the divider to achieve 2000MHz, and booted back into Windows. To verify stability we ran Intel Burn Test and all was well. So in short, this HyperX blu kit is very capable of keeping up with the big brother HyperX kits. If maximum frequency and value is your priority, this kit is far more superior in comparison to the standard HyperX kit. You get similar performance for a lot less dollar.
EVEREST ULTIMATE
In the Everest Memory Read test, Kingston's HyperX blu kit beat G.SKILL's PIS kit at 2160MHz despite having higher timings, a lower frequency (2000MHz), and a lower CPU clock. Even at 1600MHz, the HyperX blu kit shows strong performance easily surpassing Patriot's Sector 5 kit and also manages to keep up with the GSKILL kit at 2100MHz. Nothing about the read test results depicts the Kingston HyperX blu memory as a value kit. Very strong numbers to say the least.
Conclusion
From the numbers we gathered during our review, there is no doubt in our minds that budget enthusiasts will promptly be adding these kits to their favorite e-tailer shopping cart. The mix of affordability and high performance is a hard mixture to accomplish, but Kingston managed to make the perfect recipe. You get a functional, appealing heat spreader, timing adjustability, overclockability, and it doesn't cost you more than $103 USD shipped.