My Preview
First off packaging- plain and simple. Just a simple white box with a plastic box within holding the ram. The back of the box does have a bit of description of the ram while the actual instructions and warranty terms (written in 342 languages no less) are in small folded up brochure under one of the dimms in the box. Time for pics-
One with my once-expensive-and-now-old XMS3s-
A close up of the Specs sticker-
And finally a pic of it installed in my system. Sorry about the dust, this system picks up dust like no tomorrow.
Now onto the actual RAM. Unlike my existing XMS3s, the HyperXs immediately identified as 1600Mhz CL9. But what fun is 1600Mhz? So up went the CPU FSB to 250 and voila- 2000Mhz. However I soon ran into a road block with the memory (or motherboard) restricting me from crossing 250 fsb no matter what I tried to do. More on that in my benchmarks below.
Now for the actual benchmarks, I'm a little ashamed to say that I couldn't best my existing Corsairs. I don't entirely blame the ram and I believe my motherboard has something to with this too. Nevertheless, first up - straight up 100% stock benchmarks. (Note- The Corsair XMS3s identified as 1333Mhz so i had to raise the memory multiplier to run it at its rated 1600Mhz. Also, both RAM timings were left at AUTO). Strangely, despite (appearing to?) having CL11 timings the XMS3 still beat the CL9 HyperXs by a small margin. Unreasonable? I ran the test thrice (resetting to optimised defaults each time) yet each time the Corsair just won every time.
Corsair up, Kingston down.
Onto the flat out benchmarks. The XMS3s were capable of a maximum of 1800Mhz @ CL9 which again edged out infront of HyperXs best - 2000Mhz @ CL11. This benchmark was a complete disaster from the start. With the HyperXs in my system, my system refused to cross 250 on the FSB, which matters a lot for my locked-multiplier X6 as it limited my CPU speed to only 3500Mhz. No amount of voltages on the CPU, Northbridge, Northbridge VID, RAM could get me across 250. Meanwhile, the XMS3s being able to do 1800Mhz allowed my CPU all the way upto 3.8Ghz and even more if I pushed the voltages (which I didn't). In the end, the Corsair XMS3 at 1800Mhz/CL9/CPU:3.8Ghz and the Kingston HyperX at 2000Mhz/CL11/CPU:3.5Ghz+turbo boost: 3.8Ghz (I was desperate!).
Corsair up, Kingston down.
Honestly, I don't quite know whats wrong here. Whats worse, the RAM timings were absolutely not tightenable- Both at 1600Mhz and 2000Mhz. I tried tightening every single value manually but not one of the adjusted timings posted, not even a single digit lower than the RAC Active Time was possible. I spent hours at this stick and quite honestly, I'm really disappointed with the results and even more so considering how good everyone has done.
Nevertheless, I'd like to thank Kingston for the RAM. It didn't perform to my expectations but its still a really beautiful kit otherwise. Plus its good to have 8GB of memory finally :lol:.
First off packaging- plain and simple. Just a simple white box with a plastic box within holding the ram. The back of the box does have a bit of description of the ram while the actual instructions and warranty terms (written in 342 languages no less) are in small folded up brochure under one of the dimms in the box. Time for pics-
One with my once-expensive-and-now-old XMS3s-
A close up of the Specs sticker-
And finally a pic of it installed in my system. Sorry about the dust, this system picks up dust like no tomorrow.
Now onto the actual RAM. Unlike my existing XMS3s, the HyperXs immediately identified as 1600Mhz CL9. But what fun is 1600Mhz? So up went the CPU FSB to 250 and voila- 2000Mhz. However I soon ran into a road block with the memory (or motherboard) restricting me from crossing 250 fsb no matter what I tried to do. More on that in my benchmarks below.
Now for the actual benchmarks, I'm a little ashamed to say that I couldn't best my existing Corsairs. I don't entirely blame the ram and I believe my motherboard has something to with this too. Nevertheless, first up - straight up 100% stock benchmarks. (Note- The Corsair XMS3s identified as 1333Mhz so i had to raise the memory multiplier to run it at its rated 1600Mhz. Also, both RAM timings were left at AUTO). Strangely, despite (appearing to?) having CL11 timings the XMS3 still beat the CL9 HyperXs by a small margin. Unreasonable? I ran the test thrice (resetting to optimised defaults each time) yet each time the Corsair just won every time.
Corsair up, Kingston down.
Onto the flat out benchmarks. The XMS3s were capable of a maximum of 1800Mhz @ CL9 which again edged out infront of HyperXs best - 2000Mhz @ CL11. This benchmark was a complete disaster from the start. With the HyperXs in my system, my system refused to cross 250 on the FSB, which matters a lot for my locked-multiplier X6 as it limited my CPU speed to only 3500Mhz. No amount of voltages on the CPU, Northbridge, Northbridge VID, RAM could get me across 250. Meanwhile, the XMS3s being able to do 1800Mhz allowed my CPU all the way upto 3.8Ghz and even more if I pushed the voltages (which I didn't). In the end, the Corsair XMS3 at 1800Mhz/CL9/CPU:3.8Ghz and the Kingston HyperX at 2000Mhz/CL11/CPU:3.5Ghz+turbo boost: 3.8Ghz (I was desperate!).
Corsair up, Kingston down.
Honestly, I don't quite know whats wrong here. Whats worse, the RAM timings were absolutely not tightenable- Both at 1600Mhz and 2000Mhz. I tried tightening every single value manually but not one of the adjusted timings posted, not even a single digit lower than the RAC Active Time was possible. I spent hours at this stick and quite honestly, I'm really disappointed with the results and even more so considering how good everyone has done.
Nevertheless, I'd like to thank Kingston for the RAM. It didn't perform to my expectations but its still a really beautiful kit otherwise. Plus its good to have 8GB of memory finally :lol:.
