Performance
The tests will be performed on our usual setup with an Intel Core i7 4770K CPU overclocked to 4.2GHz and a motherboard based on Intel Z87 chipset.
The benchmarks were chosen to show how memory performs in a single and multithreaded environment. It is also easy to compare results to your home PCs as most of these tests are free and do not take long to pass.
AIDA64 Memory and Cache benchmark
The AIDA64 benchmark shows that memory clock counts and the results on DDR3-1866 memory are slightly lower than on higher clocked memory kits. Also the higher density of TridentX 16GB memory requires us to set more relaxed sub-timings (that we can’t see here) which also lowers maximum bandwidth.
It does not change the fact that the general performance is really good; and depending on the test, is sometimes even higher than 2133 or 2666 memory kits.
MaxxMem Preview 1.99
The MaxxMem Preview software is showing us similar results. The TridentX, 1866 due to lower clock speed has a slightly lower memory read and copy bandwidth than the other memory kits in this comparison. However the memory write is actually the best.
HyperPi 32M
The HyperPi 32M software is actually the test where we see that sub-timing differences. After some changes in tRFC and couple of other timings we can reach results of 2133 or even 2400 kits, but at XMP settings they are slightly lower as in other tests. The differences are not big and the overall time is still much better than memory based on the single-sided Hynix MFR (like Team Xtreem 2666).
Cinebench 11.5
Cinebench 11.5 is running really good on TridentX memory. I’m usually adding this tests as additional check if memory isn’t causing any performance drops but in this case we see that 16GB TridentX performed best.
As I already mentioned, TridentX 2x8GB DDR3-1866 kit is based on a higher density IC than other memory kits in comparison so it has more relaxed sub timings. In most cases this can slightly limit performance but as we have seen in our tests, G.Skill made a really good memory which even at much lower clock can compete with memory kits at higher clock.
The TridentX 16GB 1866 CL8 memory is probably the fastest available DDR3-1866 memory kit at the moment. I do not think that any other manufacturer is offering 1866 CL8 memory.
Overclocking
Overclocking is never guaranteed so the presented results may vary from results on other memory kits. I am not recommending overclocking if you do not know what are you doing. High voltages may damage hardware and it will not be covered by warranty.
The TridentX series was designed for computer enthusiasts and overclockers alike, so I was expecting some good results and I was not disappointed. During the tests I was able to set stable results of 2133 CL8 or 2400 CL9 which are of course great results. I was not able to stabilize memory clock of 1300MHz (DDR3-2600), however I think it is still great to see DDR3-2400 at CL9 from a DDR3-1866 memory kit!
TridentX 16GB 1866 8-9-9-24 2N @ 2133 8-10-10-24 1N 1.67V
As we can see, the voltage has been set to 1.67V to achieve 2133 8-10-10-24 CR1 result. Pretty good I can say and at much tighter timings than any available memory kit on the market.
If we wish to keep voltage lower then 1.60-1.65V should let us set 2133 9-10-10-24 CR1 which is still a good result.
TridentX 16GB 1866 8-9-9-24 2N @ 2400 9-11-11-24 1N 1.70V
Going up with the clocks I was able to stabilize a DDR3-2400 clock at 9-11-11-24 CR1, which required a voltage of 1.7V. It seems high but is still safe, looking at Samsung memory IC specification.
This is an awesome overclocking result for a DDR3-1866 memory kit!
