Memory

G.SKILL Flare X DDR4 Review

Tony Le Bourne
August 27, 2017 9 Min Read
2 0

When the time called for stability for the latest Ryzen systems, G.SKILL responded and revived their Flare X series of high performance memory specifically designed and tested for the AMD platform.


Product on Review: G.SKILL Flare X, 3200MHz, CL14, 2 x 8GB DDR4
Manufacturer: G.SKILL
Street Price: This kit; UK: £199 / US: $219

G.SKILL are renowned for their performance memory and are regularly the go-to brand for performance enthusiasts. This is highlighted by the recent record breaking 5500MHz by TOPPC using the Trident Z memory. Back in the day of DDR3 memory G.SKILL brought forth a high-performance memory solution specifically for the AMD platform, titled ‘Flare’. It had ridiculously tall heatsinks, and was a dual tone of black/red that had sandwiched a green PCB; thankfully times have changed.

The release of Ryzen quickly prompted G.SKILL to revive the Flare branding (as Flare X) to give consumers out the box high-performance and stability for their new AMD system. Available in 2133MHz/2400MHz/3200MHz in various dual or quad channel kits in up to 64GB capacities (quad channel support for the AMD ThreadRipper CPUs. G.SKILL have dressed up the Flare X modules in a stylish heatspreader similar to those found on the Ripjaws 4 memory modules, that are available in either black or red. The dual channel kit we are looking at today would represent the high-performance model that has cherry picked ICs and features a default XMP setting of 3200MHz at CL14.



Overview by G.SKILL
Designed for the latest AMD Ryzen processor, the Flare X series DDR4 memory kit marks the return of the legendary G.SKILL Flare series that provided awesome performance in the previous generation of DDR3 memory. Built with carefully selected IC chips specifically tested and validated on the AM4 platform, the Flare X series will provide the best compatibility and stability for systems with the AMD Ryzen CPU.

Technical Specifications

Series: Flare X (for AMD)
Memory Type: DDR4
Capacity: 16GB (8GBx2)
Multi-Channel Kit: Dual Channel Kit
Tested Speed: 3200MHz
Tested Latency: 14-14-14-34
Tested Voltage: 1.35v
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Error Checking: Non-ECC
SPD Speed: 2400MHz
SPD Voltage: 1.20v
Fan lncluded: No
Height: 40 mm / 1.58 inch
Warranty: Limited Lifetime
Features: Intel XMP 2.0 (Extreme Memory Profile) Ready
Additional Notes: Rated XMP frequency & stability depends on MB & CPU capability.

Packaging & Product


G.SKILL have packaged the Flare X memory in a protective blister that clearly displays its specification and its compatibility with AMD Ryzen.


The rear gives a brief overview of the Flare branding as high-performance AMD memory with specially selected high performance IC’s.


The Flare X memory has off black/carbon coloured heatsinks that are of a similar design to the Ripjaws. As much as we would love to confirm the memory IC’s used, we have no way of safely removing the heatsinks or replacing the thermal adhesive. However, we have got word that the 3200MHz CL14 Flare X uses Samsung B Die, while the 2133MHz-2400MHz uses Hynix ICs. This would explain the jump in price for the 3200MHz chips, as they are using cherry picked, high performance IC’s and so we should expect some very good overclocking headroom.


When considering memory modules, the height of the heatsinks may be an important factor to consider in regards to the compatibility with large air coolers. The height of these modules comes in exactly at 40mm, which should be compatible with most coolers.


Installed into our Crosshair VI Hero, the colouring is neutral, while the interesting design adds to the overall aesthetic.

Test Setup

Memory Configurations
‘G.SKILL Flare X DDR4 3200MHz’
2666MHz @ 12-12-12-12-28-56-1T
2933MHz @ 12-12-12-12-28-56-1T – Highest CL12

2666MHz @ 14-14-14-14-32-58-1T
2933MHz @ 14-14-14-14-32-58-1T
3200MHz @ 14-14-14-14-32-73-1T – XMP 2.0
3333MHz @ 14-14-14-14-32-58-1T
3466MHz @ 14-14-14-14-32-58-1T – IMC Limit of our R7 1800X

2666MHz @ 16-16-16-16-36-62-1T
2933MHz @ 16-16-16-16-36-62-1T
3200MHz @ 16-16-16-16-36-62-1T
3333MHz @ 16-16-16-16-36-62-1T
3466MHz @ 16-16-16-16-36-62-1T – IMC Limit of our R7 1800X

Test Setup
Cooling Corsair Hydro H115i
MotherboardASUS ROG Crosshair VI Hero
Graphics Radeon RX 480 8GB
Storage Corsair Force LE 480GB
PSU Corsair RM 750X 80 Plus Gold Certified PSU

Compared against
Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200MHz
Team Dark Pro ‘8 Pack’ 3200MHz
Team Delta RGB 2933MHz
HyperX Predator 3200MHz


Benchmarks
Cinebench R15 – CPU
SiSoftware SANDRA – Memory bandwidth
AIDA64 – Memory Benchmarks
PCMark 8 – Photoshop
Games – Dawn of War III


Other Software
Temperature Analysis: Aida64/Ryzen Master
System Monitoring and Stress Testing: AIDA64 Stability Test
CPU Specification Monitoring: CPU-Z

Overclocking


As expected, we managed to reach the maximum frequency of our 1800Xs IMC which was 3466MHz (as discovered with our previous outing with the Team Dark Pro 8 Pack). If you are lucky with your CPU, you may be able to reach memory frequencies well beyond this (as with the Ryzen 3 1300X which reached 3722MHz). Interestingly however, we discovered that the G.SKILL Flare X was about to sit at CL12 up to 2933MHz, and was able to stay at the super tight CL14 all the way up to 3466MHz. All our overclocking attempts were done at the recommended voltage of 1.35V. The 3200MHz CL14 rated model also features JEDEC 2400MHz standard, and despite the SPD stating JEDEC 2400MHz CL 17, when we booted in at default settings, it loaded in at 2400MHz CL15. This could be due to the motherboard or the memory, either way its a nice baseline performance out the box with no adjustments.





Memory Transfer Performance – AIDA64

AIDA64 Product Page
Memory bandwidth benchmarks (Memory Read, Memory Write, Memory Copy) measure the maximum achiveable memory data transfer bandwidth. The code behind these benchmark methods are written in Assembly and they are extremely optimized for every popular AMD, Intel and VIA processor core variants by utilizing the appropriate x86/x64, x87, MMX, MMX+, 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, SSE4.1, AVX, and AVX2 instruction set extension.

The Memory Latency benchmark measures the typical delay when the CPU reads data from system memory. Memory latency time means the penalty measured from the issuing of the read command until the data arrives to the integer registers of the CPU.






Bandwidth Performance – SiSoftware SANDRA

SANDRA isn’t always a benchmark that is included in hardware reviews but I believe it shouldn’t be ignored. SANDRA provides a vigorous package that tests your system in a rather large array of benchmarks. There are many aspects of benchmark that can be executed.



Processing Power Performance – Cinebench R15

CINEBENCH can measure systems with up to 64 processor threads. This test scene contains approximately 2,000 objects which in turn contain more than 300,000 polygons in total, and uses sharp and blurred reflections, area lights, shadows, procedural shaders, antialiasing, and much more. The result is displayed in points (pts). The higher the number, the faster your processor.



Image Editing Performance – PCMark 8 Photoshop

PCMark 8 Product Page
Developed in partnership with Benchmark Development Program members Acer, AMD, Condusiv Technologies, Dell, HGST, HP, Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Samsung, SanDisk, Seagate and Western Digital, PCMark 8 is the latest version in FutureMark’s popular series of PC benchmarking tools. Improving on previous releases, PCMark 8 includes new tests using popular applications from Adobe and Microsoft.




PassMark – Memory Mark

PassMark Performance Test. Fast, easy to use, PC speed testing and benchmarking. PassMark PerformanceTest allows you to objectively benchmark a PC using a variety of different speed tests and compare the results to other computers.



Gaming Performance – Dawn of War III

To test out the benefit of faster memory in a real world scenario, we have taken a recent game and created a CPU limited scenario by reducing the resolution and graphics settings to minimum, while setting the CPU dependent settings at their highest.



Conclusion

G.SKILL’s Flare X memory modules have an interesting, aggressive aesthetic that will look great in any system. Once you have them installed, and enabled the XMP, you get the reassurance that you will get decent frequencies and tight timings that have been specifically created to work the AMD Ryzen CPUs. In our tests we found that the 3200MHz CL14 Flare X kit provided highly competitive performance across the board, helping to truly get the best out of a Ryzen CPU. Combined with the overclock headroom we discovered this kit allowed, we were able to find the upper limit to our performance



Some may note that the cost of the Flare X modules do not appear to the best value, especially when compared to competing memory modules. However, some may consider that the out-the-box stability for Ryzen, along with the overclock headroom (thanks to the cherry picked ICs) will be worth it. This level of performance observed with the 3200MHz CL14 Flare X kit will attract the performance enthusiasts and overclockers that are looking to get the absolute best from their system, or if you are a gamer, you may be chasing those few bonus frames per second. Either way, this is a fantastic memory kit that should seriously be considered if you are planning on moving to an AMD Ryzen based PC.

With huge overclock potential, and tight timings, the 3200MHz Flare X kit delivers on its promise to get the best out of the AMD Ryzen CPUs.

Pros
+ Uses JEDEC 2400MHz Standard
+ Aggressively timed XMP
+ Attractive, low heatsink design
+ Specifically designed for AMD Ryzen
+ Available in various frequencies/capacities (including Quad-Channel kits for ThreadRipper)
+ Overclocks very well
+ Lifetime Warranty

Cons
– Price

Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.

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Tony Le Bourne