Kingston celebrate their 10th Anniversary of HyperX memory with a special edition 16GB DDR3 memory kit.
Product On Review: KHX21C11X3K4/16X
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Kingston Technology
Street Price: £85 RRP (at time of review)
As the name suggests, Kingston have been churning out their HyperX range of memory kits for 10 years now and are proven leaders in the highly contested memory market. The kit on review today is a celebration of that fact. Weighing in at a speedy 2133MHz the kit arrives with sleek yet stylish special edition silver heat spreaders that are bound to stand out in any system.
Firm favourites among overclockers and system builders alike, the HyperX range caters for every pocket and has proven very popular over the years because not only is there a wide selection of speeds and sizes available with every Kingston product but they also come with a lifetime warranty so you can be assured that the product you are buying is quality, durable and thus will stand the test of time.
With 16GB (4x4GB) and running at 2133MHz, the kit on review today hits the sweet spot as far as X79 Quad channel kits go. Should you want a different size or speed though, perhaps for Z77 or AMD chipsets, then Kingston have a wide range to choose from.
Kingston on their latest memory kit
Kingston’s HyperX®10th Anniversary Edition memory celebrates ten
years of outstanding performance with a stylish silver heatspreader. It features a low profile to fit under large CPU coolers and enhanced thermal dissipation for long-term memory reliability.
Engineered to outperform the competition, HyperX 10th Anniversary Edition memory delivers impressive frequencies up to 2400MHz and high capacities up to 32GB. Users will experience higher performance as well as ultra-responsive multitasking and an overall faster system.
HyperX 10th Anniversary Edition memory is Intel XMP Ready, with XMP profiles built into the modules, so higher performing frequencies, timings and voltage are attainable by simply enabling Intel’s Extreme Memory Profile. For added peace of mind, it’s covered by a lifetime warranty, free technical support and legendary Kingston® reliability.
years of outstanding performance with a stylish silver heatspreader. It features a low profile to fit under large CPU coolers and enhanced thermal dissipation for long-term memory reliability.
Engineered to outperform the competition, HyperX 10th Anniversary Edition memory delivers impressive frequencies up to 2400MHz and high capacities up to 32GB. Users will experience higher performance as well as ultra-responsive multitasking and an overall faster system.
HyperX 10th Anniversary Edition memory is Intel XMP Ready, with XMP profiles built into the modules, so higher performing frequencies, timings and voltage are attainable by simply enabling Intel’s Extreme Memory Profile. For added peace of mind, it’s covered by a lifetime warranty, free technical support and legendary Kingston® reliability.
Specification & Features
Specification
• CL(IDD) 9 cycles
• Row Cycle Time (tRCmin) 49.5ns (min.)
• Refresh to Active/Refresh 160ns (min.)
• Command Time (tRFCmin)
• Row Active Time (tRASmin) 36ns (min.)
• Maximum Operating Power 2.400 W* (per module)
• UL Rating 94 V – 0
• Operating Temperature 0C to 85C
• Storage Temperature -55C to +100C
• CL(IDD) 9 cycles
• Row Cycle Time (tRCmin) 49.5ns (min.)
• Refresh to Active/Refresh 160ns (min.)
• Command Time (tRFCmin)
• Row Active Time (tRASmin) 36ns (min.)
• Maximum Operating Power 2.400 W* (per module)
• UL Rating 94 V – 0
• Operating Temperature 0C to 85C
• Storage Temperature -55C to +100C
XMP TTiming Parameters
• JEDEC: DDR3-1333 CL9-9-9 @1.5V
• XMP Profile #1: DDR3-2133 CL11-12-11 @1.65V
• XMP Profile #2: DDR3-1866 CL10-11-10 @1.65V
• JEDEC: DDR3-1333 CL9-9-9 @1.5V
• XMP Profile #1: DDR3-2133 CL11-12-11 @1.65V
• XMP Profile #2: DDR3-1866 CL10-11-10 @1.65V
Features
• JEDEC standard 1.5V (1.425V ~ 1.575V) Power Supply
• VDDQ = 1.5V (1.425V ~ 1.575V)
• 667MHz fCK for 1333Mb/sec/pin
• 8 independent internal bank
• Programmable CAS Latency: 9, 8, 7, 6
• Posted CAS
• Programmable Additive Latency: 0, CL – 2, or CL – 1 clock
• Programmable CAS Write Latency(CWL) = 7 (DDR3-1333)
• 8-bit pre-fetch
• Burst Length: 8 (Interleave without any limit, sequential with
starting address “000” only), 4 with tCCD = 4 which does not
allow seamless read or write [either on the fly using A12 or
MRS]
• Bi-directional Differential Data Strobe
• Internal(self) calibration : Internal self calibration through ZQ
pin (RZQ : 240 ohm ± 1%)
• On Die Termination using ODT pin
• Average Refresh Period 7.8us at lower than TCASE 85°C,
3.9us at 85°C < TCASE < 95°C
• Asynchronous Reset
• PCB : Height 1.18” (30mm) double sided component
• JEDEC standard 1.5V (1.425V ~ 1.575V) Power Supply
• VDDQ = 1.5V (1.425V ~ 1.575V)
• 667MHz fCK for 1333Mb/sec/pin
• 8 independent internal bank
• Programmable CAS Latency: 9, 8, 7, 6
• Posted CAS
• Programmable Additive Latency: 0, CL – 2, or CL – 1 clock
• Programmable CAS Write Latency(CWL) = 7 (DDR3-1333)
• 8-bit pre-fetch
• Burst Length: 8 (Interleave without any limit, sequential with
starting address “000” only), 4 with tCCD = 4 which does not
allow seamless read or write [either on the fly using A12 or
MRS]
• Bi-directional Differential Data Strobe
• Internal(self) calibration : Internal self calibration through ZQ
pin (RZQ : 240 ohm ± 1%)
• On Die Termination using ODT pin
• Average Refresh Period 7.8us at lower than TCASE 85°C,
3.9us at 85°C < TCASE < 95°C
• Asynchronous Reset
• PCB : Height 1.18” (30mm) double sided component
Packaging & First Look
The Kingston HyperX 10th Anniversary kit arrives in a a compartmentalised plastic box. Uppermost is a clear cover which would allow you to see the product inside were it not for the product stickers blocking our view. The stickers tell us that the product is XMP certified (2 profiles) with the main sticker giving us the product code, kit size and speed.
Breaking the factory seal, we get to see the modules which are neatly stacked aside one another. We do like the way Kingston have presented this kit as previously; the modules were flat against the packaging, itself just a simple blister style pack. Here we get to gently remove each module without force from the packaging instead of prizing each module away from the blister pack press stud fashion. Good improvement Kingston!
With the modules removed from the neat packaging we see that they have a very sleek design. The low slung heatspreader is finished in a matt silver paint with reflective highlights in an ‘X’ design.
The silver design really is eye catching and very stylish. Being silver they will suit most any colour scheme and despite the discreet styling will still stand out from most mainboard designs.
The module specification sticker features numerous serial/batch numbers however there is no mention of timings or bandwidth. Fortunately, as the modules are XMP certified, a quick BIOS change will ensure the optimal settings are easily loaded.
The modules are ideally suited for those who wish to use air cooling, especially for X79 as the module height of just 30mm will ensure that they do not clash with any high end CPU HSF and will fit snugly beneath.
Above you can see just how much a difference not having those large fins makes. The Corsair Vengeance used in our test rig are much taller than the Hyperx kit and certainly present problems when testing large CPU coolers as the fins bump against the CPU cooler heatpipes preventing correct fitment. The HyperX kit will present no such problems.
Taking those low profile heatspreaders off was tricky due to the very sticky thermal interface material connecting the integrated chips to the heatspreader. This WILL invalidate Kingston’s lifetime warranty so don’t try this at home!
The memory chips used in this kit hail from Hynix and carry a product code of H5TQ2G83CFR-PBC. This tells us that they are 8 bank 256MB, 78ball and are specified to run at 1600MHz with 1.5v at timings of CL11-11-11. Kingston however have programmed these modules to run at 1.65v and have an XMP profile of 2133MHz with timings of CL11-12-11. Not a bad improvement at all I’m sure you will agree. It does however remain to be seen if there is anything left in the tank with regards to overclocking.
Test Setup & Overclocking
Test SystemMotherboard MSI X79 Big Bang X-Power II
CPU Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition @ 3.3GHz
Power Supply ANTEC High Current Pro 1200W
Hard Drive Kingston HyperX 240GB
Cooler XSPC Raystorm 750 RS360
CPU Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition @ 3.3GHz
Power Supply ANTEC High Current Pro 1200W
Hard Drive Kingston HyperX 240GB
Cooler XSPC Raystorm 750 RS360
Memory kits on test:
Kingston HyperX 10th Anniversary 16GB 11-12-11 2133MHz
Kingston HyperX 10th Anniversary 16GB 11-12-11 2133MHz
AVEXIR MPOWER 16GB 9-9-9 1600MHz
Kingston HyperX Beast 32GB 11-13-13 2133MHz
Kingston HyperX Predator 16GB 9-11-9-27 1866MHz
G.SKILL ARES 16GB 9-11-10-28 2133MHz
Patriot Division 4 Viper Extreme 16GB 9-11-9-27 1866MHz
Corsair Vengeance 16GB 9-10-9-27 1866MHz
G.SKILL RipjawsZ 16GB 9-10-9-28 1866MHz
Overclocking
Above are the SPD settings of the memory kit in today’s review.
The Kingston HyperX 10th Anniversary comes with 2 X.M.P profiles, one of which has a relatively conservative speed of 1866MHz and the one we are using above of 2133MHz with timings of 11-12-11 @ 1.65v.
Overclocking the 10th Anniversary kit was not particularly easy. We honestly expected the kit to embrace overclocking and be something a little bit special given that the kit is a celebration of Kingston’s past 10 years in the industry. Sadly, overclocking the 10th Anniversary was a frustrating affair because it refused to budge from the 2133MHz threshold without a jump in voltage and by slackening off the timings. Still, 2400MHz is a good result but we would advise caution pumping just over 1.7v through ram on a 24/7 basis.
Let’s see how the results faired both in stock and overclocked formats…
SuperPI 1.5 (XS Mod)
In August 1995, the calculation of pi up to 4,294,960,000 decimal digits was succeeded by using a supercomputer at the University of Tokyo. The program was written by D.Takahashi and he collaborated with Dr. Y.Kanada at the computer center, the University of Tokyo. This record should be the current world record. ( Details is shown in the windows help. ) This record-breaking program was ported to personal computer environment such as Windows NT and Windows 95 and called Super PI. In order to calculate 33.55 million digits, it takes within 3 days with Pentium 90MHz, 40MB main memory and 340MB available storage.
HyperPI 0.99b
The HiperPI front-end is basicly a program which allows selecting multiple threads of SuperPi to be run at the same time so you can test the stability and performance on multi-core machines.
AIDA64
AIDA64 is the successor to Everest ULTIMATE. This application not only details every component within a system but it also incorporates a comprehensive memory benchmarking tool that will ascertain bandwidth and latency figures.
Sisoft Sandra 2012
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. We will be considering – CPU and memory tests.
Futuremark 3DMark 11
Designed to measure your PC’s gaming performance 3DMark 11 makes extensive use of all the new features in DirectX 11 including tessellation, compute shaders and multi-threading. Trusted by gamers worldwide to give accurate and unbiased results, 3DMark 11 is the best way to consistently and reliably test DirectX 11 under game-like loads.
DiRT 3
As players race to elevate their global standing, DiRT 3 is back delivering mud, sweat and gears world over: from the intense weather-beaten rally stages of Europe, Africa and the US, to executing performance driving showcases and career challenges where car control is pushed to spectacular limits.
Conclusion
Celebrating their 10th anniversary Kingston would have done better utilising their Beast kit which was phenomenal and thus worthy of an example of how far Kingston have come over the past decade. Instead what we get is a run-of-the-mill, every day kit that is neither special nor extraordinary. It is a kit that will serve users well and to that end it has to be said that it isn’t a bad kit it’s just we were expecting something better. One of Kingston’s major competitors celebrated their anniversary with a fantastic kit that had amazing overclocking results and while the Kingston kit also had some gas left in the tank, it needed a lot of coercing to extract that extra performance.
The aesthetics of the kit is unobtrusive and thanks to the silver detailing does look a little bit special. It should also stand out in any PC mainboard as there are not that many silver coloured kits on the market today. We also were grateful for the low profile heatsinks which should make the kit popular in today’s large heatsink dominated market. However, the green PCB spoils the overall theme and would look infinitely better with a black PCB. It’s the little details that separate a good kit from an excellent one.
Performance, like its looks, was good but could be better. We liked that Kingston had 2 X.M.P profiles to choose from giving us a little versatility however 99% of enthusiasts will be choosing the higher speeds and possibly overclocking the ram higher than standard spec so the additional X.M.P profile only serves as a safety not should your IMC not be up to the task of running such fast memory.
The memory kit is competitive though which stands it in good favour, matching the price its own HyperX ‘Genesis’ kit of the same speed and comparable kits from other manufacturers. Memory prices fluctuate all the time but at the time of writing we expect to pay around the £85 mark for a kit of this calibre.
Overall, we found the Kingston 10th Anniversary kit to be good but not up to our high expectations. We wanted more from a kit that represents one of the biggest names in the business and while there was nothing wrong with the kit, it didn’t set our pulses racing nor break any technological barriers.
Pros:
+ Low Profile
+ Good looking heatsinks
+ 2 X.M.P profiles
+ Lifetime Warranty
+ Fair price point
Cons:
– Green PCB
– Average performance
+ Low Profile
+ Good looking heatsinks
+ 2 X.M.P profiles
+ Lifetime Warranty
+ Fair price point
Cons:
– Green PCB
– Average performance
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
