Test: Einzeltest: G.Skill Trident X 2400MHz
Zitat: Pro: + Pricing
+ Good Looks
+ Bandwidth
+ High Speed
+ Lifetime Warranty
Contra: - Could not get to 2600MHz
With the strength of Intel´s Ivy Bridge processors´ memory controller and architecture, finding memory to take advantage of these attributes usually comes with a fairly hefty price tag. Why you ask? Because of the hand binning processes that are usually needed to find memory ICs that can run the number with the prerequisite voltage and latencies. In this respect, the Trident X modules are competitive with several other kits on the market, including G.Skill´s own Ripjaws Z series modules. When you factor in the $99 price tag, these modules become very attractive and competitive.
What makes the Trident X modules different is the use of the new Trident series heat spreaders that feature removable cooling fins — something seen on Corsair´s Dominator line-up. This feature is aimed right at the enthusiast sector. By removing the cooling fins, the end user has the ability to use a variety of cooling solutions for some extreme-cooled memory overclocking. When the fins are removed, there is a flat surface that can be used to set an LN2 pot or even a custom liquid cooling solution on the main heat shield with the end goal of keeping the modules cool for improvements in clock speed. The large removable fins provide plenty of cooling potential when used as delivered, with an airstream over the modules from the CPU cooling solution or even the chassis fans.
Performance-wise, the Trident X modules deliver performance indicative of the latencies and clock speed they run at. Against lower rated modules, the Trident X modules deliver higher bandwidth and ultimately a higher level of performance across just about every test run. Overclocking delivered measurable performance increases over the baseline results, as expected. When it came to overclocking, I was able to pull another 100MHz from the already high 2400MHz, to reach just over 2500MHz, while tightening up the TRFC slightly.
G.Skill´s Trident X line-up comes with kits that range from the 2400MHz kit we are looking at to a 2800MHz kit for massive memory speeds and the associated bandwidth that is a hallmark of higher speed bins. It seems that G.Skill is most definitely targeting the budget overclocker with this set of Trident X modules. A $99 price tag for 2400MHz-rated modules is a welcome sight after seeing huge price tags just a few months back for cas8 and 9 modules binned above 2133MHz. The Trident X are modules that perform well and deliver some overhead for a little bit more tweaking and come with G.Skill´s lifetime warranty. Excellent looks aside, the Trident X would make a good addition to any system and have the flexibility to be cooled in multiple ways.
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