G.Skill is one of the top memory manufacturers known to gamers and enthusiasts in the PC industry. The company has been specializing in the memory industry for several years and their memory kits are very popular among the masses. There are memory lines from G.Skill that have been the eye-catcher since the company was formed, Trident and Ripjaws.
Both of these series have now become the choice of enthusiasts and overclockers as they come with an impressive specifications list and some of the best design schemes in the market. What we will be looking at today is how G.Skill is redefining how PC memory is made for gamers and high-end users. We will be looking at G.Skill’s latest Trident Z RGB DDR4 memory kit which has been one of the most popular DDR4 memory kit on several retail outlets.
Before I start this review, I would like to thank G.Skill for providing us the G.Skill Trident Z RGB and G.Skill Trident Z memory kits for review purposes. We will be comparing the G.Skill product with memory kits of other manufacturers in our review.
G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32 GB DDR4 Memory Kit Specifications
The G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32 GB DDR4 memory kit rocks some impressive specifications. The new Trident Z’s are some of the fastest clocked memory kits which can go as high as 4266 MHz. The kit we received is optimized at a clock speed of 3600 MHz (PC4-28800). The memory kit consists of four 8 GB DIMMs which make up a total of 32 GB in capacity.
The memory kit has a tested latency spec of CL16 and the timings are 16-16-16-36-2N for this specific kit. Voltage set at reference is 1.35V and the memory kit comes in an un-buffered package with Non-ECC (Error Checking) design. The memory kit is fully compliant with Intel’s XMP 2.0 and can be easily set to it’s rated clock speeds through the BIOS shipped on latest Intel motherboards. Memory compatibility differs from motherboard to motherboard so make sure that your board is high-end and rated to support high clock speed memory sticks.
G.Skill offers a limited lifetime warranty with their G.Skill Trident Z RGB series memory kits. The height of these DIMMs is 44mm or 1.73 inch. They are a bit bulky and the heatsinks extend towards the top making it harder to install these with a dual-fan heatsink cooler. Make sure there’s enough space with a air cooler before installing these. The kit would go perfectly well with a AIO liquid cooling solution, leaving room for the RGB lightning showcase.
G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32 GB 3600 MHz Memory Kit Specifications:
Series
Trident Z RGB
Memory Type
DDR4
Capacity
32GB (8GBx4)
Multi-Channel Kit
Dual Channel Kit
Tested Speed
3600MHz
Tested Latency
16-16-16-36-2N
Tested Voltage
1.35v
Registered/Unbufferd
Unbuffered
Error Checking
Non-ECC
SPD Speed
2133MHz
SPD Voltage
1.20v
Fan included
No
Height
44 mm / 1.73 inch
Warranty
Limited Lifetime
Features
Intel XMP 2.0 (Extreme Memory Profile) Ready
G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32 GB DDR4 Memory Kit Unboxing and Close Up
The G.Skill Trident Z RGB series memory comes in box packaging and not cheap plastic material. The box has the G.Skill Trident Z RGB labels on the front. The front also reads a note that the memory is currently able to display a single lightning effect but the new Trident Z RGB series utility allows for vast modification by the user.
The back of the box reads down an introduction of G.Skill’s Trident Z RGB series memory along with the specifications. In our case, we are looking at the F4-3600C16W-32GTZR SKU which features 32 GB of RAM capacity which is clocked in at 3600 MHz at CL16 timing. The box is sealed by a single sticker which can be easily removed to access the memory kit.
Within the package are two plastic containers which hold four DDR4 sticks (two inside each container). Both containers are easy to access and come with two G.Skill case stickers which look great.
Outside of the package, the G.Skill Trident Z RGB series includes the most stunning DRAM modules I have ever seen. Sure, Corsair Dominator series is also one memory kit that stands out from the rest but G.Skill has designed a stunner. The front side of the G.Skill Trident Z DRAM features a brushed Metallic black texture while the back features a brushed Metallic silver texture. This goes well with all types of PC setups even if you don’t want to use the RGB feature.
The memory modules are bulky and pack a solid heatsink that delivers optimal thermal performance. The sides feature a large Trident Z RGB logo. The DRAMs are fully covered by this aluminum shielded heatsink so higher temperatures won’t be an issue on these sticks.
The top of the memory modules houses the RGB system. The top is kind of an acrylic cover with white coating that hides the RGB lights underneath it. Multiple RGB LEDs reside beneath this cover and it looks aesthetically great.
G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32 GB DDR4 Memory Kit Test Setup
For testing, we used the latest Intel Core i7-7700K processor which is compatible with higher frequency memory like the Trident Z RGB. The motherboard used was an AORUS Z270X-Gaming 9 and we booted the memory without any issues. The XMP profile to enable the 3600 MHz frequency had to be set from the BIOS and it wasn’t a hard task. The new 200-series motherboards are fully compatible with the fast DDR4 DIMMs.
G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32 GB Memory Test Setup:
Processor
Intel Core i7-7700K
Motherboard:
Gigabyte AORUS Z270X-Gaming 8 w/Core i7-7700K
Power Supply:
Corsair RM 750X Gold Plus
Solid State Drive:
Samsung SSD 960 EVO M.2 (512 GB)
Hard Disk:
Seagate Barracuda 1 TB 7200.12
Memory:
G.SKILL Trident Z Series 32GB (4 X 8GB) CL16 3600 MHz
G.SKILL Trident Z Series 16GB (2 X 8GB) CL16 3600 MHz
G.SKILL Trident Z Series 16GB (2 X 8GB) CL16 3200 MHz
Teamgroup T-Force Nighthawk 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) CL16 3000 MHz
ADATA XPG Dazzle 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) CL17 2800 MHz
Case:
Corsair Graphite Series 780T Full Tower
Video Cards:
MSI GeForce GTX 1070 ARMOR OC
Cooling Solutions:
Cryorig R1 Ultimate
OS:
Windows 10 64-bit Anniversary Edition
The memory kit comprises of 4 DIMMs that operate in dual/quad channel mode. Since we were running a Z270 platform, the memory was operating in dual channel while an X99 setup would have resulted in a 4-channel memory interface. The memory is clocked at 3600 MHz. Clock timing is set at 16 and the capacity is 32 GB for this specific kit.
G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32 GB DDR4 Memory Kit – RGB Lightning Showcase
The main focus of the new G.Skill memory kit is RGB and boy oh boy, does it look great. The RGB LEDs are controlled directly through signal processing via the DDR4 memory slot. G.Skill has a software known as “Trident Z RGB” which is still in infancy but does offer good support for the memory on various Intel 100 and 200-series motherboards.
The memory runs in the default “Rainbow Wave” mode when plugged in the slots. G.Skill has enabled rgb support on ASUS AURA motherboards and will later be extended to other manufacturers. We tested the kit with a Gigabyte motherboard and while the software was a big buggy which is to be expected due to its BETA nature, it still allowed us to run different effects on the memory.
Through the software, LEDs for each memory can be configured individually. There are a range of RGB effects and animations available along with static mode and you can also turn the LEDs On and Off.
G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32 GB DDR4 Memory Kit Performance Tests
I have separated the performance tests in two sections. The first section consists of pure synthetic and general workload tests while the second section would be focusing on the gaming performance and how different games are affected by higher clocked memory sticks.
Synthetic Benchmarks and Workload Performance Tests:
Gaming Performance Tests:
Gaming applications generally don’t see huge gains with different memory kits but DDR4 has enabled a huge gain in memory frequency which can impact gaming performance. Moving from the stock 2600 MHz to 3600 MHz gained us anywhere from 5 to 10 FPS which is something that wasn’t possible previously on older DDR3 memory kits. DDR4 is much mature at the moment than it was ever before.
Furthermore, while 8 GB has become the standard for gaming PCs, modern applications such as editing software and multi-tasking users can benefit hugely from 16 GB and 32 GB kits which have become more common in the gaming market over the last couple of years.
Conclusion
Coming to the last phase of this review, I would like to say that G.Skill has really built something out of the ordinary. Others have tried to implement LEDs on memory kits but their attempts haven’t been such an eye catcher as G.Skill’s new product. The G.Skill Trident Z RGB stands out from the rest of the crowd and in doing so, it looks gorgeous. The RGB trend is something of a hit and miss but G.Skill has nailed it in the very first attempt.
Sure, RGB is not everyone’s liking but aside from looking great, the Trident Z RGB is a very solid memory kit that runs at it stated clocked speeds without any issues. G.Skill has developed a reputation among the enthusiast community as a manufacturer of solid, high-performance and reliable memory. So we got a 3600 MHz memory kit, tested it on multiple Z270 boards and it ran without an issue. It’s still advisable to check your manufacturer if your board can run the stated speeds but Intel’s XMP has it all under control.
The 32 GB kit gave me lot’s of room for the test rig to stretch its legs. From video editing to the most memory hogging gaming titles, the kit had no problem and still had over half of system ram available even under the most wildest stages. Browsing chrome with multiple tabs open (say 60+) can be a big memory hog but when you have 32 GB of memory in your PC, Chrome is the least of your worries. As much as amazing it may sound, 32 GB is a bit of overkill for the regular gaming builders who won’t need such high capacity memory.
This is why G.Skill has several dual and quad channel memory kits of the Trident Z RGB at various clock speeds available for users. The 8 GB and 16 GB with fine tuned clocks and low CAS latency enable for a better experience at a lower cost. Multi-tasking users may opt for the higher capacity kits which come in 32 GB and 64 GB sizes but they cost an extra.
As for the RGB software, it’s still in BETA phase with support for other motherboards rolling out soon. For now, Z270 users will be able to get the most out of the software which has an abundant list of settings to choose from. The software will be a key utility for PC modders and users who want PCs to match their personal preferences. The software does glitched out on several occasion but we were told and it reads on G.Skill site too that it’s a BETA version right now. G.Skill has stated that Trident Z RGB support on X99 platform is heading out very soon as teased on their Facebook page.
Summing it up, the G.Skill Trident Z RGB series is the best DDR4 memory kit ever created. It runs solid and has top-notch performance for a blazing fast memory kit. The 32 GB memory kit is ideal for high-end multi-tasking users and enthusiasts who want to glorify their PCs with some gorgeous RGB lightning.
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