Final thoughts and rating
Kingston's HyperX KHX16000D3ULT1K3/6GX - great name, huh - memory does exactly what it says on the tin, which is run as a tri-module pack, at 2,000MHz, on a Core i7 platform, and it does so with 8-8-8 timings - just shy of Corsair's 7-8-7 on the DOMINATOR GT.Real-world benchmarks show scant little difference between the two sets of ultra-high-speed modules. Indeed, there's very little performance delta when scaling back from 2,000MHz to 1,430MHz, so high-frequency DDR3 can only be recommended to the enthusiast pushing the system to the absolute limit.
Built-in XMP profiles make it relatively easy to hit 2,000MHz, assuming you have a decent X58 motherboard, and the modules scale to 2,100MHz without too many problems.
Buying advice is based on a couple of factors. The HyperX Ultra 2GHz Core i7 tri-channel kit looks to be priced at around £311 in the U.K. and will be available in a couple of weeks' time. Seeing how close it benchmarks to Corsair's class-leading DOMINATOR GT, it can be recommended to the enthusiast - and only the enthusiast - who doesn't have the extra £150 for the 7-8-7-20 GT set. U.S. customers, however, would be best advised to go for the Corsair DOMINATOR GT 8-8-8, costing $50 more than the Kingston set - no VAT to pay, remember - but featuring the AIRFLOW cooling appendage and option to mount a TEC or waterblock on top.
Bottom line: 2,000MHz Core i7-optimised DDR3 is just plain expensive, no matter which way you cut it. Kingston's HyperX KHX16000D3ULT1K3/6GX tips the financial scales at just over £300 and benchmarks well. It's a tasty option for the hardcore enthusiast, sure, yet we'd recommend an £85 pack of 6GB Crucial DDR3-1,333 and putting the money elsewhere for practically everyone else.
HEXUS Rating
HEXUS.net scores products out of 100%, taking into account technology, implementation, stability, performance, value, customer care and desirability. A score for an average-rated product is a meaningful ‘50%’, and not ‘90%’, which is common practice for a great many other publications.We consider any product score above '50%' as a safe buy. The higher the score, the higher the recommendation from HEXUS to buy. Simple, straightforward buying advice.
The rating is given in relation to the category the component competes in, therefore the memory is evaluated with respect to our 'extreme components' criteria, where performance and technology are weighted far higher than value.
Kingston HyperX KHX16000D3ULT1K3/6GX
Why a lower score than the Corsair DOMINATOR GT? These Kingston modules score a touch higher in terms of value but lose out the odd per cent by not providing extra benefits such as AIRFLOW fan and changeable cooling.
HEXUS Where2Buy
The 6GB pack is available on pre-order for around £311.HEXUS Awards
Kingston HyperX KHX16000D3ULT1K3/6GX
HEXUS Right2Reply
At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.
right2reply from Kingston, dated March 10th 2009.
First of all, thanks for the review and providing us with the chance to provide feedback. We are of course happy to have been given an award and to see that our modules reached great, although not unexpected, benchmarks.
The only thing we'd like to point out is regarding the recommendation made towards an "£85 pack of 6GB Crucial DDR3-1,333". This is true, however it is important to point out that Kingston also offers a 6GB DDR3-1,333 for the same price range (http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=28304&tid=gsearch).
