G.Skill Ripjaws Z 2133 MHz DDR3 CL9 16 GB Kit

[cadaveca]

G.Skill sent us their Ripjaws Z F3-17000CL9Q-16GBZH kit, now that Intel's latest platform has been launched, and new memory kits are needed, due to the new quad-channel configuration that the Intel X79 Express platforms offers. We put the 16 GB G.Skill 2133 MHz kit through the paces, and push it to the max.

Show full review

 

[erixx]

Great review thanks!

And to just say something not so great:
"Only available in blue/black, which will not aesthetically match all system builds, although other kits in the same product line do come in other colors."

This is totally girly/gay!!!! (in a non discriminative sense, of course, just joking) but WTF! We can paint our parts if there's need to "match" whatever project we are building... Where will this end?

 

[cadaveca]

Where will this end?

There are other kits that do offer colour choices, so it's a valid point of comparison. Not really one that affected scoring though.

In these days where we do have colour choices in motherboards, case, PSUs, and such, ram is next on the list, yep.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I've wanted red sticks for awhile, but the red variant is cas 11. Screw that. Black is a safe color but man is it boring to look at. Regardless I've been eying this set. Have you tried these on 1155? Mainly I'm wondering if they could match my current settings, 1866 8-9-8-24.

 

[manofthem]

There are other kits that do offer colour choices, so it's a valid point of comparison. Not really one that affected scoring though.

In these days where we do have colour choices in motherboards, case, PSUs, and such, ram is next on the list, yep.

Amen to the color options. I'm still on the lookout for some pink ram, to match my sleeving. Pink is for real men
ninja edit: nice review too!

 

[cadaveca]

I've wanted red sticks for awhile, but the red variant is cas 11. Screw that. Black is a safe color but man is it boring to look at. Regardless I've been eying this set. Have you tried these on 1155? Mainly I'm wondering if they could match my current settings, 1866 8-9-8-24.

1155, eh? 8-10-9-26 or 9-10-9-26 is XMP profiled for 1866 MHz, depending on the board used. They run 9-10-9-28 2T @ 1.5 V no problem though, and they pull pretty good bandwidth numbers on 1155, too, quite similar to 2133 MHz 9-10-9-28, actually, again depending on the board used.

Tightening TRCD to 9 isn't all that easy, and is not likely to work, based on the kit I have.

 

[manofthem]

So though these are quad channel, on 1155 they simply run dual channel, no?

 

[cadaveca]

Yes, of course. And run without any problem, too; I tested 1156/1155/AM3+/FM1/2011 for functionality.

 

[GSquadron]

At the handbrake you place on top this ram rather than mushkin which is 0.1 faster
Why?

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

1155, eh? 8-10-9-26 or 9-10-9-26 is XMP profiled for 1866 MHz, depending on the board used. They run 9-10-9-28 2T @ 1.5 V no problem though, and they pull pretty good bandwidth numbers on 1155, too, quite similar to 2133 MHz 9-10-9-28, actually, again depending on the board used.

Tightening TRCD to 9 isn't all that easy, and is not likely to work, based on the kit I have.

If that's what they're doing at 1866 I might as well just get the 1866 red variant and up the volts, see if I can get them tighter. They start at 9-10-9-28 @ 1.5v. Plus it's $30 less.

 

[garyinhere]

And with that in mind, we can easily give the G.Skill Ripjaws Z F3-17000CL9Q-16GBZH a "Recommended" award.

Didn't know if you missed this on accident, it got editor's choice... good article btw

 

[cadaveca]

Didn't know if you missed this on accident, it got editor's choice... good article btw

I gave a recommended award, and it was upgraded after some discussion. I'm already recommending it, even.

If that's what they're doing at 1866 I might as well just get the 1866 red variant and up the volts, see if I can get them tighter. They start at 9-10-9-28 @ 1.5v. Plus it's $30 less.

They'll probably end up close to these sticks, but just shy @ 2133 and at the high end on X79.

For 1155, that might be the better choice.

At the handbrake you place on top this ram rather than mushkin which is 0.1 faster
Why?

All the graphs follow the same format. I'm sorry for the confusion, but it'll make more sense as results are added.

 

[punani]

ok quick question: could I put these in my system ? I have the nehalem i7 920 @ 3.6GHz which requires 1.65V, right? Currently have 6GB OCZ gold @ 1600MHz but just curious if I find these cheap somewhere..

Some mobo specs:

CPU Intel® Socket 1366 Core™ i7 Extreme Edition/Core™ i7 Processors
Supports Intel® Dynamic Speed Technology
Chipset Intel® X58/ICH10R
Memory 6 x DIMM, Max. 24GB, DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600(O.C.)/1333/1066 Hz Memory
Triple Channel Memory Architecture
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
* Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs.
* Refer to www.asus.com or user manual for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).

More detailed specs here

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

Nice Dave. This was linked on Blues News today.

 

[cadaveca]

ok quick question: could I put these in my system ? I have the nehalem i7 920 @ 3.6GHz which requires 1.65V, right? Currently have 6GB OCZ gold @ 1600MHz but just curious if I find these cheap somewhere..

They should work fine, but at what speed, I am unsure. They are pretty flexible, even at lower clocks.

 

[LiveOrDie]

My Ram you can get it in red with slower timmings but i liked black more

 

[Hayder_Master]

Awesome review, i see also same product yesterday in in newegg with 1.6v, any diffrence in peeformance ?
And price is 140$ now.

 

[cadaveca]

Awesome review, i see also same product yesterday in in newegg with 1.6v, any diffrence in peeformance ?
And price is 140$ now.

Could be a typo...could be a new model. Not too sure, honestly.

The kit is here:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231503

$163. Nice price.

C11 2133 MHz kit:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231501

$142.

 

[Hayder_Master]

Could be a typo...could be a new model. Not too sure, honestly.

The kit is here:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231503

$163. Nice price.

C11 2133 MHz kit:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231501

$142.

ohhhh sorry bro my mistake, it was C11(n82e16820231501) and i see customers reviews it's run on C9 on 1.65v.

 

[eidairaman1]

they seem nice but id like to see a complete timing and voltage listing of every module this set was put up against. In a Logical sense 2133 9 cas should be faster than 1866/1600 with 9 cas due to bandwidth only. But You do see 1600 with cas 7...

 

[cadaveca]

You know what the answer is gonna be...you just want confirmation?

Don't take this the wrong way...I'm not sure what you are asking for...


You'd like to see results with all kits, at every speed? Not all kits can do every speed...


Anyway, first memory review, so yeah, there are definite ways that things can change to give you guys the info you are looking for. If you can explain with a bit more detail, I can see what I can do for future reviews.

And that's always the case, whether boards or ram...I take all feedback quite seriously. If I'm not giving the info you need, there's no real point in doing the review in the first place. I'm not even sure if I'll do any more at this point though, TBH.

 

[eidairaman1]

I wanted to know what times the other kits are running in comparison to the one tested is all.

You know what the answer is gonna be...you just want confirmation?

Don't take this the wrong way...I'm not sure what you are asking for...


You'd like to see results with all kits, at every speed? Not all kits can do every speed...


Anyway, first memory review, so yeah, there are definite ways that things can change to give you guys the info you are looking for. If you can explain with a bit more detail, I can see what I can do for future reviews.

And that's always the case, whether boards or ram...I take all feedback quite seriously. If I'm not giving the info you need, there's no real point in doing the review in the first place. I'm not even sure if I'll do any more at this point though, TBH.

 

[cadaveca]

I wanted to know what times the other kits are running in comparison to the one tested is all.

What other kits?


There is one other kit, Mushkin 996826(2x kits to make 4 sticks) and the timings are listed/shown in screenshots in the review.

timings for the mushkin kit:

timings for the G.Skill kit:

Found on the top of this page:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/GSkill/F3-17000CL9Q-16GBZH/5.html

 

[eidairaman1]

thx for the info, just didnt catch it initially, like where the test results are.

that really is some loose timings for the 1600 kit...

What other kits?


There is one other kit, Mushkin 996826(2x kits to make 4 sticks) and the timings are listed/shown in screenshots in the review.

timings for the mushkin kit:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/GSkill/F3-17000CL9Q-16GBZH/images/mushkin_spd.jpg


timings for the G.Skill kit:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/GSkill/F3-17000CL9Q-16GBZH/images/spd_info.jpg


Found on the top of this page:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/GSkill/F3-17000CL9Q-16GBZH/5.html

 

[cadaveca]

thx for the info, just didnt catch it initially, like where the test results are.

that really is some loose timings for the 1600 kit...

The timing screenshots were on top of the results compare page.

We have tested the modules both with the JEDEC profile, as well as the XMP profile, and the results are below. We have begun our comparison using the Mushkin modules we showed in the SPD screenshot above, as well as on the last page, which have also been tested with their own 1333 MHz JEDEC profile, as well as their XMP profile. The numbers below reflect performance results with four modules installed at all times.

The 1600 MHz Mushkin does NOT have loose timings. CAS 6 is loose? The only tighter you can get with any sticks rated for 1.65v is 6-6-6-24/6-7-6-24, and those sticks are out of stock/discontinued. G.Skill currently has a 6-8-6-24 1.5v kit too.

Anyway, those are screenshots of each modules' SPD info, and as such those timings are the timings the sticks are rated for. I have no control over stock settings, and the Mushkin kits are kits I bought out-of-pocket myself, and as such, will not be reviewed, and are run at stock settings. I am not paid to do these reviews, so if I have to pay for parts to complete a review, those parts are used under my own terms. Technically, doing this review cost me $150 for the two kits, and TPU nothing.

Looking at max overclocked performance for each kit can take considerable amounts of time for testing. As it is, I tested no less than 10 boards with the G.Skill kit. As I encountered no unexpected issues, none of that is really mentioned, as most of the boards are not the platform this ram is intended for, but I know users would ask about functionality elsewhere, so I investigated.