A Closer Look

With the modules out of the box, the red/black styling really stands out. With the number of red/black themed motherboards out there, it's pretty clear which users Exceleram was targeting with the aesthetic design. I found paper stick-on labels on one side that matches the label found on the outside of the box, while the other side lets the stick design really stand out.


The heatspreaders extend from end to end and protrude a fair bit above the DIMM's PCB, but attach only to the memory ICs using an adhesive strip. The thin aluminium layer isn't very thick, and isnt going to add a lot to cooling, but sure does help these sticks look great.


Each heatsink has a gentle ripple added to the top, which leads to the "Rippler" branding. The slight curve at the top is just enough to disturb airflow and create a bit of turbulence to aid cooling


As you can see from the top and bottom, the heatspreader isn't much more than flat piece of metal. I was a bit concerned that the force of installing the DIMMs into some slots may lead to physical damage, so I do suggest using a bit of care when installing the modules.


The label contains all the pertinent information; rated speed, timings and tested voltage are all listed quite clearly. There are a few other distinguishing markings on the PCB itself, such as those seen in the second image above.


On one end we find the PCB layer numbers, indicating that the Exceleram ERB300A uses an 8-layer PCB. Many other modules use a 6-layer PCB, and the use of a design with more layers in the PCB aids signal integrity and helps eliminate outside interference.