A Closer Look

Taking a close look at these G.Skill TridentZ 3866 MHz sticks reveals the majesty of their design. The thick metal heatspreaders are grey on one side and black on the other. A large red plastic stick joins the two sides at the top.


I always take a look at the edges of the PCBs of G.Skill sticks to see if I find any interesting markings or anything else of that nature to help me identify this kit so that you guys can look for the same on your own kit, as this usually is something that is batch-specific rather than kit-specific. I did find a date code and a printing denoting the exact size and speed of these G.Skill TridentZ DIMMs.


There also seem to be some markings denoting the type of PCB used, but I failed to find any golden lettering as I am used to finding on G.Skill kits. Interesting.


Looking at the bottom of the stick, I noted that it is single-sided (the actual memory ICs are on one side of the DIMM while the other is empty), but a few tiny things are mounted to either side of the DIMM, along its golden contact fingers. More interesting stuff! The stick has the red bar with a lovely white G.Skill name in the middle going across its top to let those who peer in through your case's window (should you have a window) know exactly what DIMMs you've got inside. I like that very much.


Of course, the red bar across the top can be removed fairly easily if it doesn't fit in with your case's décor. Doing so lets you see how nicely these large metal hunks have been designed; each side wraps around the top, covering half the DIMM and providing plenty of surface area for any heat to be shared between both sides.


Looking more at the actual sticks at hand, the TridentZ 3866 MHz sticks do naturally carry a label on each of them with their speed, timings, and other such goodies. I can hear the complaints because of such "high" timings already, but they just make me laugh.