Now that we have benchmarked this memory and performed a bit of overclocking, it is time to put everything into perspective. For those who have read previous DDR5-7200 memory reviews may find a lot of the core pros and cons similar across all the different brands. We will go over which platform this memory kit is best suited for, what Patriot could improve upon to make a better product, and finish up on a positive note.

Starting off, let's tackle the question of compatibility and what are the requirements to use this specific memory kit from Patriot. The answer to this is a bit broad, considering the vast amount of different possible configurations from CPUs to motherboards. First, it should be pointed out that, this memory is not compatible with the AM5 platform currently, due to operating at a frequency above what any Ryzen 7000 CPU can support. A minor misstep on Patriot's part to have the EXPO badge on the packaging and it has already been determined to be a packaging error. In any case, AMD support is out of the question for this specific memory kit, at least for the current Ryzen 7000 generation.

That leaves only Intel supported and this specific kit also has three different XMP profiles as well (more on that later). Using the Primary XMP profile of 7200 MT/s, support is strictly limited to Intel 13th Generation (K) Processors (13600K, 13700K, 13900K), or future unreleased Intel CPUs, and Intel Z790 based motherboards. The reason for this is because most Intel Z690 motherboards are not able to run memory at these higher speeds (6800 MT/s+). Secondly, Intel 12th Generation (K) Processors have a supported range from 6800 to 7400 MT/s. Of course much higher can be achieved, but often are results of using unsafe voltages meant purely for benchmarking purposes and not daily use. Because there is little guarantee that any one 12th Gen CPU will reach these high memory frequencies, it is best to stick to a 13th Gen CPU and follow the guidelines set by the motherboard manufacturer QVL lists for the best chances of success.

When covering Patriot's Viper Venom 6200 MT/s memory kit last year, it was a nice surprise to find it came with three XMP profiles, allowing buyers to use lower frequencies for troubleshooting purposes or in case the motherboard / CPU combo was having difficulties with that specific memory bin. It was great when DDR5 was new and quite expensive. Now that things have settled down, Intel 13th Generation CPUs are out and memory frequencies are much higher, it is still a good idea for these brands to include more XMP profiles. The only issue I had with Patriot before and still now, is that nowhere are the three profiles listed officially. Neither on the box nor marketing material. A strong selling point is in fact multiple profiles for those weary that a higher bin may not boot, or cause stability issues. It is a real concern for many potential buyers. This is simply a missed opportunity for an easy win and still can be remedied at a later time.

Note: After reaching out to for further comment, Patriot says this is not an error, and in fact they offer these extra profiles to provide "...multiple jumping-off points to start from", due to "...the uncertainty from board to board and IMC to IMC". Essentially, more XMP profiles to ensure a sanity check, so to speak. If a motherboard or CPU is uncooperative, this helps in the troubleshooting process without needing to manually enter all the values in the BIOS. The marketing team is now working on a way to better advertise this in future releases. Until the website and, or marketing material reflects this change, the extra XMP profiles should still be considered under the "subject to change" policy.

Next up is the overclocking commentary regarding this specific memory kit. Before going further, it still needs to be mentioned that no amount of overclocking beyond the binned DRAM XMP profile is ever guaranteed by the memory manufacturer. Reviews can provide an idea of what to expect from certain types of memory brands and SKUs, but it simply comes down to the fact that the actual chosen memory ICs play a rather large role versus the company that assembles and sells a complete package. Here we have the Viper Venom DDR5-7200, which is currently using the SK Hynix A-Die revision released at the end of 2022. Those who feel adventurous will find a majority of these newer A-Die kits can reach upwards of 8600 MT/s while still under what would be considered safe voltages for daily use. Though this may be rare, considering of the six A-die kits on hand, only two reached 8200 MT/s in the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX test system. While this memory kit reviewed today didn't perform as well compared to others in terms of overclocking, it doesn't lose any points either. It is binned and sold as DDR5-7200, in which it had no problems running during the review process. Those who find themselves adventurous will be happy to hear that Patriot puts a thermal pad on the PMIC and surrounding components. Great news for those who are not planning to replace the heatspeaders with custom ones or integration with a waterblock.

As we wrap up this review, a small reminder that the negatives here aren't solely directed at Patriot, rather, regardless of the brand, every company has many of the same "problems." These memory frequencies are a marvel of current times if you think about how many millions of operations per second goes on without any uncorrectable errors. Memory at these speeds are also surpassing most real-world benefits too. It's not to say no use-cases exist, but they are limited to a niche group of gamers and PC enthusiasts. For the casual user, gamer or otherwise, 7200 MT/s and above is not recommended. No need to look for other brands, as Patriot does offer a number of other lower binned memory kits as well. For gamers, using the current Intel 13th Gen CPUs combined with the latest graphics cards on the market, the real benefit of faster memory is in increasing those 1% frame-rate lows. As covered in the testing methodology, this cycle of optimizing never ends.

Whether you are a true PC hobbyist who likes to tinker with new things, pushing hardware to the limits, or a pro-level gamer, Patriot offers a product that is competitive in pricing and has three XMP profiles with the usual limited lifetime warranty we have come to expect from memory vendors. Add this up and this Viper Venom DDR5-7200 memory kit is worth a consideration when it comes to that next system build. That is, of course, only after following the basic rules of a balanced system for gamers, and a adequate overclocking oriented motherboard for those who want to dabble in the dark arts of memory overclocking.