Now that we have benchmarked this memory, it is time to put everything into perspective. We will go over which platform this memory kit is best suited for, what PNY could improve upon to make a better product, and finish up on a positive note.

To start off, let's talk about compatibility because it is often one of the first asked questions in regard to system memory. We will first cover Intel, as this is quite easy. Using the DDR5-6400 XMP profile is not a problem for Z690, Z790 and B760 motherboards paired with either a 12th, 13th or 14th Generation (K) processor. There are some B660 and Z690 motherboards that do not make the cut. These are the outliers due to being the first commercial consumer products to support DDR5. As DDR5 memory is entering its 4th year of consumer production, Intel's next CPU series (Ultra 200) should be seeing even better support on the lower-end motherboard tiers as well. However, this is just speculation at the moment. With so many choices from each motherboard vendor, it is good to always check the vendor's motherboard QVL list for official confirmation or at least the specifications to see if DDR5-6400 is actually supported.

As for AMD, it can be overwhelmingly technical to determine what is the best match for optimal performance. Even more so with different AMD AGESA code revisions being used. Whichever is the best may actually not be the newest. However, for the casual user, the newest BIOS revision for each motherboard vendor is generally the best option to choose. AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors are going to always get a DDR5-6000 recommendation first before anything else unless you are someone who likes tinkering with motherboard BIOS settings. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with PNY's 6400 MT/s XLR8 Gaming EPIC-X RGB memory kit. But, it can be a bit complicated to fully grasp why 6000 MT/s may a better choice for most consumers using Ryzen 7000 CPUs.

The abbreviated technical explanation here is multipart. Firstly, by default, most motherboards (A620, B650, X670) will automatically set this memory into a 2:1 ratio to the memory controller. The reason is going to be for end-user compatibility and system stability. However, this switch to a 2:1 memory ratio (UCLK:MCLK / 2) introduces a (slight) latency penalty and can negatively impact game performance. Secondly, if you enforce a 1:1 memory ratio in the BIOS, there is a chance that it simply will not work, as not all Ryzen 7000 CPUs are capable of this. Lastly, as a bonus, getting absolutely the best system memory optimization for Ryzen is to keep the Infinity Fabric (FCLK) in step with the system memory. By default, the value set is 2000 MHz and does not change unless manually set in the BIOS. Once again, the highest frequency possible will differ per Ryzen CPU. In this example, 6400 MT/s would require FCLK of 2133 MHz. This step, of course, isn't absolutely necessary, and it isn't done for our benchmark tests either. That being said, those who like to tinker with memory settings will most likely pursue this endeavor as well. With the latest AMD AGESA BIOS revisions, chances are DDR5-6400 will be somewhat plug and play compatible even if it is not setup in an optimal configuration. However, without these manual tweaks, DDR5-6400 on auto settings will not be a top performer.

When it comes to system compatibility, regardless of meticulous planning, CPU duds exist. This can be exacerbated by budget motherboards that may not play nice with faster memory beyond what is "officially" supported by the CPU (DDR5-5200). PNY has included a second XMP / EXPO profile of 5600 MT/s, which is a good thing that more memory brands should offer. That being said, PNY has gone a bit astray here, because while it can be a nice fallback option when things do not go as planned, it ideally should double as a good backup and not strictly as a quick patch. To be more clear, the 5600 MT/s profile aspect is not a problem, but instead the "looser" (40-40-40-77) primary timings used. PNY has included the JEDEC 5600 MT/s standard as well, which can cause confusion for casual users. Therefore, either a 6000 MT/s profile should have been included or a performance orientated 5600 MT/s (EXPO / XMP) profile would have been preferred instead. As it stands now, the included secondary 5600 MT/s memory profile is only meant to be a quick patch for compatibility and not a good permanent resolution for CPU and motherboard memory frequency related issues.

Last up we have the not so important superficial stuff that doesn't actually affect the product directly, but needs to be pointed out nonetheless. Getting straight to the point, PNY packaging has a few technical information missteps that made it into the final production. It is entirely possible the marketing team tasked with designing the packaging was unaware it was wrong to begin with. For example, listing the memory as MHz instead of MT/s or Just DDR5-6400 has been an ongoing issue for years at this point. Not just from PNY, but for the entire industry. Listing the DDR5 memory as "Quad-Channel" when it is in fact not, brings with it legitimate concerns of what you are actually buying and can have a real impact on consumers who aren't that tech-savvy. To counter that, PNY has been in this business for quite some time, so it isn't a fake product or misrepresentation on purpose. But, to be blunt, it looks amateurish to include these technical errors.

As we wrap up this review, it is time to recap a few major selling points here. Firstly, besides the packaging errors and current US-Market low availability, it performs as expected for a DDR5-6400 memory kit aimed at PC gamers. When DDR5 first released, 6400 MT/s would have been considered a halo product, now it falls somewhere in the middle regarding gaming performance. However, don't be fooled into thinking that the highest MT is always better. We can see this is action by using AMD CPUs, that because of technical reasons (unrelated to PNY) sticking within the "sweet spot" zone is going to yield the highest performance with the least amount of hassle. With so many different configuration options between frequency, primary timings, and density, the hardest part about putting together a new system is a balance between cost and performance.

The PNY XLR8 Gaming EPIC-X RGB DDR5-6400 memory kit reviewed today isn't a bad product at all, but it needs to stay competitive in pricing for it to make sense for consumers to buy. It neither far exceeds the current "pc enthusiast" standards, nor does it lag behind, rather simply being another "gaming" DDR5-6400 memory kit. A few changes to the secondary 5600 MT/s profile could have made this PNY XLR8 product a go-to choice for both AMD and Intel platforms. As it stands now, the main attraction is only the 6400 MT/s profile and unified RGB lighting.