Introduction

With memory prices falling, now is a great time to be looking for memory upgrades. Fall hardware releases are in full swing, there is competition from both Intel and AMD, and the Red brand has thoroughly fixed the memory issues of generations past. No longer do users have to worry about memory compatibility or shopping for expensive AMD-branded kits. With 3200 MHz natively supported on the new Ryzen platform, options for enthusiasts have never been more open.

The XPG SPECTRIX D50 shares a lot of DNA with the D60G. The D60G is a memory kit that has been designed from the ground up to be the ultimate RGB LED solution for the memory market. The D50 trades some of that fancy RGB for a hefty aluminium heat spreader, which results in both a more subdued look and better thermal performance. The XPG SPECTRIX D50 comes in speeds of up to 4800 MHz and capacities of up to 32 GB.


The XPG SPECTRIX D50 kit I have for testing today features two 16 GB sticks at a Ryzen-optimized 3600 MHz speed and 18-20-20-42 timings. So is the XPG SPECTRIX D50 as fast as its flashy D60G cousin?

Specifications

Packaging

The XPG SPECTRIX D50 features a black box with a frontal shot of a D50 stick on the front, and the back having two cutouts to showcase the specifications of the sticks inside. Inside the box, the sticks are held in a traditional clamshell.

A Closer Look

These kits have a no nonsense rectangular profile that is spiced up with angular lines and a nice brushed aluminium finish.


The SPECTRIX design is simple but memorable, with a triangular light bar at the top center and "XPG" in red on each side.


The top of the light bar also features "XPG" in black. This kit is rated for a 3600 MHz XMP profile at 18-20-20-42 and 1.35 V.


Branding on the XPG SPECTRIX D50 is very minimalist, aside from the specification sticker, which I like.


The XPG SPECTRIX D50 sticks are double-sided and use Micron E-die ICs on a PCB with eight layers.


I like to weigh a stick from each kit I get as the difference in mass can be pretty drastic between kits. Mass is not the best indicator of cooling efficiency because material can matter, and of course, heat dissipation is reliant on surface area, not volume or mass. That said, it is still interesting to compare.


The XPG SPECTRIX D50 comes in at 75.04 g on my scale, which is on the high end. The aluminium heat spreader is thicker than most. For height, the XPG SPECTRIX D50 comes in at almost 44.40 mm with my calipers, which is right at the average of 45–50 mm.