HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards 2011 Editor's Choice - Part 2
Best DDR3 Memory (DDR3-1600 Low Voltage)
Best DDR3 Memory (DDR3-1600MHz Low Voltage)
2010 also saw the entry of various memory modules touting their eco credentials. Since DDR3-1600MHz appears to be a mainstream choice for consumers for at least another year, we gathered some of these low voltage DDR3-1600MHz memory modules (rated between 1.35 to 1.5V) for our roundup.
Nominees:
- G.Skill Eco DDR3-1600MHz kit
- Kingmax Hercules DDR3-1600MHz kit
- Kingston HyperX DD3 LoVo kit
- OCZ DR3 PC3-12800 Reaper Ultra Low Voltage CL7 kit
And the Winner Is...
OCZ's Reaper Ultra Low Voltage kit is the best DDR3-1600MHz low voltage memory mainly for its overclocking capability. It did well in our benchmarks and took the lead for both temperature and overclocking. For the enthusiast that may dabble in overclocking, it's the best compromise between that and eco-friendliness. It is no doubt the more expensive memory module of the comparison, but it's worth the price.
We also have to give special mention to Kingmax's Hercules, which was one of the more interesting contenders, thanks to its Nano Thermal Dissipation technology. Its lack of a proper heatspreader however meant that it eventually lost out to the OCZ in terms of overclocking. However, for its excellent price and good performance, it still stands out as a great choice.
Some of the relevant benchmarks we used in the testing:
Criteria/Model | G.Skill Eco DDR3-1600MHz kit | Kingmax Hercules DDR3-1600MHz kit | Kingston HyperX DD3 LoVo kit | OCZ DR3 PC3-12800 Reaper Ultra Low Voltage CL7 kit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Performance | 8.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 9.0 |
Features | 8.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.5 |
Value | 8.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 7.5 |
Overall | 8.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 9.0 |
Price | S$139 | US$96 | S$189 | S$189 |
For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.