Best 16GB DDR4 RGB Overclocker Sticks

The HyperX Fury line is one of the most popular options in the overclocker memory segment. It boasts an optimal ratio of frequency and timings, a good overclocking potential and a bonus RGB backlight, which gives a certain charm to cases with an open side window.

These modules are built on Plug and Play technology. In other words, it is enough for the user to install it into the motherboard and start using it, because the timings and frequency will be set in the BIOS automatically. We are also pleased with branded black radiators, which effectively dissipate heat and do not take up extra space, interfering with the installation of a large processor cooler. In terms of performance and price, HyperX Fury looks like a small step forward. The maximum base mode with the activation of the 3200 MHz XMP profile provides the nominal level of performance available on each platform. If you increase the voltage to 1.45 V and narrow the timings, you can reach 3600 MHz. What's even better, the increase in speed is perfectly manifested not only in synthetic tests, but also in games: for example, in the Witcher 3 on Ultra, after overclocking the memory, we got an additional 10 FPS (from 80 to 90).

Well, the coolest thing about the HyperX Fury RGB story is the price. The kit is one of the most affordable 2x8 GB overclocker kits that can be found in stores. Secondly, the price difference between the basic and top-end set at 3466 Mhz is less than $20. Although, usually top-end slats running at record speed from most manufacturers are much more expensive. This is due to the difficulty of selecting suitable components, and the shortage of similar models in stores. Therefore, if you are not a fan of overclocking, then you can slightly drop it from above and get a small boost in computer performance without dancing with a tambourine. The finishing touch from the list of main advantages is a limited lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.

Micron is one of the few memory manufacturers that offers consumers finished products from its own components. Thanks to this, Micron chips were perfectly overclocked and were usually used in top products of other famous brands. This was the case in the days of DDR2 and DDR3, but with the release of the new standard, Micron could not offer anything new to the partner, gradually descending into the second echelon. However, a few years ago they switched to a new revision of memory chips and are striving to regain their former positions.

For example, the Ballistix series, which is produced by the subsidiary brand Crucial, received excellent press and in 2019 managed to break out into the top sales of RAM. This set, which includes 2 8 GB slats, demonstrated excellent overclocking capabilities and versatility. On Intel motherboards, everything starts up pretty quickly, on AMD you will have to play with timings. In both cases, we managed to get a stable 3600 MHz versus the regular 3000 MHz. If you weaken the CAS Latency, then you can count on all 3800 MHz.

We came across bars with black radiators and RGB lighting for the test, but Crucial also offers modules in red and white colours. The backlight works with most popular RGB synchronization standards. It feels like aluminium radiators left a pleasant impression, keeping the temperature normal even with crushing overclocking. It is equally important that the height of both slats does not exceed 39 mm, which guarantees their compatibility with almost any, even the most massive processor cooling systems. In general, this kit will be a much better choice for overclocking the system than the previous Ballistix bars on old Micron chips.

The fashion for RGB backlight clearly shows how hard it is for manufacturers of RAM to live now. Crystal manufacturers can be counted on the fingers, so it is impossible to entice people with a price. As well as additional functions, of which there is not so much RAM. So we have to dance with the design of radiators and LEDs. In the case of the Vengeance RGB Pro slats, the buyer will receive not only a beautiful design, but also the traditional high quality Corsair along with decent performance.

The Corsair Vengeance RGB design looks completely familiar to this line: dark radiators are connected on both sides by a small ridge, in which a thick LED strip is mounted. Corsair iCUE's own software is used as a backlight system, which in some reviews is referred to as a minus. In fact, iCUE has long been friends with ASUS Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion and MSI Mystic Light, it's just that the synchronization itself sometimes bugs. This is most often manifested with Asus products. As for the radiators, they have been slightly modified in order to better keep the thermal regime under cardinal acceleration. The dimensions of the radiators are very limited — even for tower coolers it will be installed without any problems.

The only thing that upset me was that the test version used chips not from Samsung or Micron, but Hynix. This imposed certain restrictions on overclocking both on the basis of Intel's "mother" and with variants from AMD. Changing the main timings led to instability, and hardly anyone will be engaged in setting up secondary and tertiary timings. As a result, a pair of slats with a frequency of 2666 Mhz managed to rest only at 3000 Mhz. Judging by the reviews on the web, you can also find bars on the market based on Micron memory, which, on the contrary, accelerates for a sweet soul. For example, the basic version with a frequency of 2666 MHz easily accelerated to 3600 MHz with the help of a banal increase in voltage to 1.36 V.

G.Skill Trident Z Royal is perhaps the most unusual RAM in our memory. Considering that you will not be satisfied with some characteristics in this market, the guys from G.Skill decided to surprise everyone with a design in the style of jewelry. Externally, the modules look "expensive-rich": the radiators seem to be cast from gold, and the "cap" is assembled from precious stones. From the outside, it looks impressive. Especially live, not in pictures. The packaging is also surprising. A double black box in the style of "there are very expensive watches inside, and a napkin for wiping the golden radiator — where else will you see such a thing?

The only thing that gives out a "fake" is the mass. To check, gold turns out to be light aluminium, and glass crystals are ordinary plastic. The disadvantages include a mirror surface. However, in fairness, the manufacturer has made every effort to ensure that fingerprints do not remain. And after installing the modules in the slots of the motherboard, you can walk with the attached napkin and carefully polish everything to a mirror shine. However, these are all quibbles.

The crucial role is played not so much by the packaging as by its contents. And here Trident Z Royal shows top results. Thanks to the selected Samsung B-die chips, both bars are accelerated from the base 3000 Mhz to 3800 MHz, further showing stable operation. However, in this case it was necessary to tinker not only with the voltage, but also with secondary / tertiary timings. But it's not even cooler, but the fact that the frequency of 3400 Mhz is given to him literally in two clicks. Seriously, we just set the 3600 MHz frequency in the settings and don't touch anything else. And everything works like clockwork. Well, the cherry on the cake is the price. At the time of release, a set of 2 or 4 bars was indecently expensive, but now the price has dropped to the level of any other HyperX Predator-type overclocker memory.

If you look into any top of RAM, then you will probably see representatives of the HyperX Predator family in one of the first positions. That's because it's a purebred overclocker memory, which costs adequate money and does not fail when it's important.

Thanks to Samsung's b-die chips, the modules have excellent overclocking potential, which will be highly appreciated by enthusiasts. A pair of 8 GB test strips works right out of the box at a frequency of 3200 MHz and with the help of a quick search of XMP profiles easily switches to 3600 MHz mode. If you switch to manual tuning mode and play with voltage and timings, you can achieve a total increase of 20-25%. There are even stories on the web about overclocking to 4000 MHz, like the oldest HyperX Predator model. However, this requires an overclocking motherboard with a serious cooling system. And it's not a fact that the memory will work stably. However, in this case we are interested in the very possibility of such overclocking.

The design of the board with a radiator is also remembered. As far as the appearance of the RAM can be remembered at all. Both slats stand out with an aggressive metal radiator with the HyperX logo, which is painted in harsh black. The board is also black. And small LED elements are scattered on the end, which merge into one luminous strip on the upper face. If you make the backlight not monotonous, the upper face glows as if a small reservoir with multicoloured plasma is hidden inside the radiator. It's not so difficult to do this, since the backlight is compatible with most popular RGB formats, whether it's ASUS Aura, Gigabyte RGB Fusion or MSI Mystic Light.