Conclusion
It’s been around 6 weeks since I started testing these sticks, and normally when doing a living review, I would periodically update the thread with any annoyances that I found.
I haven’t found a single problem with the TW3X4G1600C9DHXNV modules and in these kind of tests, I generally tend to end up with a fair old list of gripes about one thing or another.
The DHX style cooling is simple yet highly effective. The modules felt cold to the touch, and under heavy benching they only became slightly warmer and there were no hot spots either.
Still on the subject of the DHX cooling system, the build quality and finish are excellent. Looks wise, they aren’t as pretty as some other models, but they are still quite striking and the bare, cast aluminium looks great.
Performance wise, the TW3X4G1600C9DHXNV did really well, especially considering that our test board (
DFI UT X48-T3RS) was having
BIOS trouble.
The gaming tests showed a clear advantage for the 4GB kit over the 2GB kit in frames per second and loading times, something that any keen gamer will appreciate.
1800Mhz+ stable is achievable on a good X48 Intel board, and tighter timings were doable at 8-8-8-18/1600Mhz, which is fairly respectable, but I am certain that these sticks will do more on a more hospitable board.
(I will test on other boards and report back here, so watch this space!)
Next is the price. (
Update 01-08-2008 -
I've just seen these advertised for £167 delivered!, so the next part in italics is now a slightly moot point)
This particular set will cost you £276 at the moment , so it isn’t the cheapest kit, but for your money, you do get the Corsair performance, reliability and compatibility that you would expect, as well as those high quality DHX heat spreaders.
Vista - Some of us hate it, others love it, but the fact is, if you want to run the latest games, you are going to end up needing 4GB of memory to get the best from your system eventually, and Vista x64 is the only way to go currently.
My tests showed Vista to be much more responsive when the 4GB kit was fitted - This in itself is worth the money for me, applications open faster, Photoshop editing and batch editing become a breeze, Winrar compression shows a significant advantage with 4GB over 2GB, although the results for that were difficult to measure and show here - try it for yourself!
For the reasons outlined above, I have no hesitation in recommending the TW3X4G1600C9DHXNV kit for anyone that is looking for a high performance, high bandwidth set of DDR3 modules that overclock well, look the business and stay cool at the same time.
Pros
- Great Build Quality
- Overclocks Well
- Relatively Low Voltage
- Runs Cool
- Great DHX Heat Spreaders
- Will Run At Tighter Timings
- Gaming Advantages In Frames Per Second & Loading Times
Cons
Conclusion
Linear Mode
