Patriot Viper 2 Sector 5 DDR3 2GHz (PVV34G2000LLKB for Core i5)

Introduction

It seems like with every socket change we get a different type of RAM and it's getting more confusing for the end user to figure out which RAM kit is designed to work with their platform in an optimal manner. When Intel released the LGA 1156 Core i5/i7 platform it was no exception. The LGA 1366 platform demanded Triple Channel RAM for optimal performance and it had to run under 1.65v and memory companies were scrambling to meet the end users demand for low voltage high performance kits.

The first kits for LGA 1366 we saw were lower end 1066 and 1333 kits rushed to market and weren't truly low voltage kits, but high voltage kits that would run at lower speeds and lower voltages. This wasn't really a shortcoming on the RAM vendors part. The manufacturers of low voltage memory IC's (Controllers) weren't geared up for production of that volume of low voltage memory IC's.

Now with the LGA 1156 platform, Dual Channel DDR3 is all the rage. While your older high voltage DDR3 kit will work, it will need to run in under 1.65v to ensure you don't end up killing your CPU. So if you have a 1600MHz kit that requires 1.9v, (which isn't uncommon) you'll likely be limited to the 1333 - 1400 MHz range on that kit. To take advantage of the full potential of LGA 1156 Core i5/i7 memory your going to need a good kit of low voltage DDR3 capable of giving you the performance you want and stay under that pesky 1.65v limitation imposed on LGA 1156 CPU's. We say " imposed " on CPU's because it's the memory controller on the CPU that needs the RAM to stay under 1.65v to prevent damage.

Your in luck, with LGA 1156, the RAM vendors knew what to expect and had kits waiting on the shelf built to specifications specifically for Core i5/i7. Kit's like the Patriot Viper 2 Sector 5 4GB 2GHz kit we have in hand to show you today. By the time we get done with it the Sector 5 kit may be ready for Area 51.

Viper 2 Sector 5 sports a new red sticker and black heat spreaders. Slated to be bundled with 3DMark Vantage for a little extra added value and running at 2GHz with 8-8-8-24 timings, we expect the Viper 2 Sector 5 2Ghz kit to be one of the go to kits for hard core enthusiasts and dream material for those who settled for less.