Kingston HyperX 8GB Kit 1600MHz (KHX1600C8D3K4/8GX)

INTRODUCTION

With Windows 7 on the store shelves and shipping we are hearing that raw ram speed might not be the key to better performance in Windows 7. We've always felt that the amount of ram was just as important as raw ram speed but in Windows 7 and all 64bit OS we see advantages to more ram. Most end users end up in the 1333 - 1600MHz range anyway so we got two kits of ram each 8GB in size and running at 1600MHz. We tested both on our normal suite of memory tests, then fired up Windows 7 Professional and tested both kits using a 4GB and 8GB configuration to check and see if the claims of improved performance with larger kits held any truth.

We think you will be somewhat surprised with the results we know we were. While we are using native 8GB kits there's no reason why you can't start with 4GB (2x2GB) and later buy an identical kit and run 8GB. We prefer to run 8GB out of the gate and Kingston was nice enough to send some of our favorite ram for the test. Yes that's right the always popular Kingston HyperX. Easy to run, easy to tune and overclocks like a champion.

With so many large CPU coolers out there Kingston went with a low profile kit so if the CPU cooler in your rig overhangs the ram banks the kit should still fit. We like both Kingston heatspreader designs, the low profile and newer T1 tall heatspreader, but sometimes you just have to have low profile ram.