Memory

CORSAIR Unveils Dominator Platinum Special Edition Torque 32GB DDR4 Memory Kits
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CORSAIR Unveils Dominator Platinum Special Edition Torque 32GB DDR4 Memory Kits

Corsair has just launched a flamboyant new addition to its flagship Dominator Platinum memory series in the form of two 32GB DDR4 kits that have apparently been designed to reproduce the aesthetic of high-performance automotive engines.

Dubbed the Dominator Platinum Special Edition Torque, this new model’s key feature is clearly the unique top bar, which has been given a heat-treated effect in order to mimic the patina that is often found on the exhaust manifolds of high-performance engines. The top bar also has integrated white LEDs, which we are a bit surprised aren’t RGB LED (if only due to their ubiquity). The black aluminium heatsinks have been given a brushed finish, while the cooling fins and much of labelling is in an eye-catching shade of orange. As per the model name, these are a special edition modules that will be available in limited quantities, with each kit being individually numbered..

Designed for Intel X99 and 200-series motherboards, the two 32GB Dominator Platinum Special Edition Torque memory kits are available as both a 2x16GB kit and a 4x8GB kit, each with otherwise identical specifications. The CMD32GX4M2C3200C14T model is a dual-channel kit consisting of two 16GB memory modules rated to run at DDR4-3200 with CL14-16-16-36 timings at 1.35 volts. The CMD32GX4M4C3200C14T model is quad-channel memory kit consisting of four 8GB memory modules rated to run at DDR4-3200 with CL14-16-16-36 timings at 1.35V. They are both manufactured with Corsair’s custom 10-layer PCB, and feature Samsung B-die ICs that have been binned to ensure that they can be safely overclocked to at least DDR4-3600. Both kits also support XMP 2.0, which should eliminate any of the hassle that is often associated with trying to manually overclock memory.

Corsair Dominator Platinum Special Edition Torque Kits
Data rate Latency Kit Capacity Modules Voltage Part Number Launch Price
3200 MT/s CL14 16-16-36 32 GB 2x16GB 1.35 V CMD32GX4M2C3200C14T $399.99
32 GB 4x8GB CMD32GX4M4C3200C14T $449.99

The new Corsair Dominator Platinum Special Edition Torque series is available immediately on Corsair’s website. The 2x16GB kit is priced at $399.99 USD, while the 4x8GB version is a little pricier at $449.99 USD. They are both covered by Corsair’s lifetime warranty.

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SK Hynix to Ship GDDR6 Memory for Graphics Cards by Early 2018
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SK Hynix to Ship GDDR6 Memory for Graphics Cards by Early 2018

In a surprising move, SK Hynix has announced its first memory chips based on the yet-unpublished GDDR6 standard. The new DRAM devices for video cards have capacity of 8 Gb and run at 16 Gbps per pin data rate, which is significantly higher than both standard GDDR5 and Micron’s unique GDDR5X format. SK Hynix plans to produce its GDDR6 ICs in volume by early 2018.

GDDR5 memory has been used for top-of-the-range video cards for over seven years, since summer 2008 to present. Throughout its active lifespan, GDDR5 increased its data rate by over two times, from 3.6 Gbps to 9 Gbps, whereas its per chip capacities increased by 16 times from 512 Mb to 8 Gb. In fact, numerous high-end graphics cards, such as NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1060 and 1070, still rely on the GDDR5 technology, which is not going anywhere even after the launch of Micron’s GDDR5X with up to 12 Gbps data rate per pin in 2016. As it appears, GDDR6 will be used for high-end graphics cards starting in 2018, just two years after the introduction of GDDR5X.

SK Hynix is not disclosing too many details about its GDDR6 chips, but they have revealed that the chips are 8 Gb devices with 16 Gbps data transfer rate, which in turn are being manufactured on SK Hynix’s 21 nm process technology. The company is also stating that GDDR6 will have a 10% lower operating voltage than GDDR5, though they don’t specify if that’s relative to the low voltage (1.35 V), standard (1.5 V) or high frequency (1.55 V) version of GDDR5.

What is noteworthy is that SK Hynix does disclose some details about the first graphics cards to use its GDDR6 memory. As it appears, that adapter will have a 384-bit memory bus and will thus support memory bandwidth upwards of 768 GB/s. Given the number of chips required for a 384-bit memory sub-system, it is logical to assume that the card will carry 12 GB of memory. SK Hynix is not disclosing the name of its partner among GPU developers, but it is logical to assume that we are talking a high-end product that will replace an existing graphics card.

Unlike GDDR5X, GDDR6 is expected to be manufactured by all three major DRAM makers, and consequently should be available more widely. SK Hynix believes that GDDR6 will supplant both GDDR5 and GDDR5X relatively quickly. Nonetheless, keep in mind that while it took GDDR5 a relatively short amount of time to replace GDDR4 on high-end graphics cards in 2008 – 2009, it then took the memory standard years to replace GDDR3 on mainstream adapters.

SK Hynix to Ship GDDR6 Memory for Graphics Cards by Early 2018
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SK Hynix to Ship GDDR6 Memory for Graphics Cards by Early 2018

In a surprising move, SK Hynix has announced its first memory chips based on the yet-unpublished GDDR6 standard. The new DRAM devices for video cards have capacity of 8 Gb and run at 16 Gbps per pin data rate, which is significantly higher than both standard GDDR5 and Micron’s unique GDDR5X format. SK Hynix plans to produce its GDDR6 ICs in volume by early 2018.

GDDR5 memory has been used for top-of-the-range video cards for over seven years, since summer 2008 to present. Throughout its active lifespan, GDDR5 increased its data rate by over two times, from 3.6 Gbps to 9 Gbps, whereas its per chip capacities increased by 16 times from 512 Mb to 8 Gb. In fact, numerous high-end graphics cards, such as NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1060 and 1070, still rely on the GDDR5 technology, which is not going anywhere even after the launch of Micron’s GDDR5X with up to 12 Gbps data rate per pin in 2016. As it appears, GDDR6 will be used for high-end graphics cards starting in 2018, just two years after the introduction of GDDR5X.

SK Hynix is not disclosing too many details about its GDDR6 chips, but they have revealed that the chips are 8 Gb devices with 16 Gbps data transfer rate, which in turn are being manufactured on SK Hynix’s 21 nm process technology. The company is also stating that GDDR6 will have a 10% lower operating voltage than GDDR5, though they don’t specify if that’s relative to the low voltage (1.35 V), standard (1.5 V) or high frequency (1.55 V) version of GDDR5.

What is noteworthy is that SK Hynix does disclose some details about the first graphics cards to use its GDDR6 memory. As it appears, that adapter will have a 384-bit memory bus and will thus support memory bandwidth upwards of 768 GB/s. Given the number of chips required for a 384-bit memory sub-system, it is logical to assume that the card will carry 12 GB of memory. SK Hynix is not disclosing the name of its partner among GPU developers, but it is logical to assume that we are talking a high-end product that will replace an existing graphics card.

Unlike GDDR5X, GDDR6 is expected to be manufactured by all three major DRAM makers, and consequently should be available more widely. SK Hynix believes that GDDR6 will supplant both GDDR5 and GDDR5X relatively quickly. Nonetheless, keep in mind that while it took GDDR5 a relatively short amount of time to replace GDDR4 on high-end graphics cards in 2008 – 2009, it then took the memory standard years to replace GDDR3 on mainstream adapters.

G.Skill Announces 16 GB DDR4-4333 Memory Kit for Intel Kaby Lake CPUs
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G.Skill Announces 16 GB DDR4-4333 Memory Kit for Intel Kaby Lake CPUs

G.Skill on Friday announced its new top-of-the-range DDR4 memory kit for dual-channel PCs running Intel’s Kaby Lake processors. The new Trident Z kit for operates at 4333 MT/s (DDR4-4333), though it requires a bit of extra voltage to get there. In addition, the company said that it was working on even faster DDR4 DIMMs.

The new G.Skill Trident Z memory modules are based on Samsung’s 8 Gb DRAM ICs (B-die, 20 nm), which also power other high-end DIMMs from the company. The 16 GB kit (F4-4333C19) consists of two 8 GB modules rated for DDR4-4333 operation with CL19 19-19-39 timings at 1.4 V, which is above the standard high-performance voltage setting for DDR4 (1.35 V) and is considerably higher than JEDEC-specification of 1.2 V. Just like the rest members of the Trident Z family, the new DDR4-4333 kit comes with aluminum heat spreaders (so, no RGB LEDs just yet) as well as SPDs with XMP 2.0 settings.

G.Skill is the Trident Z DDR4-4333 kit for use with Intel’s Z270 platforms and Kaby Lake processors. So far, G.Skill has only validated its F4-4333C19-8GTZ modules on the ASUS ROG Maximus IX Apex motherboard and the Intel Core i5-7600K processor, but expect the list of compatible mainboards to expand over time.

In addition to announcing the new DDR4-4333 kit, G.Skill also teased DDR4-4400 (F4-4400C19-8GTZ) and even DDR4-4500 (F4-4500C19-8GTZ) 8 GB memory modules working in dual-channel mode. The company is still working on such DIMMs and finalizing their specifications (timings, voltages, etc.), so do not expect them on the shelves for a bit.

It should be noted however that this week’s announcement is just that: an announcement. The actual product release will come later. G.Skill has not yet announced when that will be; presumably the company is still binning chips and building up a launch supply. We’d also expect the retail price of the kit to be announced at that time. At present, a dual-channel 16 GB DDR4-4266 kit costs around $250, so it’s reasonable to assume the new DDR4-4333 kit will be priced above that.

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G.Skill Announces 16 GB DDR4-4333 Memory Kit for Intel Kaby Lake CPUs
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G.Skill Announces 16 GB DDR4-4333 Memory Kit for Intel Kaby Lake CPUs

G.Skill on Friday announced its new top-of-the-range DDR4 memory kit for dual-channel PCs running Intel’s Kaby Lake processors. The new Trident Z kit for operates at 4333 MT/s (DDR4-4333), though it requires a bit of extra voltage to get there. In addition, the company said that it was working on even faster DDR4 DIMMs.

The new G.Skill Trident Z memory modules are based on Samsung’s 8 Gb DRAM ICs (B-die, 20 nm), which also power other high-end DIMMs from the company. The 16 GB kit (F4-4333C19) consists of two 8 GB modules rated for DDR4-4333 operation with CL19 19-19-39 timings at 1.4 V, which is above the standard high-performance voltage setting for DDR4 (1.35 V) and is considerably higher than JEDEC-specification of 1.2 V. Just like the rest members of the Trident Z family, the new DDR4-4333 kit comes with aluminum heat spreaders (so, no RGB LEDs just yet) as well as SPDs with XMP 2.0 settings.

G.Skill is the Trident Z DDR4-4333 kit for use with Intel’s Z270 platforms and Kaby Lake processors. So far, G.Skill has only validated its F4-4333C19-8GTZ modules on the ASUS ROG Maximus IX Apex motherboard and the Intel Core i5-7600K processor, but expect the list of compatible mainboards to expand over time.

In addition to announcing the new DDR4-4333 kit, G.Skill also teased DDR4-4400 (F4-4400C19-8GTZ) and even DDR4-4500 (F4-4500C19-8GTZ) 8 GB memory modules working in dual-channel mode. The company is still working on such DIMMs and finalizing their specifications (timings, voltages, etc.), so do not expect them on the shelves for a bit.

It should be noted however that this week’s announcement is just that: an announcement. The actual product release will come later. G.Skill has not yet announced when that will be; presumably the company is still binning chips and building up a launch supply. We’d also expect the retail price of the kit to be announced at that time. At present, a dual-channel 16 GB DDR4-4266 kit costs around $250, so it’s reasonable to assume the new DDR4-4333 kit will be priced above that.

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