G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 32GB-5600MHz C36 Review

G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 32GB-5600MHz C36.

Within this first generation of DDR5 memory, we are only at the beginning, we can find memories that will comply with the JEDEC standard and therefore focused on speeds between 4800 and 6400MHz effective. This means that we are only at the tip of the iceberg of the natural evolution that these memories will have in the future, with the next generations.

This review of the new G.SKILL Trident Z5 , our first opportunity with this technology demonstrates an effective speed of 5600MHz decomposed in the intrinsic dual channel that supports this memory. Within the DDR5 there are important novelties, one is consumption, reducing the voltage from the standard 1.2v to 1.1v , which means a reduction in consumption of around 20%, although this will depend on the management of performance profiles of each memory, such as in previous generations.

Today we will thoroughly explore the performance of this generation of memories, from the performance as well as analyze the generational differences and see if it really compensates the launch price of the same, which will undoubtedly be high, as always.

Características técnicas de las Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro SL

  • Formato: DIMM 288 pines
  • Altura: 44mm
  • Configuracion: 2x16GB
  • Perfiles soportados: JEDEC y XMP 3.0
  • Latencias en XMP 2.0: C36-36-36-36-75 2ct
  • Velocidad: 2800MHz, 5600MHz DDR
  • Voltaje: 1.2v XMP 3.0, 1.0-1.2v JEDEC

Prestaciones de la memoria SDRAM DDR5

DDR5 is faster, handles twice the bandwidth, and hence the effective speeds multiplied over the DDR4 standard that initially hovered around 2133MHz effective, 3200MHz in subsequent evolutions of the standard (The JEDEC association establishes this standard), this new generation It starts at 4800MHz and we will easily see them, in a few weeks, reach 7000MHz in higher-end models, as we saw just a few days ago . The standard, in performance, latencies, and balanced price, we will surely find it at 5200MHz.

One of the changes that we will see with the DDR5 is that voltages are further reduced, and therefore consumption. We went from 1.2v of the standard to 1.1v in the new generation, that should indicate at least a 20% reduction in consumption, the bandwidths of the standard also go from 25.6GBps to 32GBps in the new generation and the prefetch, the ability to process data simultaneously will be able to implement in two modes, 8n or 16n, when DDR4 can only work in 8n mode.

DDR5 memory, with its new bandwidth management design and built-in ECC logic, can handle much higher densities – four times that actually – so we could see the maximum amount of memory per module grow from 32GB today up to 128GB per module, your next PC could have 512GB of RAM using just four memory banks .

We have talked about integrated ECC, and certainly the DDR5 memory integrates an ECC mode that allows some passive correction of memory errors, but we will continue to see ECC modules with integrated chips for this purpose that will have the active communication that some processors expect to avoid errors of memory. This means that error correction improves, on all DDR5 modules, but it definitely does not mean that they are ECC in every sense of the word.

Another important improvement point is that now each memory module has its own variable power control, just like your processor and your graphics card have. That allows to adjust the consumption, on account of the clear performance, when the memories have less workload. In other words, the low-power or dynamic performance mode also reaches the world of memories and this is not directly related to Intel’s XMP 3.0 standard, but rather it is incorporated into the memory standard itself. Now the modules are powered by a combination of 12 and 3.3v and the integrated power controller (PMIC) will make the power adaptation to offer the 1.1v that these modules require by definition.

G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 32GB-5600MHz C36 Design and Specifications

Apparently there is not much physical difference between DDR5 and DDR4 modules, in fact, they have the same 288 pins that we already found in the DDR5, but the new DDR5 SDRAM modules have the cut, which allows us to place them properly without damaging them, at a different point which makes it difficult, unless we use brute force, to use a DDR5 module in the wrong memory bank. The same happens, of course, if we try to use a DDR4 module in a DDR5 slot.

The DDR5 module on top of the DDR4 module. Physically they are identical, they have the same number of pins, but the separation cut is offset to avoid errors.

With all this, the design of the memory modules is very similar in width and length, we will not see big differences, but G.Skill has taken the opportunity to give an aesthetic twist to its TridentZ modules in this fifth generation. A more careful design, with curved elements, which continue to give a lot of presence to the LED system integrated in the memory. We can find them in two colors, at least for the moment, black and silver, our photos correspond to our test unit, with 32GB in kit, in silver.

The test memories for this analysis correspond to the F5-5600 variant with C36 latencies. They are two 16GB modules with internal dual channel that in our test equipment translates into effective dual channel thanks to the dual channel configuration with Intel’s new Core i5-12600K . Full latencies are: C16-36-36-76 and it develops its 5600MHz frequency thanks to a unique 1.2v XMP 3.0 profile. Surely you are already thinking that the consumption improvement has disappeared like that at first, with a 1.2v profile, but the truth is that any “fast” DDR4 module already used higher consumptions of 1.35v on a regular basis.

Gracias a la bios de la MSI MPG Z690 Carbon Wifi donde las hemos montado podemos configurar hasta dos perfiles XMP 3.0 de usuario que podemos grabar en las propias memorias y llevarlas con nosotros a cualquier otro sistema, la pega es que tendremos que hacer una configuración completamente manual para poder grabar la información en uno de los perfiles de usuario, eso sí, no requiere de software de terceros y el propio estándar XMP 3.0 nos garantiza que cualquier placa base con este tipo de memorias podrá hacer uso de esos perfiles.

Within what will be these first DDR5 memory units, these would be in a mid-range, we will soon see them above 7000MHz  and in a couple of years, when the standard is adapted to new needs, it is easy for us to see DDR5 memory above 8000MHz. In terms of size, 16GB of density in these modules is certainly not enough, although the prices surely will not accompany to have much higher densities in a long time.

Temperature, performance and overclocking

Another improvement of DDR5 SDRAM memories is that they no longer leave the option to include SMBUS temperature controller in each module, now it is intrinsically linked to the power controller and therefore all modules on the market will include it. These two elements the PMIC and the temperature sensor can be used, configured in bios, so that the memories adapt their performance to the possibilities and requirements of the system.

These G.Skill Trident Z5 modules have excellent idle behavior with a very stable 35 degree temperature , and when we demand them, stressing them through benchmarks, the load temperatures do not exceed 40 degrees, a delta of 5 degrees, without any type of ventilation and with normal ambient temperatures at this time of about 22 degrees.

Thermal capture on load:

Regarding overclocking, in this first experience, we have achieved a 10% improvement in frequencies, bordering on 6000MHz of effective speed , with a voltage increase up to 1.25v, reaching 90GBps of bandwidth, which is really a figure. surprising that before we could only achieve in quad channel DDR4 configurations with four simultaneous memory banks. This same configuration in DDR5 should easily exceed 140GBps of bandwidth. The best thing is that we can save our frequency and latency settings in a memory profile and run them on any PC without the need for additional settings.

In our tests we have also verified how the new hardware lighting system works and the truth is that the added effects are surprising and are hardware encoded so they are typical of these models and respond more to an Addressable RGB response than to traditional methods. . We have a multitude of complex and configurable effects, such as rain mode, viewfinder, color boost and even something more functional like changing color depending on any of the PC components.

Performance results

DDR4 testing machine:

  • Processor:  AMD Ryzen 3950X
  • Source:  Seasonic Connect 750w
  • Hard drive:  Samsung 980 Pro

DDR5 testing machine:

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-12600K
  • Source:  Seasonic Connect 750w
  • Hard drive:  Samsung 980 Pro

Voltage

Temperature

Bandwidth in reading

Write bandwidth

Analysis and conclusion

Although latencies increase dramatically, which was to be expected, with each new version of the standard we gain performance on our desktops. The internal dual channel capacity and the higher frequencies make these memories the evolution we expected and these are only the first models, the evolution will start from this powerful base.

The G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB models perform flawlessly, with good overclocking capabilities, at least in our test sample, reduced working temperatures, and combine seamlessly with new generations of Intel processors to achieve truly remarkable performances. You can see how they help us unleash the full potential of the best Intel processor of this generation, the Intel Core i9-12900K .

The RGB system of the memories also has improvements, as well as the design that is more subtle, and its size is also very suitable for all types of montages. The prices at the moment are high, and will continue to be, but it is clear that right now this type of memory is spearheading and the news and the highest performance always have a price plus.

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THE BEST

Superlative performance

Excellent overclocking ability

Excellent finishes in heatsink and LEDs

Very controlled working temperatures

WORST

DDR5 is expensive, will be until demand is h