$44.99
www.pny.com
What if you don’t quite need the biting power of G.Skill’s Ripjaws Z-series (or, more relevantly, you only need a dual-channel memory kit for your Socket AM3-based build)? Alternatively, you could go the dual-channel route with a Core i5 or just about any of AMD’s latest APUs. After all, Llano-based APUs benefit considerably from improving memory performance, both in higher speed and lower latency. A dual-channel, 8 GB kit like this one from PNY should put a little more cheer in anyone’s holiday.
PNY definitely isn’t out to make any fashion statements here. The plain black, clipped-on heat spreader is merely adorned with a white PNY logo on one side and a stylized, handwritten-style “XLR8” on the other. These 1600 MT/s DDR3 modules feature a CAS 9 latency and a default voltage of 1.65 V. As is often the case with faster memory modules, some motherboards may only recognize the modules at 1333 MT/s, but this is quickly remedied with a manual override in the BIOS. Default timings are 9-9-9-24, but we’ve seen this accelerated into the range of 9-7-7-19.

As of this writing, PNY is still running a promotional deal with Sony: buy this XLR8 kit, and you’ll receive one free movie download. There are 35 titles to choose from, and you can install the movie with unlimited viewing on up to two PCs. Also, be aware that the $85 price still listed on PNY’s site is outdated. Newegg now has the kit at $45, and that still includes the movie offer.
Back in September, we awarded this XLR8 package our Tom’s Hardware Approved label and found it to be easily the best gaming value of any DDR3 kit tested in our round-up. Other kits may have been a bit faster, but with the lowest average Web price in the story, PNY emerged with the highest overall value.
- CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition
- Motherboard: MSI 990FXA-GD80
- Memory: PNY XLR8 MD8192KD3-1600-X9
- Power Supply: SilverStone Strider Gold Evolution 1000 W
- SSD: Crucial m4 256 GB
- Graphics Card: Gigabyte GV-R695OC-1D
- CPU: Intel Core i7-3930K
- Motherboard: Asus Rampage IV Extreme
- Memory: G.Skill RipjawsZ F3-17000CL9Q-16GBZHD (4 GB x 4)
- Chassis: SilverStone Raven RV03
- Zotac Infinity Edition ZT-50102-30P GeForce GTX 580
- Noctua NH-D14 SE2011
- Creative Labs Recon3D PCI Express Fatal1ty Professional Edition
Mine was the one with the 4 SSD.
My floppy disk totally turned to a hard disk drive.
I can't wait for part 2 already.
Depends on if you use an aftermarket cooler or the stock one
Why are some things suggested in this guide mostly the worst value you could get for that sum of cash?
For starters:
-MSI 990FX-GD80 wouldn't be my top pick. That would go to a Gigabyte 990FXA-UD(x) board. Why bother getting a board that's more expensive than the best processor for the platform (or one whose lower-end boards don't catch fire).
-i7-3930K? Ivy's just around the corner and will run on 150 dollar boards that do more than X79 could think of.
-Silverstone 1000W PSU? Seasonic's already got their X-1050, which has 80+ Platinum certification instead of gold for the same cost.
Some things I guess I just don't understand, then. You list some parts that have really good value, such as that RAM and Powercolor graphics card along with the 955BE, and then go to the polar opposite. I don't see the reason for that.
Get a life you freak
Get a sense of humor you rude little man.