DDR3 On A Budget: Six 6 GB Memory Kits

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A-Data And Corsair

A-Data DDR3-1333+ CAS 7

Its products might have a great reputation, but A-Data’s model number system has an uncanny ability to make its parts difficult to find. Labeled as model number AD31333E002GU3K, the package we received is actually sold as part number AX3U1333PB2G7-3P, and one must visit http://oc.adata.com.tw to find that these are actually the same products. Future Core i5 users will be pleased to note that the modules in this triple-channel kit are also available as dual-channel part number AX3U1333PB2G7-2P, which just as confusingly cross-references to model number AD31333E002GU2K.

Rated at DDR3-1333 timings of 7-7-7-20 at 1.65 volts, conservative SPD values make these bootable at full speed and default voltage. A-Data does not endow this “+” series memory kit with Intel XMP technology, so users must manually configure motherboard BIOS to reach rated performance levels.

Our most recent search found A-Data’s part number AX3U1333PB2G7-3P 6 GB triple-channel memory kit at a moderate $113 Web price.

Corsair XMS3 DDR3-1600 CAS 8

Not yet available as a dual-channel kit, Corsair’s part number TR3X6G1600C8 6 GB triple-channel kit is one of only two in today’s roundup specified to run a 1,600 MHz data rate.

DDR3-1600 timings of 8-8-8-24 at 1.65 volts are also available as an Intel XMP value, allowing easier configuration in motherboards that properly support XMP technology. Though many X58 products don’t implement XMP properly, experienced builders shouldn’t have any problem with manual configuration.

Our most recent search has found part number TR3X6G1600C8 at $130, up an astounding 44% from June.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
58 Comments Comment from the forums
  • aspireonelover
    Great review, this helped me determine with determining about DDR3 6GB kits. Since I'm in the middle of building my core i7 rig. thx!
    btw, isn't there any cheaper ram on the way as well?
    Reply
  • Crashman
    These were all available for under $90 at the July 3 price deadline. Amazing what's happened since, eh?
    Reply
  • pirateboy
    rather silly not to include any gskill ram
    Reply
  • neiroatopelcc
    Is 1.65v really needed?
    I recently built an i7 mashine with 2x6gb ocz gold modules.
    Instead of running them at their rated 1600mhz @ 1.65v I decided to go for 1333 @ 7-7-6-17 - and that @ stock 1.5v ; I don't really get the point of feeding them more juice just to get timings a tad lower, or frequency a tad up.
    Reply
  • hixbot
    With the minimal performance gains from high-end RAM, glad to see an evaluation of the "cheap" stuff. Good work.
    Reply
  • bk420
    I wish these came in 2 or 4 packs also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Reply
  • inmytaxi
    OCZ DDR3 3x 2 GB kits, the Gold and the Plat at 1333 and 1600, dropped below 100 bucks at NewEgg and ZipZoomFly three months ago. They've been $89 - 99 PLUS a 20 rebate with FREE shipping there on and off since April.

    The statement at the heading is inaccurate.
    Reply
  • monkeysweat
    what about kingston ram?
    Reply
  • itadakimasu
    I picked up some 12gb ocz platinum 1333 kits for $135, and 140 off of amazon. Found them using bing.com/cashback.
    Reply
  • xanubisx
    do not use ocz's xmp set the memory yourself. On my memory the 1600mhz with xmp i tried the xmp 1600 setting and it cooked my i7 cpu. After the shitty rma process i installed the memory and set all the timings myself and found out that the xmp profile set the qpi voltage to 1.4 when it runs fine on 1.105 (i think) the default qpi voltage anyways i learnt my lesson ocz might have cheap memory but dont use the xmp.
    Reply