Kingston Unveils DDR4 SODIMM Memory For Intel Skylake Laptops

Kingston's HyperX is known for many products, one of which is memory. The latest addition to its arsenal is particularly noteworthy, as it is the company's first time making DDR4 SODIMM memory (aka, DDR4 memory for laptops).

The memory in question is the HyperX Impact DDR4, and it is meant to be used in conjunction with laptops sporting Intel's 6th generation of Core series processors (Skylake). Of course, you'll also be able to use the modules in all-in-one PC's or smaller form factor systems – just about anything that will require DDR4 SODIMM memory.

HyperX is shipping two kits and two single-module packages. The single modules will come in 4 GB and 8 GB capacities, with the dual-module kits therefore having capacities of 8 GB and 16 GB. As far as performance goes, the three available frequencies are 2133 MHz at CL13 timing, 2400 MHz at CL14, and 2666 MHz at CL15. These are good boosts over DDR3 performance in mobile applications, and the operating voltage of 1.2 V should help battery life a little bit, too.

All of the HyperX Impact DDR4 SODIMM modules come with a black PCB, and will have a small black heatsink. Not that it matters – the chances of using SODIMM memory in an application where you can actually see it, unlike desktop-size DIMMs, is pretty much zero.

Additionally, HyperX also used the advancements in memory to bring a new low-voltage DDR3L series to the market with the HyperX Fury DDR3L. These modules run at 1.35 V and are available in 1600 MHz and 1866 MHz frequencies, which have CL10 and CL11 timings, respectively. These will also come with 4 GB and 8 GB modules, and therefore kits of 8 GB and 16 GB.

HyperX did not reveal pricing or availability, but did inform us that all of the modules carry a lifetime warranty.

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Niels Broekhuijsen

Niels Broekhuijsen is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He reviews cases, water cooling and pc builds.

  • deksman
    Timings are worse than on DDR3.
    What's the point exactly on faster speeds and marginally lower voltage that won't ever be noticeable?
    Reply
  • balister
    Timings are worse than on DDR3.
    What's the point exactly on faster speeds and marginally lower voltage that won't ever be noticeable?

    Give DDR4 a little time to mature. If you remember when DDR3 original came out, it had latencies similar to the best DDR2 at the time. After a little maturity, DDR3 latencies dropped below DDR2 for similar speeds (DDR3 800 to DDR2 800 and DDR3 1066 to DDR2 1066).
    Reply
  • ipwn3r456
    Too late, need a laptop for college in 3 weeks, already ordered laptop with DDR3 RAM. If only Intel released Skylake a bit earlier.
    Reply
  • beayn
    Timings are worse than on DDR3.
    What's the point exactly on faster speeds and marginally lower voltage that won't ever be noticeable?

    If I remember right, when the clock speed goes up, the latencies look worse because they are measured in clock cycles not time. For example an 800mhz module with 4,4,4,5 would become a 1600mhz module at 8,8,8,10. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...
    Reply
  • cats_Paw
    There has not been a real revolution in CPUs and RAM since the original quad cores (Intel Q6600).
    WE have only had marginal upgrades, in many cases even sidegrades (anyone remmber those i5-2500K and i5-3XXXK comparison charts?).

    Untill DX12 comes out full fleged and we can see real world performance, its impossibru to know if its even worth it upgradeing the oldest I-Cores.
    Reply