A-Data DDR3-1600X

A-Data has entered the high-end DDR3 memory fray with a new line of memory kits that fall under its X Series brand, which is targeted at overclockers. The A-Data DDR3-1600X memory kit is one of many available based on Micron’s popular chips. It comprises a pair of 1GB sticks (2GB total) rated for operation at a speedy 1,600MHz with CAS latencies of 7-7-7-20. At that speed, the kit requires a relatively low 1.75 to 1.85 volts.

Although 1,600MHz system memory is nothing to sneeze at, we still spent some time overclocking this kit and found it to be a pretty good overclocker. With a bump in voltage to 2V, the DDR3-1600X kit had no trouble running at 1,804MHz at stock timing, and we suspect that it could have gone higher if we had relaxed the timings a bit. On a related note, the modules are outfitted with basic, flat heat spreaders that remained fairly cool to the touch, even while overclocking. Also note, this kit does not support EPP 2.0 or XMP, so you’ll have to do all of the overclocking the old-fashioned way.

When running at its rated frequency of 1,600MHz on an Asus X48-based motherboard, the DDR3-1600X kit put up a respectable 7.8GBps of memory bandwidth in SiSoft Sandra XII SP1’s bandwidth benchmark. And when we pushed the kit to 1.8GHz while overclocking, that number jumped up to 8.5GBps. Those aren’t the best numbers we’ve seen from a DDR3 memory kit, but they were good nonetheless.

At this point, DDR3 memory is still much more expensive than DDR2. But with an expected street price of about $250, A-Data’s DDR3-1600X kit will debut at a price roughly half of what competing DDR3-1600 kits commanded upon their initial release. Although still pricey in comparison to DDR2, the DDR3-1600X kit is relatively good value in the DDR3 space.

by Marco Chiapetta