Final Words & Conclusion
Final Words & Conclusion
Even on an Intel platform, faster frequency memory can make a difference. There is a visible increase even when pushing from 3000 to 3200 MHz. Do you need to have all other components in that enthusiast range as well? For example, our 1080 Ti used is 20% faster thanks to factory tweaks and liquid cooling. On a more GPU limited setup, the effect of faster memory is much smaller. The reviewed Patriot Viper RGB kit is able to achieve 3500 MHz with a slightly increased voltage (1.4 V, comparing to standard 1.35 V). Of course, the more memory, the better (I personally own 2x 16GB), but faster DDR4 can also a good thing (combined with an enthusiast class eco-system). Not all tests show an advantage, but for example, FryBench or Corona renderer definitely do. Also results in games are quite surprising, in Watch Dogs 2 it’s really worth adding some cash for the faster memory kit. But again, the eco-system in total counts, also we did test in 1920x1080, and the more you spend on a PC, the higher your gaming resolution will be, killing off that memory effect as you increase GPU limitation e.g. run into a GPU bottleneck.
Very nice aesthetics
When it comes to RGB lighting in DDR4, the market already has many similar offerings. But still, the Patriot Viper managed to be a nice addition. The LEDs are dazzling and the colors are quite literally jaw-dropping. For those who want a set of memory that makes a statement, that’s exactly what you’ll find here.
Conclusion
Top pick? Why’s that? The Viper memory performance is good, really good. It's close to its rivals in benchmarks. Usually, you’ll be more than happy, by just setting the XMP profile (and most of the users will leave it like that). However, if you have some time, and patience (searching for instability) you can get something extra from this kit. Thanks to the usage of Samsung chips ~3500 MHz is possible, that's a 300 MHz increase from standard frequency, which can be helpful for example in some games. If you have a desire for even more, there are 3600 MHz CL16 and 4133 MHz CL19 kits on the market. Overall we think that Patriot delivered an interesting memory series, it's fast and pleasant to the eyes. Black heat spreaders provide easy color matching with other hardware components. The dynamic RGB lighting effects look clean and smooth. It’s easy to set-up the effects (there are five separate zones) and hey now, the Patriot utility is actually stable to use. The kit as tested will cost 260 USD but can be spotted for roughly 190 EUR, that's reasonable I guess. You can find some cheaper products on the market, but not really better looking (as the Viper RGB is pretty) and performs well. For some, the height of heat spreader can be an issue (it’s ~45 mm), be sure to check that out before buying, right? One important remark at the end of this article. Patriot does not provide a QVL list, so there’s no known list of compatible Intel and AMD motherboards to be found on their website. That surely has to be fixed. Other than that, it is smooth sailing.
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