GeIL Evo Veloce Review: 2x8GB at DDR3-2400 C11-12-12 1.65 V
by Ian Cutress on October 24, 2012 5:50 PM EST- Posted in
- Memory
- Ivy Bridge
- DDR3
- GeIL
When purchasing memory, the use of that memory in the system should be the main deciding factor in what should be purchased. My father, for example, mainly surfs the web, emails, and sometimes edits a few pictures. On his system (running Win7 x64), 4 GB would be more than enough. My brother on the other hand likes to play games at 1080p, while having the audio from his favorite paintball livestream on in the background. In this situation, anything from 8 GB to 16 GB would be a good ballpark (I gave him 16 GB, just to be on the safe side).
In my situation, I mostly use my main PC to write reviews, edit images, sometimes edit video on a simple scale, but I also tend to have a hundred internet tabs open and then play a game on top. The most I have ever seen my memory usage hit is 7.7 GB while playing F1 2011 on top of everything else I had open. For me, 16 GB is plenty. Especially when I want it in a mini ITX system that only has two DIMM slots – then 8GB modules are the bare minimum.
But the market is always evolving. With larger memory kits we can have RAMDisks and RAMCaches to help speed up daily use. Having access to an 8 GB or 16 GB RAMcache immediately boosts responsiveness in terms of temporary files (compression, video editing), so having access to that extra memory could prove to be vital for your usage scenario.
Moving from a 4x4 GB to a 2x8 GB setup leaves room for expansion but comes at a cost. Some of that cost could be in performance, and some is in terms of price – as we see, a 4x4 GB 2400 C10 kit is slightly cheaper than a 2x8 GB 2400 C11 kit. In terms of the GeIL Evo Veloce 2400 C11 kit we have tested today, the main problem with the kit is actually the competition.
As mentioned previously, the $145 and $155 2x8 GB kits from G.Skill really shoot across the bow of the GeIL ship Evo Veloce in the same capacities:
$145: G.Skill TridentX 2x8 GB DDR3-2133 9-11-11 (8.43ns / 11.72ns)
$150: Crucial Ballistix 2x8 GB DDR3-1866 9-9-9 (9.65ns / 13.40ns)
$150: GeIL Evo Veloce 2x8 GB DDR3-2400 11-12-12 (9.17ns / 12.08ns)
$150: Kingston HyperX 2x8 GB DDR3-1866 9-10-9 (9.65ns / 13.40ns)
$155: G.Skill TridentX 2x8 GB DDR3-2400 10-11-11 (8.33ns / 11.25 ns)
Both the former and the latter should have overall better performance. In our tests, the mix of having 2400 with C11 means that the performance of the GeIL kit can vary between 1866 C9 and 2133 C9. Moving to 2400 C10 with the slightly more expensive $155 kit can alleviate all the 1866 C9 oriented results.
With all that being said, if you want something that looks like the GeIL Evo Veloce in ‘frost white’, GeIL will sell you a 2x8 GB 2400 C9 kit under the GEW316GB2400C9DC SKU.
Availability of GeIL kits seems to be quite sparse, especially with limited color editions such as these. The nearest to this kit is the 32 GB version, GEW332GB2400C11AQC, which currently e-tails for $300.
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Beenthere - Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - link
Can't change the type from 8166 MHz. to the proper 1866 MHz. but most folks should be able to figure it out...silverblue - Thursday, October 25, 2012 - link
Of course, if you have an APU-based system, the faster memory does indeed make a difference... though I agree, it's the exception rather than the norm.JlHADJOE - Thursday, October 25, 2012 - link
But then its totally contrary to one of the main reasons behind having an APU -- penny pinching.These kits cost twice the DDR3-1333 going rate, so that's $75 you could have put into a GPU. Can't speak for everyone, but I'd probably choose an i3 with DDR3-1333 + a 7750 over an A10-5800k with DDR3-2400.
JohnMD1022 - Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - link
My thoughts exactly.1600 seems to be the sweet spot on price and performance.
PseudoKnight - Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - link
Anandtech did a series of memory frequency tests like a year ago (I forget exactly). While they found that 1333 to 1600 didn't offer much in terms of average FPS gains in gaming, it had a clearer impact on minimum frame rates. I'm not saying it's worth it either way here, but I'd like people to give some attention to minimum frame rates when talking about the benefits of bumps in memory frequency.That said, 2400 is obviously overkill here, but that should be obvious to anyone who wants to spend their money efficiently.
Impulses - Thursday, October 25, 2012 - link
The article the did a year ago (with Sandy Bridge in mind) says absolutely nothing about minimum frame rates vs average... I don't even see how faster memory could have such an effect with a dedicated GPU.Impulses - Thursday, October 25, 2012 - link
*theyJlHADJOE - Thursday, October 25, 2012 - link
It might have been techreport. They're the guys who usually do those frame-time measurements.poohbear - Thursday, October 25, 2012 - link
pseudoking what are u talking about? there is virtually NO effect on minimum frames on a dedicated GPU system. Ever since the memory controller moved to the CPU, the RAM timings have become ALOT a less important component in the system. The only way it shows a difference is when you go to all kinds of outlandish scenerios that involve isolating the GPU and CPU to situations that show some difference between RAM, but in a real world setting those situations are so rare that it becomes pointless to even entertain them.Ratman6161 - Thursday, October 25, 2012 - link
But add running virtual machines to your list of reasons why a lot of memory might be good. When working from home I've actually typically got the host machine where I'm doing most of my actual work plus at least two virtual machines running, each VPN'ed into a different remote network. So it isn't too uncommon for me to see about 90% of my 16 gb in use at any one time. And I do occasionally hit times when I have to shut down one VM in order to start another. So I wouldn't actually mind having 32 GB.On the other hand, while I need a large quantity of RAM, my 1600 MHz G-Skill works just fine performance wise so I don't need speed - I need quantity.