This year we have seen the demand for the next generation DRAM memory spike considerably. DDR3 memory provides improved power efficiency and performance when compared to DDR2, so it was simply a matter of time before it took over. With such an increase in demand this year, it is believed by year end that DDR3 will have captured as much as 30% of the market.

Furthermore, it is also believed that early next year DDR3 could and will most likely replace DDR2 as the dominant memory standard. Again this was always going to happen, it was simply a matter of time. With 30% less power consumption when compared to its predecessor, and roughly twice the bandwidth, DDR3 is clearly the way of the future.

The main driving force behind this increased demand has been the increased support by not only desktop computers but also laptops and servers. As the demand increases and the DDR3 market share grows, prices will fall and ultimately this is what just about everyone has been waiting for. Currently DDR3 memory is fetching between $1.50 - $1.70 US per 1Gb (gigabit), while DDR2 is priced at just $1.00 per 1Gb. So while DDR3 still holds a fair price premium over DDR2 memory, the gap is closing.

Those of you looking to build a new high-end computer today or in the near future, will likely go for the more expensive DDR3 option. This is because the latest AMD and Intel platforms exclusively support DDR3 memory, providing the consumer with limited options. Intel’s latest platform, the Core i7, has really been pushing DDR3 memory hard, as it requires three modules working in a triple-channel configuration.

The Core i7 processors are not all that fussy when it comes to DDR3 memory, and low-latency DDR3-1333 will see most users, particularly gamers, get the most out of their system. However DDR3-1600 memory does offer greater bandwidths that can improve performance in certain applications. Therefore, if this faster memory can be purchased for a similar price to that of DDR3-1333, then we feel it’s worth getting.

Today we are checking out a memory kit that fits the bill, the A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+, which as the name suggests is designed to work at 1600MHz. A-DATA describes their XPG Gaming Series as their “very best cutting edge memory, that delivers the perfect blend of performance, durability and stability with low power consumption. XPG Gaming Series features highest reliability and fulfills exceptional requirements for high-end modules at a very attractive, low price.”

Whereas DDR2 memory modules require 1.8v, the newer DDR3 memory modules are designed to work at just 1.5v, allowing them to work at greater frequencies while still saving power and generating less heat. JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council), the mob responsible for developing the DDR memory standard, among other things, says that the maximum recommended voltage is 1.575v for DDR3 memory and that this voltage should not be exceeded.

Obviously A-DATA does not agree, as they recommend using 1.65v to 1.75v when using their DDR3 PC3-12800 CL8 (6GB) memory kit. DDR3 memory is tested to withstand up to 1.975v of power before failing, though they are not expected or required to operate properly at this voltage.

The A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+ memory modules are designed to work using CAS8-8-8-24 timings, which are actually quite impressive timings for DDR3 memory operating at 1600MHz. There are already a few kits designed to work at this frequency with CAS8-8-8-24 timings, though they do cost a fair bit more, with the 6GB kit said to cost just $90 US.

DDR3 memory modules feature 240-pins, the same number as DDR2, though they are in no way compatible. DDR3 modules have a different key notch location, making it impossible to install DDR2 modules in DIMM slots designed for DDR3 memory. The new Intel Core i7 platform exclusively supports DDR3 memory and therefore it will not be possible to use cheaper DDR2 memory with these processors.

The G A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+ memory kits are available in either 3GB or 6GB capacities. The modules use a 6-layer PCB design that feature eight memory chips on each side. These memory chips are cooled via typical heatspreaders that are color coded red. Finally A-DATA claims to be backing these memory modules with a lifetime warranty.

Hardware - Intel Core i7 965 Extreme Edition (LGA1366) - OCZ Reaper HPC PC3-12800 (6GB) - A-Data XPG Plus PC3-12800 (6GB) - G.Skill Trident PC3-12800 (6GB) - Patriot G-Series PC3-10666 (6GB) - Patriot G-Series PC3-12800 (6GB) - Seagate 500GB 7200-RPM (Serial ATA300) - ASUS GeForce GTX 285 (1GB) - Asus P6T Deluxe (Intel X58) Software - Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 (64-bit) - Intel System Driver 8.4.0.1016 - Nvidia Forceware 185.85 WHQL

Although the A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+ memory features considerably weaker timings than the G.Skill Trident memory, the SiSoftware Sandra bandwidth results are much the same. In fact timings made little difference to the performance here, as DDR3-1600 memory with CAS9 timings were roughly as fast as CAS6 memory.

When testing with EVEREST Ultimate Edition we did find that the A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+ was slightly slower than the CAS6 and CAS7 memory when looking at read performance. Interestingly the write performance remained much the same regardless of timings.

The PCmark Vantage results were very similar to that of the EVEREST results, with the A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+ showing slightly weaker read performance when compared to the G.Skill and OCZ memory.

Interestingly the A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+ produced our best multi-thread WinRAR result, hitting a throughput of 4MB/s. The single-thread performance was similar to that of the G.Skill and OCZ memory.

The A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+ memory also showed strong Super PI performance, roughly matching the G.Skill and OCZ memory.

The CINEBENCH R10 performance was far from exciting, as even the lower clocked 1333MHz Patriot memory was able to deliver similar performance to the low-latency DDR3-1600 memory.

This is where expensive DDR3 memory and the Core i7 platform do not make a whole lot of sense. Given that most games are predominantly GPU limited, slightly more memory bandwidth for the CPU is going to make very little difference. While a few more frames per second can be scored at the lower resolutions, at the resolutions that we are likely to play our games there is virtually nothing to be gained.

The A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+ modules were able to reach a frequency of 1764MHz, which is an average result for DDR3-1600 memory. The OCZ and G.Skill kits which were used as a comparison, both reached well over 1800MHz, but then they are both also considerably more expensive. The A-DATA memory was also able to operate at CAS7-6-6-16 which is impressive, as the best timings we have achieved using any DDR3-1600 modules to date are CAS6-6-6-16.

In any case, if this 6GB memory kit can be had for under $100 US that is certainly not something that we would have thought to be possible in 2009, had we been asked to make such a prediction at the start of the year. Recently we have reviewed quite a few 6GB triple-channel Core i7 memory kits and the A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+ is the cheapest we have come across that guarantees a 1600MHz operating frequency.

For the most part DDR3-1600 offers limited performance advantages when compared to DDR3-1333. That said, with this A-DATA kit being so affordable, there is no reason not to go for the higher speed memory. Really 6GB DDR3 memory kits do not get a great deal cheaper than the A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+, so that is something to keep in mind.

Also worth keeping in mind is the fact that this memory can handle extremely aggressive timings, as we were able to tighten them up to CAS7-6-6-16 when working at 1333MHz. Although the A-DATA XPG + Series DDR3-1600+ did not prove to be the best overclocking memory, with a maximum stable frequency of 1764MHz, there is still more than enough headroom for most users.

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Reviewed By Steven Walton