RGB DDR4 Memory Final Thoughts

For a very long time – almost thirty years in fact – desktop computers were a dark collection of components hidden from view inside a square steel case painted beige. For the past ten years, however, cases have evolved to feature transparent side-panel windows, and most recently, some cases offer entirely see-through tempered glass sides.

These cosmetic developments didn’t happen by chance; they were caused by the transformation taking place within the case itself. Shiny nickel-plated coolers along with colorful motherboards and memory modules gave hardware enthusiasts a reason to show-off their system’s insides, especially when bragging rights were involved.

At first, lighting the inside of the computer’s enclosure was the best way to showcase your PC’s top-end hardware. Later, component manufacturers added back-lighting to items such as video cards and cooling fans. Soon enough, AIO liquid coolers would emit an RGB glow, followed by RGB SSDs, and now we have RGB memory modules.

IMPORTANT: Although the rating and final score mentioned in this conclusion are made to be as objective as possible, please be advised that every author perceives these factors differently. While we each do our best to ensure that all aspects of the product are considered, there are often times unforeseen market conditions and manufacturer changes occurring after publication which might render our rating obsolete. Please do not base any purchase solely on this conclusion, as it represents our rating specifically for the item tested which may differ from future versions. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary for each of the areas that we rate.

Our performance rating compares how well the Patriot Viper RGB DDR4 memory operated at its standard JEDEC ‘Base Frequency’ of PC4-17000 (2133 MHz) with 15-15-15-36 timing, and also its tested XMP 2.0 Profile speed of PC4-25600 (3200 MHz) with 16-18-18-36 timing. We used AIDA64 to verify these speeds, and thoroughly tested each module for stability without issue – even beyond 3200 MHz without additional voltage beyond 1.35V.

In terms of appearance, Patriot’s Viper RGB stands out from a crowded market with over a thousand DDR4 memory solutions. Available with either white or black aluminum heat spreaders, there are five RGB zones on each module that can be customized using any of the leading RGB Sync applications available.

Construction is solid for this modules, and even with the added RGB components, this DDR4 was no less durable. Patriot offers a limited lifetime warranty on their Viper RGB DDR4 series, so if there is every a concern consumers may submit a service request ticket to Patriot here or email tech support at [email protected].

With regard to functionality, this is already very fast DDR memory capable of PC4-25600 3200 MHz speeds, but we cannot discount that these modules go above and beyond by programming user-customizable RGB color schemes. Function, meet fashion. It’s rare to see a product address both at the highest level.

As of October 2018, the PVR416G320C6KW kit sells online for $164.99 (Newegg | Amazon). This price comes in right around the same price as other RGB kits of this speed, and surprisingly, also around the average cost for other non-RGB DDR4 PC4-25600 3200 MHz solutions.

In summary, if you’re looking for high-performance DDR4 memory with the added perk of RGB customization and a lifetime warranty,  Patriot’s Viper RGB series offers several affordable solutions for your gaming system.

Pros:

+ Compatible with most RGB sync software
+ Available in speeds up to PC4-33000 (4133MHz)
+ Five customizable RGB zones per module
+ Same price as non-RGB kits

Cons:

– Still searching…

Ratings:

• Performance: 9.00
• Appearance: 9.75
• Construction: 9.50
• Functionality: 9.50
• Value: 8.50

Final Score: 9.25 out of 10.

Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.