G.Skill has used the latest SK.Hynix D-die memory chips to create Trident Z Neo. This DDR4 memory promises better support for AMD Ryzen 3000 than we typically see with Samsung B-die and SK.Hynix C-die. That is big news as Ryzen 3000 continues to do very well in the enthusiast desktop market and we wonder whether G.Skill Trident Z Neo might be our new best friend.
Key features
- Designed and tested for AMD Ryzen 3000 series CPUs
- Optimized compatibility with AMD X570 chipset
- Sleek dual-tone aluminium heat spreader design
- Fully customizable RGB lighting support
Specifications:
- Memory Type DDR4
- Capacity 32GB (16GBx2)
- Multi-Channel Kit Dual Channel Kit
- Tested Speed 3600MHz
- Tested Latency 16-19-19-39
- Tested Voltage 1.35V
- Registered/Unbuffered Unbuffered
- Error Checking Non-ECC
- SPD Speed 2133MHz
- SPD Voltage 1.20V
- Warranty Limited Lifetime
- Features Intel XMP 2.0 (Extreme Memory Profile) Ready
- Additional Notes Rated XMP frequency & stability depends on MB & CPU capability
Testing and Performance
We will be showcasing the G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4 memory’s performance with the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X CPU, Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite and a Founder's Edition RTX 2080 graphics card.
Test System:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X.
- Motherboard: Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite BIOS F11.
- Graphics Card: Nvidia RTX 2080 8GB Founders Edition.
- SSD: WD Blue 1TB.
- CPU Cooler: Noctua NH15.
- Power Supply: Seasonic Prime Platinum 1300W.
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit version 1909.
Comparison Memory Kits:
- G.Skill TridentZ RGB 3866MHz XMP 18-19-19-39 16GB (2x8GB)
- G.Skill FlareX DDR4-3200MHz XMP 14-14-14-34 16GB (2x8GB)
- Corsair Vengeance LPX-3200MHz ver 4.23 XMP 16-18-18-36 8GB (2x4GB)
7-Zip Benchmark
We tested the G.Skill Trident Z Neo using the latest version 19 of 7-Zip and also the older version 17. In both versions of the benchmark the order of the results was the same with G.Skill Trident Z Neo at the top of the chart, followed by Corsair Vengeance LPX, then G.Skill FlareX and finally the TridentZ RGB 3866MHz.
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15 puts the G.Skill Trident Z Neo into second place first place in our testing however the results were so close you could pretty much say the various DDR4 kits all perform the same.
AIDA Memory Bandwidth
As ever AIDA64 ranks memory by clock speed and also by latency. G.Skill Trident Z Neo does well but this time the 3866MHz TridentZ RGB tops the charts.
AIDA Memory Latency
In the AIDA64 Latency test, the combination of decent clock speed and decent latency pushes G.Skill Trident Z Neo to the top by a healthy margin. This wasn't quite what we expected but a win is a win.
MaxMemm2 Memory Bandwidth
In MaxMemm2 the Neo kit powers into first place by a small margin.
MaxMemm2 Memory Latency
All hail FlareX with its CL14 rating. The order of the DDR4 kits in this test is unexpected but G.Skill Trident Z Neo still makes it into second place.
SiSoft Sandra Memory Bandwidth
G.Skill Trident Z Neo sits at the top of the chart in SiSoft Sandra's Bandwidth test. Once again we see a solid performance from the new SK.Hynix memory ICs.
3DMark Fire Strike
There’s little to choose between all of the kits in 3DMark Fire Strike's score but the G.Skill Trident Z Neo manages to take the win by a small margin.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
At 1080p we saw the G.Skill Trident Z Neo memory take a significant win with frame rates a full 5fps faster than the competition.
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
In our second game test at 1080p, we once again see G.Skill Trident Z Neo take the win, however this time the margins are very small.
Power Draw
It was interesting to see the Neo kit required more power at the wall socket. It seems the Neo memory allows the Ryzen 9 3900X to stretch its legs slightly and that requires slightly more power for the system as a whole. We cannot claim this is a good thing but it is interesting to see the effect that changing your DDR4 RAM can have on your system as a whole.The key feature of G.Skill Trident Z Neo is the use of SK.Hynix D-die memory chips which has helped G.Skill to increase compatibility with Ryzen 3000. On that front we consider Trident Z Neo to be a success as it worked flawlessly with our AMD Ryzen 9 3900X.
Then we have the specifics of the F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC kit we have reviewed here which combines 32GB capacity with 3600MHz clock speed and 16-19-19-39 timings. G.Skill offers three 32GB kits of Neo running at 3600MHz with timings of 16-16-16-36, 16-19-19-39 and 18-22-22-42 – so we have the middle kit on test. The faster 32GTZN kit looks interesting however those tighter latencies increase the price from £170 to £275. Wow.
From an aesthetic angle we like Neo in just the same way we like TridentZ RGB. The heat spreaders look very similar and the RGB works in exactly the same way and as far as we are concerned G.Skill has stuck with a winning formula. If you prefer the look of Trident Z Royal then we find it hard to argue as that is very special and looks extra glitzy. We get the feeling that serious people shouldn't like TridentZ Royal however we like it a great deal. Go figure.
And then we have the price, which is perfectly reasonable at £170 for 32GB dual channel. We all know that memory pricing is a moving target but right now it makes sense to install 32GB instead of the cheaper 16GB option, even though 16GB is adequate for most gamers. 32GB will set you up for the long run, until we make the quantum leap to the next platform and DDR5.
In our test system G.Skill TridentZ Neo worked flawlessly and caused zero problems, which is admirable behaviour.
You can buy the G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4-3600MHz 32GB for £169 HERE.
Pros:
- Compatible with AMD Ryzen 3000.
- Medium profile heat spreaders will fit under most air coolers.
- Appealing RGB lighting with effective control software.
- Good performance.
Cons:
- Faster 16-16-16-36 latencies are very expensive.
- Clock speeds are modest.
KitGuru says: G.Skill TridentZ Neo is the DDR4 RAM that Ryzen 3000 users have been waiting for (and the RGB is pretty good too).