HP V10 DDR4 RGB 16GB 3600C14 (Samsung B-Die) Review

Rating: 6.0.

HP probably isn’t the first name that comes to mind when thinking of system memory – and that’s perfectly fine given the company’s relative presence within the market. There is an aim to change that point, though. And what better way to do that than to bring out a 3600MHz kit of RGB-lit DDR4 memory with Samsung’s legendary B-Die ICs?

So yes, HP is a relative newcomer to the DIY, enthusiast memory market. And perhaps that point is emphasised nicely with the naming system – HP V10 DDR4 RGB. Simple, concise, and no ‘super-gamer-uber-turbo’ nomenclature whatsoever.

The sticks are clearly designed for an enthusiast audience. Biwin – the manufacturer that operates the HP license – goes with a sizable and heavy metal heatspreader that measure in at around 47-48mm tall. Black and shiny silver form the basis of the colour scheme and there’s a centralised ‘hp’ logo splitting the colour quadrants.

I actually think that this is a pretty sleek looking set of memory. And the heft of the heatspreaders in undeniable, so that’s positive from a build quality perspective. As always, though, a little under 50mm height for a set of RAM is largely excessive and will undoubtedly cause interference with CPU coolers, VRM heatsinks, or roof chassis fans inside a variety of builds. There’s always a trade-off.

The rated speed of this 2x8GB DDR4 kit is 3600MHz with timings of 14-15-15-35. Operating voltage is quoted as 1.35-1.50V on the packaging which is just bizarre – there should be a specific voltage for the XMP configuration. Our sample set ran at 1.45V on our Intel Alder Lake 12900K DDR4 test platform.

There’s no temperature sensor on the PCB which is perhaps slightly disappointing for a memory kit geared towards being premium. And a pair of 8GB modules means that we get a single-rank setup.

Usage of Samsung’s legendary B-Die DDR4 ICs is likely to have enthusiasts more excited. As we have now come to expect, B-Die excels when it comes to tight timings at sensible frequencies such as 3600MHz, and with strong voltage scalability.

UK availability is still non-existent. However, our contact does tell us that this is being worked on. The 2x8GB 3600MHz C14 kit that we have sampled is $150 MSRP in the US. But we can see the kit currently available for $129.99 on Amazon US.

That's steep and it is clear that HP is charging a significant premium for Samsung B-Die ICs. By comparison, a generic 3600MHz kit of Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro can be had for around this price in 32GB form! Or if you are happy with 16GB, a 4GHz kit of similar Corsair memory is about the same cost, and 3600MHz from G.SKILL and the likes is notably cheaper.

And one point that I have to really complain about is the 5-year warranty. Almost every modern set of RAM comes with a lifetime warranty – that has been the case for many years. If you're a small player trying to compete in the market, only mustering up a 5-year warranty – when competitors offer lifetime coverage – is not an effective way to project confidence to potential buyers.

HP goes with what I would deem to be the conventional RGB lighting approach.

A plastic light diffuser bar sits atop the metal heatspreaders. This design is reasonably seamless, and the light diffusion is good in my opinion. I actually quite like how the light diffuser bar extends down to the central HP logo. I don’t have any major complaints for the lighting granularity or smoothness, either.

RGB control is handled via motherboard vendor software. This is ideal for synchronisation with other components, particularly if you’re not already invested in the Corsair or Thermaltake ecosystems, for example.

Looking at Thaiphoon Burner, we see that Samsung B-Die are used. B-Die is legendary for DDR4, so there's really not much more that I need to say.

• Model Number: HP V10 DDR4 RGB
• Capacity: 16GB (2x 8GB)
• Rated Frequency: DDR4-3600MHz
• Rated Timings: 14-15-15-35
• Voltage: 1.45V XMP
• Format: 288-pin DIMM
• Warranty: 5-Year Limited Warranty

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