RGB LED execution on memory modules is a new trend and brands are rolling out their new RGB-equipped models just now but the first that was able to create such a product was GeIL with their EVO X modules utilizing their HILM (Hybrid-Independent Light Module) technology which separates the memory circuitry from the lighting, allowing maximum performance without the added load from the lighting circuit. That said, it does add a bit heft to the module which we’ll see but as the performance advantage of high-performance memory has been more of a passive feature than a requirement for users, the draw of RGB is surely more substantial especially for theme builders and in today’s review we take a closer look at the GeIL EVO X DDR4 RGB memory modules. Read on!
Features
- DDR4 2133 to 4133 speeds
- Single channel and Dual-Channel configuration available
- Voltage 1.2v – 1.35V
- RGB capable of manual and board utility controll
Closer Look
The GeIL EVO X comes packaged in a relatively small box with a full-color print of the EVO X module in the front. Big fonts highlight the EVO X naming with ASUS AURA RGB and MSI Mystic Light badges signifying compatibility are on the front. In the back we have a cutout window for the kit models as well as a comparable detail sticker beside it.
Inside the package we have the EVO X modules, two connector cables and an installation guide.
The cables included are for the power and RGB connection and YOU CAN ONLY USE ONE AT A TIME as we’ll discuss later.
The included RGB cable has 3 headers, 2 for the modules and another for an extension for further compatible devices.
Looking closer at the GeIL EVO X modules, we can see they don a metal heatsink with a frosted lightbar. A red plastic tab sits on the light bar and that serves an actual purpose as we’ll see later.
Going over the actual DIMMs again, the sample we have is the black modules which features a brushed metal black heatsink. There are also white variants available. Some large tooling work is on the heatsink for aesthetic purposes.
For that red tab… the red tab is actually a slider which clicks up or down to select the color you want if you’re running at manual mode. There are labels on the tab which signifies which color you want going from red, green, blue then RGB. There’s a noticeable click and the color changes instantly on-use so you can see the settings you want.
On the narrow side of the modules we have the connectors, one side has the power connector and the other side the RGB connector. Once again, YOU CAN ONLY USE ONE AT A TIME. The reason for this is that if you’re using manual mode, you only need the power cable that connects to your fan header. If you’re using the RGB cable, it gets power from your RGB header. Using both at the same time may harm your EVO X. You have been warned. Be sure to click your slider at RGB mode when using the RGB header.
The EVO X are very tall modules and will surely cause issues with dual-tower heatsinks. As you can see the modules protrude so high, they already pass over fans on our figure above. Take note of this if you’re using a dual-tower cooler.
Installation of the GeIL EVO X is like any other memory, just plug it in your DIMM slot and you’re good to go. The only difference is that you need to connect your preferred cable, power or RGB. In our board’s orientation, the power connector is on top which makes tucking away the cable easier.
RGB was a bit more difficult as it was resting on top of our card, the best way to install the DIMMs is to connect your cable before inserting them in the motherboard slots. In this case, the RGB header was far from our module, on the top corner of the board, so we had to use the included extension cable from the board package.
Cable management might be on the minds of users with this but given the length of the cable we have, it was easy to tuck it away behind the board and creep it just between the GPU.
Here’s the EVO X installed. Looking good!
Lights on!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSJoxjiAnfU/?taken-by=b2g.bossmac
And some more stills…
Performance Testing
Test Setup
Processor: Intel Core i7 7700K
Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus IX APEX
Memory: GeIL EVO X DDR4-3200 Memory Kit
Storage: Intel SSD 750 NVME U.2 SSD
PSU: Seasonic Platinum 1000
Cooling: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Riings 360mm
Monitor: ASUS PG27AQ UHD Monitor
VGA: NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
We’ll be taking a look at these memories in their native speeds on a stock Core i7-7700K. This is the ensure that results can easily be replicated by anyone with similar systems and achieve results on a more uniform setup. As always we present the numbers for your own conclusion.
User Experience & Conclusion
A touch of overclocking first though with the EVO X, we did try to bump up the clocks a bit at DDR4-3300 with the same C16 timing and was successful. Pushing the timings down was more of a challenge as we tried to get tighter C14 timings. C15 was functional at DDR4-3200 but 14-15-15 had the system flaking out randomly during benchmarks. If you really need higher performance the kits are available up to DDR4-4133 in dual-channel kits and we highly recommend going for those if you’re not the exploratory kind.
So going down to our verdict, it all boils down to price as performance is as close as you can get for all our DDR4-3200 kits we’ve tested. With a starting price of around Php3590 for a single 8GB stick or Php7950 for the exact sample we tested of a DDR4-3200 16GB kit of 2. This dual-channel kit competes head to head with the G.Skill Trident Z RGB which could see it at the same price. Ultimately, it boils down to compatibility and looks and as it stands right now, no solution is perfect. The GeIL EVO X gets around the board compatibility issue of the Trident Z RGB by utilizing cables, the latter however has a cleaner look. This decision is completely up to you and we highly recommend the EVO X if your board does not have native RGB support.
That said, if you’re looking for an RGB-capable memory module with fast performance, the GeIL EVO X impresses on both counts and its taller heatsink makes it a stand-out physically than the competition. The cabling may be a turn-off for some people but ultimately, a bit of tucking here and there solves that and makes it a more viable option if you want a more customizable RGB memory kit that doesn’t need board compatibility to work.
We give the GeIL EVO X our B2G Silver Award!