We check out another RGB memory this time around its the new Vengeance RGB Pro from Corsair. Showcased last COMPUTEX 2018, this features a brand new lighting module which removes the bars that really limited the illumination of the original Vengeance RGB. The new light now features a more addressable lighting array allowing it display more complex light effects as well as integrate with Corsair’s iCUE system which magnifies the effects to a new level with game and app integration while still providing a great way to sync lighting with your other Corsair products.
In this review we take a closer look at the Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO DDR4-3200 16GB kit. Let’s see how this kit performs. Read on!
Features & Specfications
- Dynamic Multi-Zone RGB Lighting
- Next Generation Software
- Custom Performance PCB
- Tightly Screened Memory. Maximum Bandwidth and Tight Response Times
- Compatibility: Intel 100 Series, Intel 200 Series, Intel 300 Series, Intel X299, AMD 300 Series, AMD 400 Series
Closer Look
Packaging is akin to the new style of Corsair for this year with a black box with full color print. Yellow trims serve as subtle highlights for the new Corsair packaging with a bold, glamor shot of the product in the front. A small badge up top lists down the memory type, kit configuration, memory capacity and speed of the kit you are looking at. At the back we have some more details with see through windows also allowing a peek at the kit’s details for convenience.
The new Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB has a similar silhouette to the original Vengeance RGB but with some major difference. Not visible from the side is the slimmer profile of the kit. From the side though we have a more stylized top area near the lightbar with little perforations for looks. The DIMM maintains a similar height but the lightbar is definitely larger as its more exposed.
The Vengeance RGB Pro comes in kits of singles, twos and fours and also comes in both black or white options.
Installed, the kit is great to look at even without the lights. Compatibility with most AIO is ok but tower heatsinks may have to check height clearances.
With the lights on, the kits look fantastic. I really would’ve wished for fatter light bars but that doesn’t seem to be the direction for the Vengeance line. The kits have a default light spectrum wave effect and can be customized in iCUE software for custom effects.
Performance Testing
Test Setup
CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K
RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200
Motherboard: GIGABYTE Z370 AORUS GAMING 7
SSD: WD Blue 1TB
PSU: SeaSonic Platinum P1050
Cooling: Fractal Design Celsius S36
Display: ViewSonic VX2475Smhl-4K
As of right now, Corsair still does not have a flagship performance module for their RGB line and the Corsair Vengeance Pro is still positioned as a mainstream option. That said, the timings for the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro is a bit more conservative. Our DDR4-3200 kit is rated with a 16-18-18-36 timing. Nothing impressive in itself but then again, the main highlight of this kit is the lighting option.
As always, we still pushed our luck with some OC just to show anyone interested in increasing performance for free with these lower kits. So usually, higher-speed kits tend to not have a lot of headroom but with these lower ones, especially recent releases, have shown very good potential. We started pushing the kit a bit further than we normally do, pushing for DDR4-3600 which is our normal testing kits for our Intel bench. We retained the stock timings at DDR4-3600 with 16-18-18-36 settings. The kit passed and proved bench stable as well as Prime and AIDA64 stable. This is impressive provided that Corsair’s Vengeance RGB (non-Pro) has their DDR4-3600 kit rated at 18-19-19-39. That’s a win already for this kit so we pushed a bit further. Pushing for DDR4-3866 with same timings proved unstable so we had to loosen them up. We really wanted them to be better but the best we could do is 19-21-21-42. Its decent but doesn’t give us as much return with the jump from DDR4-3200 to DDR4-3600. Still, the settings proved bench stable although and with no additional voltage, also Prime stable. Still, AIDA64 memory test through up an error once in a while so we felt it was asking for a bit of a voltage bump.
Overall, the jump from DDR4-3200 to DDR4-3866 gave us around 10% performance boost in in AIDA64 which is really good.
Results vary but mostly the Vengeance RGB PRO proved itself capable putting up great stock numbers but its OC headroom gave us really great results.
Conclusion
Performance-aside, many will look at this kit from an aesthetic standpoint and in terms of memory performance today, it’s fair to say that most kits especially RGB will be intended for gaming predominantly. That said, we really can’t stress enough that speeds above DDR4-3200 really don’t provide marginally significant boost but if and should the user need it, there are kits out there, particularly the Vengeance RGB PRO that sit at the DDR4-4000 mark. With a bit of experience, luck and paired good hardware, some users can get away with a good overclock and still yield great results.
Still, falling back the the RGB capabilities of this kit, Corsair has advanced their tech pretty well with their new iCUE software providing a really great interface in customizing the new kits. App-integration and other effect also provide useful especially for those running a Corsair eco-system which can reflect either in-game effects like status or health or system-related information like temps or at the most general, just a perfectly, synced lighting system. It is in the iCUE software and the Vengeance RGB PRO’s integration with it together with the rest of Corsair iCUE-driven products that you get the maximum benefits of the Vengeance RGB Pro.
Prices are expected to drop for DRAM in the coming months and that should spell better conditions for upgraders and new system builders. CES has confirmed the launch of the new Ryzen chips and those looking to buy into the new system early and invest before upgrading or building a new set may want to time their purchase right. As of right now, the Vengeance RGB Pro sits in a nice spot in terms of pricing. Backed by Corsair’s great customer support, there’s really nothing to complain about this product. A nitpick, if I may though, is that the sticks look to narrow and given the main rival of this stick is the G.Skill Trident Z RGB and the new Trident Z RGB Royal with broader RGB lighting with similar effects, from an aesthetic standpoint, a broader design would’ve served the Vengeance RGB Pro better but then again given the position of this product, an eventual Dominator RGB refresh would be that product.
All in all, the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro is an excellent memory kit. Corsair has been a pillar in the PC industry and the name resonates with quality the Vengeance RGB Pro shows us that. Excellent performance, good OC headroom, great lighting options all tick the right boxes for performance seekers and gamers alike.
Corsair backs the Vengeance RGB PRO DDR4 memory with a limited lifetime warranty. We give it our B2G Gold Award!
