Kingston, as one of the leading memory manufacturers, presented a new Low Voltage memory series with high clocks. Unlike standard DDR3 memories, working at 1.5 V, the memory sticks from this series have a lower voltage of 1.25 or 1.35 V. All models in this LoVo (shortened from Low Voltage) series also belong to the HyperX series, which should guarantee good overclockability. The low voltage enables use in power-saving computers or HTPCs, which is a major advantage of these modules compared to ordinary ones. We’ve received two kits for testing, declared to 1600 MHz.

The looks of the memory is standard for the HyperX series, except for different heat spreather colouring. Besides the green cooling surface, there is no particular impression about these sticks being special in any way. The green cooling bracket with the HyperX logo does its job well and takes the heat away from the modules. Only after checking the packaging can one see that these are low-voltage modules. The fact that the memory requires 1.35 V to work at 1600 MHz doesn’t mean that it can’t work at higher voltages. The cause of this is that many motherboards don’t have the ability to reduce memory voltage, but only increase it. The memory’s SPD also contains profiles with lower latencies and higher clocks at a standard 1.5 V, so that users don’t have to worry about whether their memory will work properly no matter what motherboard they have.

Everest Ultimate 5.3	1600MHz CL9-9-9-27 1.35 V	1720MHz CL9-9-9-9-29 1.65 V
Memory read/write/copy	8,569 / 6,758 / 10,166 MB/s	9,197 / 7,140 / 10,841 MB/s
Memory latency (less is better)	52.9 ns	50 ns
Test machine: AMD Phenom II 965 BE 3.4 GHz, Biostar TA890GXE, WD 5000AAKS, Windows 7 64-bit

 

We’ve tested the memory on a motherboard containing AMD’s 890GX chipset, where memory voltage could be reduced, and the memory performed as expected at 1600 MHz with the specified latencies. We’ve tried upping the clock while keeping the same voltage and reached just over 1620 MHz, where the memory was still rock-stable at usual latencies. We had expected a bit more, but having in mind the low voltages, this can be considered a success nevertheless. In order to determine this memory’s furthest reaches, we had to lower the CPU multiplier, in order to keep the CPU out of our way when overclocking. Therefore, a lower clock for the integrated memory controller and the CPU yielded somewhat weaker results than those that would be achieved with the CPU scaling in performance along with the memory. The maximum frequency we were able to achieve with this memory is 860 MHz, i.e. effectively 1720 MHz with CL9 latencies and all that at 1.65 V, which is not such a bad result, having in mind the platform we were testing on. We admit that we were expecting more, since these are, after all, HyperX series models, which is usually a guarantee of a good overclock. We might have reached higher clocks on other platforms or motherboard models, but having in mind these memory sticks’ primary purpose, which is to be placed in power-saving PCs, an appropriate platform was the honest way of testing.

Low declared voltages for a relatively high frequency enable this memory to be used on a multitude of platforms, unlike some top-quality models. The price-performance ratio is excellent, if you’re going to use this memory in an HTPC. However, if you’re an enthusiast who will probably raise the voltages anyway and opt for higher clocks, you’d be better off with higher-priced memories that can reach higher clocks at standard voltages.

 

Kingston HyperX LoVo
Model name	KHX1600C9D3LK2/4GX
Quantity	4 GB (2 x 2 GB)
Declared frequency	1600 MHz CL 9-9-9-27
Declared voltage	1.35 V
Price	around 133 EUR
Contact	www.kingston.com/europe