http://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-4000c17d-16gtrs
1: First look
The G.Skill F4-4000C17D-16GTRS come in a newly designed package. Instead of the classic cardbox with tray we now have a black box with integrated foam inlay to protect the memory sticks. Up front we see the G.Skill Logo, on the back a label with model and serialnumbers shows what you just bought. Apart from the sticks, the box contains the inevitable sticker and a sheet to clean the mems.
The sticks themselves use the classical Trident Z heatspreader we all know – but only the shape. Instead of the normal brushed aluminium, we know have a polished mirrored silver surface and a top made of transparent, cystal-like shaped plastic. Other than the standard rgb sticks, these also use 8 instead of 5 led for the lighting effects and the newly designed top creates very unique effects.
The pcb is black, it comes at the so-called A2 or short trace layout, which means gap between ic 4 and 5 is much bigger than on A1 layout. About pros and cons of this layout we had enough discussion already, it is said to offer higher frequencies but causes problems for real benching at c12 on most mainboards. Used ICs are the infamous Samsung B-die, 8 ics are used on one side of the pcb as it is usual nowadays with high binned 8GB sticks.
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/20190205_122545jmj02.jpg)
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/20190212_12433178j04.jpg)
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/20190212_124205m8kvp.jpg)
Data:
Series Trident Z Royal
Memory Type DDR4
Capacity 16GB (8GBx2)
Multi-Channel Kit Dual Channel Kit
Tested Speed 4000MHz
Tested Latency 17-17-17-37
Tested Voltage 1.35v
Registered/Unbuffered Unbuffered
Error Checking Non-ECC
SPD Speed 2133MHz
SPD Voltage 1.20v
Fan lncluded No
Height 44 mm / 1.73 inch
Warranty Limited Lifetime
Features Intel XMP 2.0 (Extreme Memory Profile) Ready
Additional Notes Rated XMP frequency & stability depends on MB & CPU capability.
2. Tests and overclocking
Method and system
The memory was tested with geekbench3, Intel xtu and spi 32m. For daily useable settings we also checked stability with DOS memtest, on the windows 10 and 7x64 we used for daily oc no maxmem was set
Hardware
Asus Maximus Apex XI Z390
Intel Core i5-8600K/ Core i7-8086K mit AIO-Kühlung
2x8GB G.Skill Trident Z Royal DDR4-4000C17-17-17-37 1,35v (F4-4000C17D-16GTRS)
Seasonic Focus 1050W
For the low cas pro benchmark tests, we used win 7 and 10x64 with maxmem set to 4000mb because at high volts and tight settings B-die lose stability at full memory available
Results 1,35-1,50v (24/7 overclocking)
After checking XMP, we moved on to do a varierty of tests at different settings. Moving up from 4133C17 1,35v to 4200, 4400 and 4500 we finally ended up at a stable DDR4-4600 C17-17-17-38 CR2 at 1,5v. 4700 C18-18-18-42 cr2 worked at same voltage, but already at 4600 and above we saw our memory controller starting to show weakness with stable settings, so at 4800 we had memtest errors due to this no matter what volts or settings. On a side note, we used mainly auto subs for these tests for better comparability, but tightening the subs was easy and will not even need considerably more voltage.
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/2200c17gb3hlkxe.png)
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/2200c17spifojr1.png)
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/2300c17gb37ykfn.png)
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/2300c17spivjko3.png)
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/2200c16gb38ojon.png)
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/2350c18gb378k3x.png)
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/2350c18spifcjfq.png)
Pro benchmark tests
As mentioned, the Royals use short trace layout. This is becoming more and more popular with vendors, but it also means at 4000c12 and above our system could not run as tight settings a A1 layout can for known reasons, nontheless we managed 4133 12-11 gb3, xtu and spi32m and also could run 4266 12-11 CB15 and 11,5 but failed GB3 for example. This is most likely a platform issue, as well as the slightly worse subtimings and CR2 we had to use, we have this on all sets at A2 layout from all vendors we tested so far. It is quite impressive they do 4266c12 anyway, heaps of kits fail this no matter which voltage.
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/royals413312-11gb37vk16.jpg)
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/royals413312-11spi32mz1jdr.jpg)
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/royals426612-11cb15yfjml.jpg)
Afterwards I did relucantly a few tests on the super-hyped DDR4-4800c14 setting, Geekbench 3 and Super Pi 32m worked eady, with lots of headroom on Vdimm left, but I passed on more tests as my IMC already needed tons of volts and I don´t like to kill hardware for something I see as useless.
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/royals4800c142vspi32mokjxl.jpg)
![Image](https://abload.de/thumb/royals4800c142vspi32mokjxl.jpg)
Final Thoughts
My conclusion is quite easy. I know these mems will divide users into two groups, some will love them and others hate them because of optics and rgb. What you can´t discuss about though is performance, and they are excellent workmanship with top performance for daily and also bench use. 4600C17 and 4700C18 on an average imc are excellent, easy 4133 up to 4266 C12 platform-limited are something you will not find easily, and on top they also did the 4800c14 so many people think is useful. The mirror finish and the new lighting effects do not come cheap though, but currently these are listed around 325 Euros at European price comparos of geizhals.at, which is around 15 Euros more than only other kit rated 4000c17, the rgb by G.Skill, and around 30-50 Euros more than 4000C18-19 and 18-20 kits listed by various vendors. If you ask if it the premium is worth it, I will simply answer with a yes, but taste is something you cannot discuss about, so make up your own mind. On performance though it is easy to have an opinion, and I can recommend these with good conscience.
Pro:
-very good craftmanship
-great overclocking potential
-unique looks in combination of heatspreader design and lighting effects
-Top warranty by vendor
Kontra:
-Quality and performance don´t come cheap
Thanks to G.Skill for he sample and G.Skill Deutschland, and also many thanks for reading