G.Skill ARES 8GB (2x4GB) 2133MHz memory kit review

G.Skill recently unveiled their new low profile ARES line of memory. It is aimed at performance systems using very large air coolers where tall ramsinks is an issue. Here for review we have the top spec kit in the range. This 2133MHz 2 x 4GB kit has stock timings of 9-11-10-28 @ 1.65v. Let's see if it performs as good as it looks.

G.Skill have really been on a roll recently. They offer some of the highest spec memory on the market and have enjoyed great success with their Ripjaws line for the Z68 and X79 platforms. Now the company has turned its attention to its refresh of the mainstream tier. They have released a new range of memory that really impresses by virtue of the fact that it's low profile from the top to bottom of the range.

The range runs from 1333MHz to 2133MHz and is available in kits ranging from 2 x 4GB up to 4 x 8GB. Here for review we have the highest speed kit in the range. It is a 2x4gb kit rated at 2133MHz 9-11-10-28 @ 1.65v and carries the model name F3-2133C9D-8GAB. It is also available in a 4 x 4GB kit.

It's great to see manufacturers re-embracing a standard profile after many years of kits with tall heat-sinks, some with heat-pipes and even water-cooling. Many users have lost a few handfuls of hair when they discover their actually necessary huge CPU cooler prevents their memory from fitting or vice versa. The truth is, most of today's 1.5-1.65v memory doesn't require massive heat-spreaders. They are there more for the bling factor than for any tangible cooling benefit. In the case of the G.Skill ARES, low profile doesn't mean boring looking though. G.Skill have produced a very nice looking, stylized kit that will look the part in a windowed case.

We used one of the largest air coolers on the market, the Noctua NH-D14 tower cooler and of course had no problem at all with memory clearance.

Let's have a look at the specs of the 2133MHz G.Skill ARES kit.

These specs list support for the Intel Sandy Bridge platform. There shouldn't be any problem running them on AMD sans Intel's XMP feature of course. A X79 user would go for the quad channel kit.