Yep, this is overkill. PC gaming vendor HyperX is selling DDR4 RAM with a mind-blowing 5,333MHz frequency.
The overclocked Predator-branded memory also includes RAM sticks at the 5,000MHz and 5,133MHz frequencies. The new components promise to take a PC’s performance to even higher levels, assuming the super-charged RAM doesn’t cause any instability problems. (For example, faster RAM can boost a game’s framerate.)
Naturally, the new product from HyperX is also expensive. The 5,333MHZ RAM comes in at $1,245, or over 10 times more than a typical 3,200MHz RAM kit.
HyperX is now selling the overlocked memory on its website. The three new products will be offered in kits of two 8GB sticks for a total of 16GB in memory. The 5,333MHZ RAM has a latency of CL20.
To run the overclocked RAM, you’ll have to enable the XMP profile on your desktop’s motherboard, which can take advantage of the higher frequencies. HyperX says the new products should work with both AMD and Intel motherboards designed to run DDR4 RAM of 4,000MHz and above, although it can’t guarantee compatibility with every system.
“These modules should be installed and used at your own risk,” HyperX wrote in the announcement. “These kits are thoroughly tested and verified in the factory to run at the listed speed for XMP Profile 1. As a backup, a 2nd XMP profile at a slower clock speed is included, so you can still achieve great performance if your system cannot handle the highest speed XMP profile.”
On the downside, the products have no RGB lighting. They also run at a higher voltage: 1.55V or 1.6V. Due to the extra heat generated from the RAM, HyperX recommends the components only be installed on a PC with “premium system cooling.”
The product is also arriving with DDR5 RAM on the horizon. The next-generation memory will support frequencies at 4,800MHZ and higher, without overclocking. But to use DDR5 RAM, you’ll likely need to upgrade your PC to a new motherboard and CPU.
HyperX is owned by the memory provider Kingston. In February, the company announced it was selling the HyperX division to HP. The deal is scheduled to close this quarter.
