XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM review: Higher DDR5 launch data transfer rate comes at a price

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

DDR5 RAM is the next big switch for the PC industry with Intel already supporting the next generation of retention with its 12th Gen family of processors. AMD is only only behind, stating the next generation of Ryzen CPUs will follow conform. DDR5 promises exceptional speeds, lower power draw, and a whole host of other improvements.

We're at the outset of the launch for DDR5, and it already has an uphill battle against range-topping DDR4 kits when you compare performance in benchmarks and real-earth scenarios. Where DDR5 will shine is with further evolution into speeds beyond 6000MT/s, which is precisely where this XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 kit comes into play.

We reviewed the XPG Lancer DDR5-5200, which was about on par with a scattering of premium DDR4 kits. That RAM kit was clocked at 5200MT/southward with a latency score of CL38, and the 6000MT/s RGB modules we accept today are at CL40. Read on for total details on this fancy-looking RAM, as well as how this affects system performance.

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM

Bottom line: XPG's slightly faster Lancer RGB kit is a little better than the non-RGB 5200MT/s modules, but you're paying a premium for that luxury. If y'all want some flashy DDR5 RAM, this is a nifty option.

The Good

RGB lighting
Amend value than other DDR5 RAM
Solid reliability at 6000MT/due south
Ability to overclock further
Lifetime warranty

The Bad

Expensive
Requires new motherboard
Not that much amend than top DDR4 RAM

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM: Price and availability

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

Nosotros're reviewing the XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 32GB RAM kit priced at $500. This is fairly high for memory, simply DDR5 comes at a premium without taking speeds into account. And then there's also RGB lighting, which allows this kit to demand quite the price.

If you lot're not after super-fast DDR5 RAM, it's possible to score a deal on more affordable, but slower, modules. And then there'south DDR4, which is more affordable. Take Corsair'due south excellent Vengeance RAM for example. You can find these kits for as little equally $100 and that's for 32GB at 3200MT/s with a latency of only C16 (compared to the C40 of this XPG Lancer kit).

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM: What's good

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Key

ADATA did a solid job with the non-RGB Lancer RAM modules, and the XPG Lancer RGB kits are no unlike. They're sleek with a premium await and feel. Both heatsinks have XPG branding and a DDR5 badge, just to remind you that yous're using the electric current best thing.

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 is rapid RAM for your next PC build.

The heatsinks are fabricated of aluminum and are relatively thick, coming in at effectually 2mm. They brand full contact with all eight modules, located on one side of the DIMM. The following side is left bare, which is where DDR5 makes some improvements, increasing the chapters per bank.

New features plant on DDR5 include Intel XMP three.0 support, onboard power module (PMIC) for enhanced efficiency and tighter control, as well as on-die ECC fault correction. When using an Intel XMP iii.0 profile, information technology's piece of cake to boost this 32GB DDR5 kit to 6000MT/due south with twoscore-40-40-75 timings at 1.25V. That's pretty impressive already, aside from the rather high timings.

When testing the RAM kit, nosotros didn't experience any issues, which is expected when using modules from a reputable brand. For performance, almost RAM modules at specified speeds will perform nearly the aforementioned, and that goes for DDR4 versus DDR5. The higher latency and faster speeds are an even friction match for the lower latency and slower speeds of DDR4, which means we're only going to see a marginal upgrade (until nosotros meet generational improvements from manufacturers).

We tested all of these DDR5 RAM kits with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12600K processor, which is a great CPU for most gaming and productivity PC builds. The motherboard, an MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi, was likewise the aforementioned. Where our testing differed slightly was with the GPU, which saw the SK hynix DDR5 kit paired with an RTX 3080 instead of the RTX 3060 Ti used with all other DDR5 kits.

This should provide an insight into how the different DDR5 modules perform compared confronting DDR4 (using the MSI PRO Z690-P motherboard). When it comes to buying RAM, just make sure to choose a reputable brand and buy a kit that has plenty chapters for your needs and fits inside your budget.

There'southward not much room for overclocking the DDR5-6000 kit from XPG. I managed to hit 6200MT/s at 1.35V before encountering stability issues. It likewise required timings to exist raised slightly, which almost get-go any performance gains.

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM: What'due south not skillful

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Cardinal

There's not really much to complain nearly the XPG Lancer DDR5-6000 RAM kit. I just have a trouble with recommending DDR5 over DDR4 if you're building a new PC. Latency is terrible with a C40 rating, but the significantly higher speeds make upwardly for this, which shows in the benchmarks against the C16 DDR4 modules.

Where DDR5 shines is included fault-checking, an onboard power regulator module, better-populated banks for higher capacities, support for faster transfer speeds, and it does all this using less power. At launch, the story is similar to DDR3 to DDR4, and you can expect to meet some significant improvements farther downward the road.

If you're happy with the DDR4 modules you lot already own, there'south no need to upgrade and spend a few hundred on a component that won't really bring much in terms of a real-world departure. But if you're starting again with a fresh PC build with a twelfth Gen Intel CPU like the Core i5-12600K, this XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 kit really shines if the motherboard you're eyeing supports it.

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM: Competition

GeIL Polaris RGB SYNC Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

ADATA, much like other RAM brands right now, is taking advantage of the latest offerings from Intel and AMD. With desktop processors now supporting DDR5 RAM, these companies are able to improve transfer speeds and other features. ADATA is using the Lancer family to push forward in the newer generation.

We reviewed the GeIL Polaris RGB SYNC DDR5 RAM kit with 32GB of RAM on the Intel Core i9-12900K processor and information technology was splendid, allowing the CPU to fix new records compared to previous Intel processors. The XPG Lancer kit we reviewed today didn't disappoint and would certainly give GeIL a run for its money.

There are other options too. When information technology comes to picking the best RAM for your PC, it really comes downward to cost, design, and rated speeds. Enabling an XMP profile is easy with the latest motherboards.

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM: Should y'all buy it?

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

You should buy this if ...

Yous want the best from 12th Gen Intel
You plan on ownership a new motherboard and RAM
Y'all want to have additional headroom for even faster RAM
Yous don't mind adopting the tech early (and paying more for the luxury)

You shouldn't buy this if ...

Yous want the all-time value RAM for your PC
You don't want to use other high-stop PC components
You don't already accept a motherboard that supports DDR5

This XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM kit is bright and is similar all other DDR5 launch kits. Speeds are well upward there with the best DDR5 launch kits available right now, providing a substantial bound from DDR4. If you're building a new PC from scratch and are using a motherboard with back up for DDR5, this is a great kit to use.

But if you're already using DDR4, I'd argue y'all continue to exercise so and merely buy a new DDR4 motherboard if yous want to utilise a new Intel or AMD processor. It's going to accept time for us to encounter considerable upgrades in DDR5 performance over DDR4. Give it a few more years, and they'll also be slightly more affordable.

DDR5 is the way to go for new PC builds with 12th Gen Intel and future AMD Ryzen CPUs, so long as you lot're happy with a slight boost in real-world apply. 3200MT/southward used to be the sweet spot for DDR4 RAM in a dual-aqueduct configuration, but now we're seeing speeds of up to 7,000MT/s with DDR5, further enhancing the operation of your PC.

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000

XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000 RAM

Bottom line: XPG is making strides in the DDR5 market with its Lancer family of RAM. This DDR5-6000 RGB kit has it all if y'all're using the latest Intel processors

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