Customizable RGB LED lighting has become ‘a new black’ for enthusiast-class PCs: virtually all manufacturers of nearly all components for advanced computers have already introduced various devices with customizable RGB lights. Patriot is a little bit late to the RGB party with its Viper RGB memory modules (though it has had Viper LED modules for a while), yet these DIMMs arguably look more aggressive than some competing products.

Patriot’s Viper RGB DDR4 modules are outfitted with the company’s brand-new aluminum heat spreaders with the Viper logotype that feature five RGB LED zones each of which can be customized. The RGB LEDs are compatible with software from all major makers of motherboards, including the ASUS Aura Sync, the ASRock Polychrome Sync, the GIGABYTE RGB Fusion, and the MSI Mystic Light Sync. In addition, Patriot will offer its own app to control LEDs on its Viper RGB DIMMs.

Patriot is taking a relatively cautious approach to RGB-enabled memory modules, so the initial lineup of Viper RGB DDR4 kits will include moderate to high-speed speed bins that will top at DDR4-4133 at 1.40 V, which is below 'extreme' offerings from some other makers. Meanwhile, the Viper RGB will be the highest-end modules in Patriot's lineup both in terms of performance and style.

Good news is that all the initial Viper RGB DDR4 kits are compatible with both AMD Ryzen- and Intel Core-based platforms (obviously, keeping in mind frequency-related limitations on Ryzen), so enthusiasts with different kinds of CPUs will not have to worry about compatibility. Meanwhile, the modules feature XMP 2.0 SPD profiles for Intel Core processors, but no special profiles for AMD Ryzen chips, which means that owners of appropriate PCs will have to load all the sub-timings manually.

The Viper RGB DIMMs are based on specially-designed PCBs to support RGB LEDs and to handle higher data transfer rates required from enthusiast-class memory modules. Patriot does not disclose which memory chips it uses for the modules, but we will update you once we obtain such information. In any case, most of contemporary DRAMs can run fine at 3200 - 3600 MT/s with 1.35 V, so the main question is how overclockable the mainstream Viper RGB DIMMs will be.

Patriot's Viper RGB 2x8 GB Memory Kits
Speed CL Timing Voltage Heat Spreader Color PN
DDR4-2666 15-17-17-35 1.2 V Black
White
PVR416G266C5K
PVR416G266C5KW
DDR4-3000 1.35 V Black
White
PVR416G300C5K
PVR416G300C5KW
DDR4-3200 16-18-18-36 Black
White
PVR416G320C6K
PVR416G320C6KW
DDR4-3600 16-18-18-36 Black PVR416G360C6K
DDR4-4133 19 21-21-41 1.4 V Black PVR416G413C9K

Patriot’s Viper RGB memory modules will be available starting late May or early June. Pricing will depend on market conditions and all the kits will be covered by a lifetime warranty.

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  • Icehawk - Monday, May 28, 2018 - link

    Eh, I just built a new top end PC which was $1,400 + video card (I reused a 970). 8800k, good case & mobo, 16gb, 1tb ssd, 600w fanless psu (could easily shave $100 off the build here). Water cooled because why not.

    So glad I don’t need a video card for another gen or two.
  • Manch - Tuesday, May 29, 2018 - link

    I have two 290X 8GB cards I run in CF. Which TBF is pointless in all but a few games. I thought about selling it as I can get what I paid for it. I bought them new on sale but theyre selling used for about the same price. It's insane! Or I could build another system for the wife and get her out of my office. LOL
  • StevoLincolnite - Tuesday, May 29, 2018 - link

    I don't have a need for a new build yet... My 3930K+32GB DDR3+Radeon RX 580 8GB still handles everything I throw at it. Glad I jumped on the RX 580 when they were RRP... Saved a big chunk of coin.
  • 'nar - Tuesday, May 29, 2018 - link

    If my math is correct, these run at 4.59 nano seconds. Which is pretty good, but the 3600 RAM is faster at 4.44 ns. People get caught up in the higher speeds, but when the CL creeps up too fast it can actually slow memory access.
  • willis936 - Tuesday, May 29, 2018 - link

    Actual DRAM access time is 10x longer than that. People need to stop claiming that DRAM effective latency = CL x Bitrate. They are directly proportional but not equal.
  • msroadkill612 - Tuesday, May 29, 2018 - link

    My intuition tells me to favor mem clock over 15 vs 16 CL rating.

    Ryzen also sets it's vital Fabric clock from memory.

    3466 w/ CL16 seems worth the extra ~$30 on 16GB.

    On the other hand, i like the sound of 3200? ram that gets by on 1.2v vs 1.35v too.

    I would be interested to hear your comments?
  • Targon - Friday, June 1, 2018 - link

    DDR4 3200 CL16 is fairly typical for Hynix memory. When the DDR4 3600 memory has the same timings as the DDR4 3200 memory, that just shows the 3200 stuff is relatively weak stuff.

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