Introduction

G.SKILL - we all know that name well. For many years, their products have been a part of my test systems time and again, and for good reason. In the past 15 years G.SKILL has been a part of the market, they've proven themselves as a reliable and affordable enthusiast-oriented memory provider, having been part of many broken world records throughout those years. Buying G.SKILL generally won't break the bank, either. With several product lines, each with a clear and different focus for the end user, G.SKILL has a product to match your needs if you need any sort of enthusiast memory, at any speed or density and in colors matching your thematic build.

With the introduction of Intel's latest platform, X99 Express, we have new boards, new CPUs, and an entirely new memory technology, DDR4. Looking through what's available at several online stores right this very moment, G.SKILL's is the top-level DDR4 kit, with an XMP-based speed of 3000 MHz. That's the kit I have sitting here. Not only is it the fastest one available as the Ripjaws 4 F4-3000C15Q-16GRR also isn't the most expensive, with several other 16 GB kits running lower speeds of 2800 MHz costing more. It seems as though G.SKILL has kept true to the core ideals they started with so many years ago.

The Ripjaws 4 F4-3000C15Q-16GRR is a 16 GB kit with four 4 GB sticks. Featuring a new heatspreader design to go with the new memory technology found underneath its flashy covers, the Ripjaws 4 F4-3000C15Q-16GRR kit might be the best option right now, but the question whether Intel's new CPUs match this kit's high capabilities remains. Let's take a look and find out.

Specifications

Packaging

Arriving at my door in G.SKILL's standard blister pack, the Ripjaws 4 3000 MHz 16 GB kit seemed familiar, yet obviously only partially so. At first glace, there's not much to be told that hasn't been said before.


Built for Intel's latest X99 Express platform, the Ripjaws 4 3000 MHz kit proudly screams out the fact with a big logo on the front of its blister pack. The usual stuff is found on the rear of the leaflet separating the sticks from one another, while the numbers on the label of the box are clearly something no one has ever seen before.


There is not much else to be found inside the box, but it's not like memory needs any accessories. You get the sticks, a case badge, and that's it. I've said before that I love G.SKILL's simple case badge design with its "Go Beyond Limits" slogan at the top. Simple and effective, there's no need to change what already works.