Introduction

With memory prices continuing to plummet, now is a great time to be looking for memory upgrades. Summer hardware releases are in full swing, there is competition from both Intel and AMD, and the Red brand has thoroughly fixed the memory issues of generations past. No longer do users have to worry about memory compatibility or shopping for expensive AMD-branded kits. With 3200 MHz natively supported on the new Ryzen platform, options for enthusiasts have never been more open. Thermaltake is best known for their cases and power supplies, but the brand has expanded a great deal to include both AIO and custom liquid coolers, peripherals, and even desks and chairs. The company has put a particular emphasis on developing comprehensive, user-friendly RGB solutions with broad compatibility and control options. Thermaltake brought that RGB expertise into the memory space with the Thermaltake TOUGHRAM RGB and is now giving users even more options with the Thermaltake TOUGHRAM.

The Thermaltake TOUGHRAM now comes in speeds of up to 3600 MHz and capacities of up to 16 GB (2x 8 GB). To aid in both appearance and performance, the Thermaltake TOUGHRAM also features an aluminium heat spreader with a brushed black finish. While the RGB version of the TOUGHRAM boasts a large LED diffusion bar at the top, this non-RGB version has a premium aluminium insert that gives the kit a nice two-tone look.

The Thermaltake TOUGHRAM kit I have for testing today is Thermaltake's middle spec model: 16 GB (2x 8 GB) of 3600 MHz memory at 18-19-19-39 timings and 1.35 V. With Ryzen-optimized speed and no RGB from a well-known brand, all that is left to see is how it performs.

Specifications

Packaging

The Thermaltake TOUGHRAM packaging is a sleek satin black cardboard box dominated by a picture of a TOUGHRAM stick in the center. "Thermaltake" is in the top left, with the memory speed and capacity on a badge on the right. "TOUGHRAM" has been put along the bottom. The back of the box has a bullet list of features.

The Thermaltake TOUGHRAM packaging is well designed and has more information than most other memory kit packaging.


Inside a traditionally molded plastic tray, the memory sticks are held firmly and kept quite safe from all but the most careless handling.

A Closer Look

With the exception of two triangular cutouts along the top of each stick, the Thermaltake TOUGHRAM sticks cut a perfectly rectangular profile.


The Thermaltake TOUGHRAM sticks have an elegantly brushed aluminium heat spreader with two stripes of mirrored metal on the left side.


Combined with the gray aluminium insert and two cutouts, these sticks have a cleverly integrated Thermaltake logo, which is a really clever design move. The specifications on the Thermaltake TOUGHRAM are quite good, featuring a 3600 MHz XMP profile at 18-19-19-39 and 1.35 V.


"TOUGHRAM" has been printed across the top-right side of the gray aluminium insert, with the Thermaltake logo on the heat spreader just below it.


The Thermaltake TOUGHRAM are single-sided and use SK Hynix C-die ICs on a 10-layer PCB for added stability.


I like to weigh a stick from each kit I get as the difference in mass can be pretty drastic between kits. Mass is not the best indicator of cooling efficiency because material can matter, and of course, heat dissipation is reliant on surface area, not volume or mass. That said, it is still interesting to compare.

The Thermaltake TOUGHRAM comes in at 99.19 g on my scale, which is on the high end. The aluminium heat spreader is thicker than most, and the gray aluminium insert adds a fair bit of mass. For height, the Thermaltake TOUGHRAM comes in at almost 48.79 mm with my calipers, which is right in the average of 45–50 mm.