Klevv Genuine DDR3-2400-CL11 1.65V Review
Category : DDR3
Published by Marc Büchel on 09.07.15
Klevv is the new kid in town when it comes to stunning looking high-end memory. The manufacturer is trying to score with impressive design as well as good performance. Altogether, this sounds like a compelling combination and we're curious to find out how these sticks do in our review.
| Manufacturer | Klevv |
| Series | Genuine |
| Part Number | KM3GH4GX2Y |
| Type | DDR3 |
| Capacity | 8 GB (2 x 4GB) |
| Frequency | 2'400 MHz |
| Timings | 11-13-13-31 |
| VDIMM | 1.65 Volt |
| Registred/Unbuffered | Unbuffered |
| ECC | No |
| Cooling | Passive Heatspreader |
| Waranty | Lifetime warranty |
| Package Type | Plastic Blister |
Taking a closer look at the specification reveal that this this 8 GB kit from Klevv runs at DDR3-2400 with CL11-13-13 timings, which shows that Klevv is targeting lower high-end market with these modules.
Closer Look
The Klevv Genuine kit comes packed in a black cardboard box. Taking the modules out of the cardboard you can see that the modules have each been packed in plastic blisters.
This particular Klevv Genuine kit comes with great looking heatspreaders, kept in black and silver with white backlight. This choice of colors is well suitable with most motherboards available today. Apart from the great looks also the quality of the heatspreaders is simply excellent.
The Klevv Genuine memory modules are well made and feature recognizable and high quality Klevv heatspreaders. When it comes to the heatspreaders Klevv went the extra mile, which means they have been made from aluminum and plastic. As usual they have been attached to the chips using adhesive.
Removing the heatspeaders from a memory module is not something we would recommend, as due to strong adhesive, this move requires a very careful approach.
Our modules are single-sided and a closer look at the chips show that they come from SK Hynix and the last three letters read "BFR". These are actually budget memory chips and we honestly do not expect any miracles from them.
The SPD on these modules contains some basic information such as the maker, part number and a manufacturing date. It also features different JEDEC profiles.
Photo Gallery
Test Setup
In order to thoroughly test memory as well as memory kits, we are using Intel's Haswell platform in combination with a highly binned Core i7-4770K CPU. This allows use to drive the memory to a highest possible frequency and therefore do proper scaling tests. Different memory chips (ICs) have different sweet spots when it comes to primary timings, which is why we're altering CAS latency, tRCD, tRP as well as tRAS settings. Overall we build five different presets, which - as explained - can be different from ICs to ICs used on a memory module. Other than that, we are also changing DRAM voltages, using 1.35V, 1.50V and 1.65V settings. There is actually a sound reason why we are using these voltages as the 1.35V is most commonly used on ultra low voltage memory modules (ECO) and low voltage memory also use 1.50V setting. The 1.65V voltage is the value recommended by Intel. Last but not least, it remains to be explained how we find out whether a certain setting is stable or not. For that purpose we are running the HyperPi.
| Motherboard | ASUS Maximus VII Formula (BIOS 0603) |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-4790K ES |
| Graphic card | ASUS GTX 580 |
| Memory | HX324C11SRK2_16 |
| SSD | Samsung 845DC EVO 960GB |
| PSU | Seasonic Platinum 660 Watts |
| OS | Windows 7, 64 bit SP1 |
CAS latency 9 / 9-12-12-35
We start to test the tightest possible CAS latency, which work with these BFR chips from SK Hynix. We've been able to make these sticks run at CL9 settings. Setting the memory voltage at 1.35V in the BIOS, the HyperPi passed at 1'650 MHz. Feeding higher voltage (1.5V) to the memory, makes the frequency scale up to 1'870 MHz. Driving the memory at 1.65V allowed HyperPi to pass at 2'070 MHz.
CAS latency 10 / 10-12-12-35
When running at CL10 latency settings we went through the same procedure like with the CL9 settings. Setting the memory voltage at 1.35V in the BIOS, HyperPi passed at 1'890 MHz. Feeding higher voltage (1.5V) to the memory, allowed us to push the frequency up to 2'090 MHz, while 1.65V voltage setting got us to pass HyperPi at 2'133 MHz.
CAS latency 11 / 11-13-13-35
When it comes to CL11 latency settings, we also first set the voltage at 1.35V in BIOS which got us to 2'100 MHz. Feeding a higher voltage (1.5V), pushed the frequency setting up to 2'290 MHz while at 1.65V, HyperPi passed at 2'440 MHz.
CAS latency 12 / 12-13-13-35
With CL12 we went through the same procedure as with previous latency settings. Setting the memory voltage at 1.35V in the BIOS, got us to 2'230 MHz while higher, 1.5V voltage, let us scale it to 2'440 MHz. Pushing the voltage up to 1.65V allowed HyperPi to pass at 2'500 MHz.
CAS latency 13 / 13-15-15-35
With CL13 settings and at 1.35V in the BIOS, HyperPi passed at 2'360 MHz. Feeding higher 1.5V voltage pushed the limit up to to 2'490 MHz. When 1.65V was used HyperPi passed at 2'590 MHz.
Conclusion
| General | + | - | |
| Overall, the Klevv DDR3-2400-C11 is a good DDR3 memory kit based on SK Hynix BFR memory chips. In a nutshell, it is quite a pricy 8GB dual-channel kit, which performs pretty well and looks great. The Klevv Genuine modules are more about modding then about overclocking, since these sticks have been equipped with a beautiful heatspreader. What is also great, is that these sticks feature a black PCB, so the modules will definitely blend in nicely on a well designed motherboard. | - Compatibility with big coolers | - Price | |
| Scaling | + | - | |
| With CL9, CL11 as well as CL13 latency settings, we almost see a linear scaling with 1.65V, which is Intels recommended voltage for this kind of DDR3 kit, and basically the best performance you can get. Having a closer look at CL10 and CL12 settings, we see that there scaling is a degression in scaling. This means, that we are closing in on the frequency limits of these chips. | - Scaling CL9 - Scaling CL11 - Scaling CL13 | - Scaling CL10 and CL12 | |
| Recommendation / Price | + | - | |
Checking prices, we found the Klevv Genuine 8GB, DDR3-2400, CL11-13-13-31 kit listed for 149 US-Dollar at Newegg. Therefore, this kit is well rather expensive, which is due to the very nice heatspreader. This kit is certainly well suitable for modders, which do have the funds for it. |
- Modding | - Price | |
| Rating | |||
| The DDR3-2400MHz C11 8GB from Klevv receives good 4 out of 5 stars. | |||
