As we embrace the next generation of computer memory with the introduction of DDR5 RAM, it’s essential not to overlook the ongoing importance and relevance of DDR4 RAM. Serving a wide range of users, including those with older CPUs and motherboards, DDR4 RAM continues to be a crucial component in the market. Notably, DDR4 RAM offers a more cost-effective alternative to its DDR5 counterpart, making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious users. Even the cutting-edge 13th gen Intel processors maintain support for DDR4 RAM. Among the available options, TeamGroup’s T-Create DDR4 RAM stands out with its design tailored specifically for content creators, boasting a clock speed of 3,600MHz. It has a feature of 10-layer circuit design that enhances stability, while thermostable components that provide long-lasting endurance.
The TeamGroup T-Create Expert DDR4 RAM 3600MHz offers various pricing options to cater to different needs, starting at PHP 3,899 for the 16GB Kit (2 x 8GB). The 32GB Kit (2 x 16GB) variant, which we will be reviewing, is priced at PHP 6,634.
In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the T-Create DDR4 RAM’s design, functionality, performance benchmarks, and overall value.
Look and Feel
The T-Create DDR4 RAM by Teamgroup deviates from their conventional red and black color scheme, opting for a more refined gray-silver shifting its direction that caters content creators and professionals looking for a minimalist aesthetic.
As for the back of the package, it provides essential information for the user, including the RAM’s specifications and features. Surprisingly, unlike their usual packaging, TeamGroup has opted not to include a cut-out window, which typically allows a peek at the DRAM inside.
The front of the T-Create DDR4 RAM has a simple and clean design. It has a matte gray-silver finish with a V-shaped pattern that looks nice without being too flashy. The TC T-Create logo and DDR4 Expert logo are on the front, showing off its identity in a straightforward way.
Turning to the back of the RAM module, the design remains consistent, it has the stickers for the RAM’s specifications and overclocking configuration.
For the top design, which is the part of the RAM visible when installed on a motherboard, the T-Create DDR4 RAM keeps its simple look. The top features the T-CREATE text in white, along with cut-out lines separating the two aluminum heatsinks. This design maintains a clean and professional appearance in any computer setup.
As always, you’ll get the free stickers and some documentation.
Features
The T-Create DDR4 RAM comes with several notable features to improve the user experience. It has a 10-layer board designed for professional anti-interference, which helps reduce noise, allowing creators to work on animation, editing, or processing tasks without lag. The T-Create Classic Desktop DDR4 OC10L includes customized high-temperature resistant capacitors that can handle the heat generated when processing large files, ensuring a stable output voltage for consistent performance during demanding tasks.
It also has efficient multitasking, allowing creators to perform multiple operations at once, such as file transfers or tasks with longer waiting times. Improving work efficiency and meets the multitasking demands of professionals. Additionally, the T-Create Classic Desktop DDR4 OC10L comes with a lifetime warranty.
Performance
Moving to the performance, we will test the T-Create DDR4 RAM on an older DDR4 system with an 8th gen Intel Core i7-8700 processor. This test aims to show if this DDR4 RAM can still boost the performance of an older system and emphasize the benefits users may gain from upgrading their RAM in this specific older setup. By examining a real-world situation involving an older system, we can offer useful insights into the possible performance improvements and overall value provided by the T-Create DDR4 RAM.
We will be conducting benchmarks using the following system specifications:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-8700
- Motherboard: ROG STRIX Z390-F Gaming
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Founders Edition
Regarding testing the T-Create DDR4 RAM with newer system specifications, we are currently waiting for our review motherboard unit to arrive. Once we have it, we will perform additional benchmarks and update this review with the findings.
AIDA64 Memory Benchmark
For the benchmark, we used the AIDA64 Cache & Memory Benchmark program to compare the performance of the older G.Skill DDR4 3,200MHz (Overclock) with the T-Create DDR4 3,600MHz (XMP). This program measures the memory and cache performance of the system, providing a comprehensive evaluation of their speed and efficiency.
The results showed that the T-Create DDR4 outperformed the G.Skill DDR4. For the T-Create RAM at 3,600MHz, the read speed was 45,801MB/s, write speed was 48,538MB/s, copy speed was 41,137MB/s, and latency was 53.7ns. In comparison, the G.Skill RAM at 3,200MHz had a read speed of 39,979MB/s, write speed of 43,302MB/s, copy speed of 40,926MB/s, and latency of 61.0ns.
CPU-Z Benchmark
We also used the CPU-Z Benchmark program where it measures the processor’s performance in single and multi-threaded tasks, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the CPU’s capabilities. The results show that the T-Create DDR4 RAM outperforms the G.Skill DDR4 RAM in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks.
For the T-Create RAM at 3,600MHz, the single-thread score was 502.3 and the multi-thread score was 3681.0. In comparison, the G.Skill RAM at 3,200MHz had a single-thread score of 491.9 and a multi-thread score of 3656.5. The T-Create RAM has a 2.12% increase in single-thread performance and a 0.67% increase in multi-thread performance compared to the G.Skill RAM.
Super Pi Benchmark
As for the Super Pi Benchmark program, which measures the time taken to compute Pi to a specified number of digits providing an evaluation of the system’s computational capabilities and how the DRAM speeds affect the performance. In this test, we will be using 32 million calculations.
The results show that the T-Create DDR4 RAM significantly outperforms the G.Skill DDR4 RAM. The T-Create RAM at 3,600MHz finished the calculation in 6 minutes and 25 seconds, whereas the G.Skill RAM at 3,200MHz took 8 minutes and 9 seconds to complete the task. This indicates a 21.6% improvement in computational performance for the T-Create DDR4 RAM over the G.Skill DDR4 RAM.
PCMark 10 Benchmark
PCMark 10 is a benchmark program that measures the performance of a computer in different real-life scenarios. It tests the computer’s ability to start up apps, run video conferences, browse the web, use productivity apps, and create digital content.
The results of the benchmark show that the T-Create DDR4 3600MHz memory has a slight performance advantage over the G.Skill DDR4 3200MHz memory. The T-Create memory scored 6,554 in the PCMark 10 benchmark, while the G.Skill memory scored 6,621. This difference in performance is about 1%.
3D Mark Benchmark
3DMark is a benchmark program that measures the performance of a computer in 3D graphics applications. It tests the computer’s ability to render scenes to play games.
In this case, the T-Create DDR4 RAM outperforms the G.Skill DDR4 RAM, with a score that is 5% higher. These results indicate that the T-Create DDR4 RAM delivers better performance in gaming and graphics-related tasks compared to the G.Skill DDR4 RAM.
7-Zip Compression
With the 7-Zip Compression benchmark program, we will be using a dictionary size of 32MB. This benchmark measures the performance of a computer in compressing files which is also heavily dependent on memory speed.
The G.Skill DDR4 RAM at 3,200MHz scored 793%, with 40.461 GIPS, while the T-Create DDR4 RAM at 3,600MHz scored 904%, with 51.735 GIPS. In this case, the T-Create DDR4 RAM significantly outperforms the G.Skill DDR4 RAM, with a 14% higher score and a 27.9% increase in GIPS. These results indicate that the T-Create DDR4 RAM delivers better performance in file compression tasks compared to the G.Skill DDR4 RAM, showcasing its effectiveness in tasks that rely on memory speed.
Virtualization – Antutu Android Benchmark
For Virtualization, using an Android LDPlayer emulator, we used the Antutu Android Benchmark program to compare the performance in virtualization tasks. This benchmark measures the performance of a computer in various aspects, including the memory speed, when running on an Android virtual machine.
The T-Create DDR4 RAM at 3,600MHz achieved an overall score of 2,686,703 and a memory score of 182,808. In this case, the T-Create DDR4 RAM outperforms the G.Skill DDR4 RAM, with a 4.66% higher overall score and a 15.37% higher memory score. These results indicate that the T-Create DDR4 RAM delivers better performance in virtualization tasks, specifically when running an Android virtual machine, compared to the G.Skill DDR4 RAM.
Game Benchmark
For the gaming performance, we utilized a selection of popular video games that have built-in benchmark tests. These games, including Dirt 5, Resident Evil 6, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, allowed us to compare the performance in real-world gaming situations. These tests help to reveal any notable differences in game loading times, frame rates, and overall game performance, which are all essential factors to gamers.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider, an open-world game dense with graphical elements like trees and buildings, was the first game we tested. This game is highly demanding in terms of memory and can reveal the impact of memory speeds on game performance.
With the G.Skill DDR4 RAM at 3,200MHz, we rendered 22,936 frames and achieved an average FPS (Frames Per Second) of 146. On the other hand, the T-Create DDR4 RAM at 3,600MHz performed better, rendering 23,915 frames and reaching an average FPS of 152. This shows a performance boost with the T-Create DDR4 RAM, yielding 4.2% more frames and a 4.1% increase in average FPS.
Next up is Resident Evil 6, a slightly older yet still graphically demanding game known for its impressive third-person shooter rendering. Given the game’s age, we expected higher performance results, and we were not disappointed.
With the G.Skill DDR4 RAM at 3,200MHz, we scored 26,437, earning a ranking of ‘S’. However, the T-Create DDR4 RAM at 3,600MHz outperformed it slightly, scoring 26,860 and maintaining the same ‘S’ rank, 1.6% better.
Finally, we tested Dirt 5, a high-speed racing game that emphasizes rapid environmental rendering but doesn’t require significant graphical power. Importantly, this game is locked at 60 FPS, so we focused on the Low 1% FPS and Low 0.1% FPS figures. These metrics reveal how the system handles heavy graphical demands that might momentarily slow down the game’s rendering.
With the G.Skill DDR4 RAM at 3,200MHz, we observed a Low 1% FPS of 59.2 and a Low 0.1% FPS of 58.5. Meanwhile, the T-Create DDR4 RAM at 3,600MHz slightly improved these figures, delivering a Low 1% FPS of 59.4 and a Low 0.1% FPS of 58.8. Though the differences here are small (0.34% increase for Low 1% FPS and 0.51% increase for Low 0.1% FPS with the T-Create DDR4 RAM), they can still lead to a smoother gaming experience during intense racing scenarios or when the environment is too demanding for the graphics card.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our benchmark testing demonstrates that the T-Create DDR4 RAM at 3,600MHz can effectively enhance the performance of an older system. From productivity applications to gaming scenarios, the T-Create DDR4 RAM consistently outperformed its 3,200MHz counterpart. Although the improvements were often modest, they were consistently present across all tested scenarios, implying a smoother and potentially more responsive experience for users.
The added performance seen in our tests suggests that upgrading to a higher megahertz RAM like the T-Create DDR4 RAM can bring tangible benefits. This is particularly notable for those working on more demanding tasks, such as video editing, 3D rendering, or running memory-intensive games, where every ounce of performance can make a difference.
While our review focused on an older system, we expect even greater performance benefits with newer systems, such as those running the 13th gen Intel processors. The T-Create DDR4 RAM’s higher frequency should be even more beneficial when paired with these newer, more capable processors.
If you’re looking to breathe new life into an older system or maximize the performance of a new one, the T-Create DDR4 RAM stands as a compelling choice that delivers consistent, reliable performance improvements across a wide range of applications and games.
Furthermore, the T-Create DDR4 RAM offers excellent value for the performance it delivers. At a price of PHP 6,499 for the 32GB kit and PHP 3,699 for the 16GB kit, it presents an affordable upgrade option that can significantly enhance system performance.