In a market often dominated by Intel’s Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) for easy overclocking, AMD is stepping up its game with a groundbreaking feature of its own: the Extended Profile for Overclocking (EXPO). This standout feature is front and center in TeamGroup’s latest offering, the T-Force Delta α (Alpha) RGB DDR5-6000 MHz Gaming Memory, which is specifically crafted for AMD’s newest Ryzen processors. Unlike the traditional XMP, EXPO is designed to integrate flawlessly with AMD systems, providing unprecedented control and performance gains. It’s worth noting though that various manufacturers are also planning to bring EXPO support to Intel platforms.
The T-Force Delta α RGB DDR5-6000 MHz Gaming Memory is a compelling option for those AMD users eyeing a move to DDR5 motherboards. It has the EXPO Profile that has an overclocked memory speed of up to 6,000MHz at settings of 38-38-38-78 and 1.25V. It is also backed with a lifetime warranty. Aesthetically, the Delta series features RGB lighting that syncs effortlessly with major motherboard RGB software like ASUS Aura, ASRock Polychrome Sync, and many more. All of this comes in a 2 x 16GB (32GB) package with a competitive price tag of $104.99 (PHP 5,984).
In this review, we’ll dig into how EXPO sets itself apart and why the T-Force DDR5 RAM is a must-have for AMD enthusiasts.
Look and Feel
When it comes to packaging, the T-Force Delta Alpha follows the familiar aesthetic of its non-alpha variant. However, the ‘Alpha’ mark sets it apart, signaling this is a different beast altogether. The stick comes in two color options: white and dark. Our review unit is the dark version, which perfectly matches the red and black color scheme of T-Force’s branding. Right on the bottom part, there’s a clear indicator that this DRAM is tailored for AMD systems.
Flip to the back, and you’ll find important details about the DRAM, including its compatibility with almost every RGB lighting brand on the market. But what really stands out is the promise of a lifetime warranty, emphasizing that this memory is a long-term investment in performance and reliability.
Upon opening the box, you’re greeted by the two DRAM sticks, neatly placed on a plastic sheet.
The memory modules themselves maintain the iconic wing-shaped design of the T-Force Delta series, but with an ‘Alpha’ twist. The ‘R’ logo on the right becomes more prominent, supplemented by the ‘Alpha’ marking on the DELTA print.
At the back of each DRAM stick, you’ll find the overclocking timings and expected speeds, ensuring you know exactly what you’re getting performance-wise.
For those interested in aesthetics, a close-up of the ‘Alpha’ marked DELTA print reveals the openings for RGB lighting, allowing for a visually striking setup.
When you turn it on, the T-Force Delta Alpha’s RGB lights stand out just like the other Delta RGB. The rainbow colors breathe in and out, creating a cool effect. The ‘R’ holes on the side make this effect even better, letting the colors shine brightly.
For a more detailed look, check out this close-up photo of the RAM with its RGB lighting activated.
The other content of the packaging also includes an instruction booklet and a T-Force sticker.
Performance
To truly unlock the potential of the T-Force Delta Alpha, we’ll be rigorously testing it at both its stock speed of 5,200MHz and its overclocked speed (EXPO Profile) of 6,000MHz. Using a variety of programs, we aim to confirm whether this DRAM performs as advertised under different conditions.
The RAM will be tested in the following unit:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900 12-Core Processor (Stock Cooler)
- Motherboard: GIGABYTE X670 GAMING X AX Motherboard
- RAM Memory:Â T-Force Delta Alpha RGB DDR5-6000Mhz 32GB (2x16GB)
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 3070 Founders Edition
- Storage: Netac NV7000-T 1TB SSD
- OS: Windows 11 Pro
First up, we’ll be examining the available timings for the T-Force Delta Alpha, which can serve as key adjustments for those interested in overclocking. It’s worth noting that aside from using the EXPO profile for overclocked speeds, there is also a set of standard timings known as JEDEC that provides alternative speed settings that you can use.
Based on the JEDEC Timing table, the RAM’s stock speed of 5,200MHz aligns with the JEDEC #8 specification (42-42-42-84 at 1.1v).
AIDA64 Cache & Memory Benchmark
First, we’ll be using AIDA 64 Cache and Memory Benchmark to dig deeper into the performance metrics of the T-Force Delta Alpha. AIDA 64 is an industry-standard tool known for its comprehensive tests that measure cache and memory speeds, latency, and data transfer rates. It is the primary benchmark tool used to test memory speed.
The overclocked EXPO Profile at 6,000 MHz showed substantial gains across the board. For Memory Read speed, it clocked in at 78,216 MB/s, which is approximately 24% faster than the stock speed of 62,906 MB/s at 5,200 MHz. Memory Write speed followed suit, scoring 78,183 MB/s—about 16% faster than the stock speed of 67,219 MB/s. The Copy speed was also impressive at 67,941 MB/s, marking an improvement of around 17% faster than the stock speed of 58,228 MB/s. Lastly, latency was reduced to 73.7 ns, which is around 11% faster than the stock latency of 82.4 ns. Even at stock speeds, the memory put up strong numbers.
Super Pi Mod 2.1 WP
Next is the Super Pi Mod 2.1 WP, it is a widely respected program used for benchmarking and stress-testing processors and memory. It calculates Pi to a set number of digits and measures the time it takes to complete this task. Although it might seem a bit specialized, this test is actually an excellent indicator of both CPU and RAM performance, as it relies heavily on efficient data storage and retrieval. For our test, we’ll be focusing on the 32 Million calculation option to see how quickly the system can crunch the numbers.
The task was completed in just 5 minutes and 29.012 seconds, which is noticeably quicker than the stock speed at 5,200 MHz, finishing the task at 5 minutes and 44.060 seconds. This translates to a time reduction of approximately 4%.
WinRAR Benchmark
We’ll proceed with the WinRAR benchmark, where we’ll conduct a 5-minute test to evaluate the T-Force Delta Alpha’s real-world performance. Running this test for a full 5 minutes gives us a more reliable measure of how the RAM will handle sustained tasks, particularly in common but demanding operations like file compression.
At 6,000 MHz, we saw an average resulting speed of 51,143, which is roughly 11% faster than the stock speed of 46,091 at 5,200 MHz.
Cinebench R23
Cinebench R23 is a highly-regarded benchmarking tool that pushes your system to its limits by rendering a complex 3D scene. While commonly used to test CPUs, it also provides valuable insights into how your RAM performs under intense graphical and computational workloads. This makes it an invaluable part of our benchmark suite, ensuring that we’ve scrutinized this memory module from all possible angles.
The results were unexpected. Despite running at 6,000 MHz, the EXPO Profile scored 24,427 points in the CPU Multi-Core test, falling short of the stock speed’s 24,995 points at 5,200 MHz. We reran the test twice to rule out anomalies but got consistent results. One possible explanation could be thermal throttling, as we used AMD’s stock fan for cooling which may not be enough for keeping the CPU temp under working temperature. On the single-core front, the EXPO Profile narrowly outperformed the stock speed, scoring 1,961 points compared to 1,956.
PCMark 10 Full
Next up is PCMark 10, where we’ll start with the full benchmark. This comprehensive software tests a wide array of system capabilities, from basic tasks like web browsing to more demanding ones like digital content creation. We aim to offer a complete picture of how the T-Force Delta Alpha performs across a diverse range of scenarios, including both light and heavy multitasking.
The EXPO Profile showed a modest but noteworthy advantage. Scoring 9,476, it outperformed the default stock speed, which came in at 9,030. This 5% increase in score underlines the general boost in system performance you can expect when utilizing the XMP Profile, especially in daily computing tasks that PCMark 10 simulates.
PCMark 10 Application
Next is the PCMark 10 Application closely mimics real-world tasks, specifically on widely used software like Microsoft Office and Edge browser. This gives us a highly targeted look at how the T-Force Delta Alpha performs in everyday productivity and creative applications, rounding out our comprehensive testing suite.
The EXPO Profile once again demonstrated its edge. With a score of 17,207, it outpaced the stock speed, which scored 16,846, a roughly 2% increase.
PCMark 10 Express
The last part for PCMark 10, is the Express. This is designed for quick yet reliable performance assessments. It tests essential aspects like web browsing, video conferencing, and app start-up times to give a snapshot of how this memory performs in every day, quick-fire tasks that most users frequently encounter.
The EXPO Profile nudged ahead with a score of 7,407, compared to the stock speed’s 7,336. Although the margin is narrow, at just about a 1% increase, it still represents a consistent advantage in performance for the EXPO Profile, even in quick, everyday tasks.
3D Mark – Time Spy Benchmark
Next up is the 3D Mark – Time Spy Benchmark, a well-known testing tool designed specifically for DirectX 12, Microsoft’s latest graphics API. It’s excellent at giving a deep dive into both GPU and CPU performance, using real-world simulations and complex graphics tasks to put the hardware through its paces. This makes it a key tool for evaluating how the EXPO-enabled T-Force Delta Alpha RAM performs in today’s graphically demanding games.
The EXPO Profile at 6,000 MHz edged out the stock speed at 5,200 MHz, scoring 13,461 compared to 13,334. While the difference is less than 1%, it’s consistent with our other findings: the EXPO Profile gives you that small but potentially crucial performance boost, especially in graphically demanding scenarios.
Virtualization
Shifting our focus to virtualization, we’ll be utilizing LDPlayer, an Android emulator, to run the AnTuTu Benchmark app. Emulators like LDPlayer are particularly fast but demanding on system memory, making this an ideal test to evaluate the T-Force Delta Alpha’s capabilities beyond gaming. By using the AnTuTu Benchmark within the emulator, we can gauge how this memory impacts the performance of virtual Android environments, which is crucial for users who rely on such setups for app development or mobile gaming on PC.
The EXPO Profile made an overall score of 3,371,145, outperforming the stock speed, which lagged behind at 3,246,515. This represents around a 4% improvement, which could be crucial for those relying on virtual environments for their computing needs
Cyberpunk 2077
Shifting gears to video games, we’ll now be testing this memory in real-world gaming scenarios, kicking off with the highly demanding title, Cyberpunk 2077. Known for its intricate graphics and detailed environments, this game serves as a rigorous test for memory performance. For the test, we will be using its in-game benchmark to give consistent results compared to in-game play.
The result differences were subtle but worth noting. The EXPO Profile at 6,000 MHz achieved an average FPS of 74.01, slightly edging out the stock speed at 5,200 MHz, which landed at 73.22 FPS. While the gain is less than 1%, it’s a small testament that overclocking memory has the ability to squeeze out that extra bit of performance, even in demanding games.
A Total War Saga: Troy Benchmark
Next up on our gaming benchmarks is A Total War Saga: Troy. This strategy game is renowned for its large-scale battles and complex AI, putting significant demands on both the CPU and RAM. Benchmarking with this title will allow us to assess the T-Force Delta Alpha’s ability to manage large datasets and multiple tasks simultaneously.
We ran two different tests and found consistent improvements with the EXPO Profile at 6,000 MHz. It scored an average FPS of 147.3 and 200.4 in the respective benchmarks, outperforming the stock speed, which averaged 146.3 and 198.5 FPS.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Continuing our gaming tests, we’ll venture into the graphically rich world of Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Known for its stunning visuals and complex environments.
In our tests, the EXPO Profile at 6,000 MHz pulled ahead, delivering an average FPS of 215 with 32,565 frames rendered. In contrast, the stock speed at 5,200 MHz came close but fell short, registering an average FPS of 211 with 32,902 frames rendered. The nearly 2% improvement in FPS again demonstrates the small but meaningful performance gains achievable with the EXPO Profile.
Ragnarok Origin SEA PC
As a final note in our gaming benchmarks, we’ll explore the world of Ragnarok Origin SEA PC. Developed in Unity, this popular MMORPG presents its own unique set of challenges, different from graphically intensive or fast-paced games. Unity’s flexible engine allows for a rich and dynamic multiplayer environment, putting the T-Force Delta Alpha’s multitasking and data-loading capabilities to the test.
In a surprising turn, our tests on Ragnarok Origin PC showed no discernible difference between the EXPO Profile at 6,000 MHz and the stock speed at 5,200 MHz; both scored an average FPS of 117. This could suggest that for certain types of games or applications, the advantage of using the EXPO Profile may not be as pronounced.
Comparison
To provide a point of reference, we’ve included comparison benchmarks to evaluate how the T-Force Delta Alpha stacks up against other DDR5 memory modules on the market, all operating at a speed of 6,000MHz. This will offer a clearer picture of its performance in relation to its competitors.