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G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB memory has been designed for overclocking on AMD platforms with EXPO support. Its aluminium heat spreaders are available with a choice of two colour options and feature customisable RGB lighting. Here we test a 96GB kit of DDR5-6000 running at low latency (28-36-36-96, 1.35V).
G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 model line is available in seven kit sizes and a range of latencies and voltages; 32GB (CL26, CL28, CL30, CL32 and CL36), 48GB (CL26, CL28 and CL40), 64GB (CL26, CL28, CL30, CL32 and CL36), 96GB (CL26, CL28 and CL30), 128GB (CL32, CL34 and CL36), 192GB (CL28) and 256GB (CL32, CL34 and CL36).
The G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 96GB kit we are reviewing here utilises a pair of dual-rank 48GB DIMMs (using SK Hynix M-die ICs), which are EXPO-rated at 6000MT/s with timings of 28-36-36-96 at 1.35V.
G.Skill backs the kit with a lifetime warranty.
Specification:
- Model Number: F5-6000J2836F48GX2-TZ5NR.
- Capacity: 96GB (2 x 48).
- Rated Frequency: 6000MT/s.
- Rated Timings: 28-36-36-96.
- Voltage: 1.35V.
- Module Height: 42.8mm.
- XMP/EXPO: EXPO.
The front of the box that the memory comes in has a cut-out near the top, allowing you to see part of one of the modules. Below this are two award logos, and below these are two illustrations of what the memory looks like (both colour options). The bottom left of the box is home to AMD EXPO and Intel XMP 3.0 stickers, along with the Trident Z5 Neo RGB branding.
The rear of the box has two more cutouts (top and bottom), which let you see the SKU sticker attached to the module. To the right of the bottom cut-out is the product sticker that displays the module density and configuration. Below this product sticker is a line of logos representing the motherboard lighting software that the modules support: Asus Aura, ASRock Polychrome Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion and MSI Mystic Light Sync.
The heat spreaders on the modules are made from aluminium finished in (in the case of the review sample) matte white with a black brushed aluminium insert (a matte black finish is also available). The spreaders give the module a height of 42.8mm. The modules are a dual-rank design. Under the heatsink, there are sixteen SK Hynix chips (H5CGD8?GBDX021 – M-die) along with a Richtek RTQ5132GQWF power management IC (PMIC).
The top of the module is home to the RGB defuser bar, which covers eight RGB zones that are controllable by either G.Skill's own Trident Z controller software or the motherboard's RGB system.
The memory runs at DDR5-5600 with timings of 46-45-45-90-135 (1.10V) natively with the single EXPO profile supporting DDR5-6000 with 28-36-36-96 timings at 1.35V.
G.Skill's Trident Z lighting control software allows you to set up four profiles independently with their own custom light setup. The modules can be set up together or as individual units. The software has fourteen lighting effects and a wide colour palette to set up your desired effect. And as each module can be set up separately, you can come up with some pretty radical effects. There's also a Music Mode which can be customised, but once enabled, all the other profiles are disabled. However, in this mode, the modules will stay dark if there is no audio output.
If you want the modules to sync up with the rest of your lighting scheme, Asus Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion 2.0, MSI Mystic Light Sync, and ASRock Polychrome Sync are all supported.
We will be testing the memory kit performance with an Intel Core i7-14700K CPU, MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi motherboard and a GeForce RTX 4060 VENTUS 2X BLACK 8G OC graphics card. The processor is maintained at its stock frequency.
Test System
Processor: Core i7-14700K (20 cores/ 28 threads)
CPU Cooler: MSI MAG CORELIQUID E360
Motherboard: MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi
Graphics card: GeForce RTX 4060 VENTUS 2X BLACK 8G OC
Power supply: MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5 850W
SSD: MSI SPATIUM M570
Case: MSI MPG GUNGNIR 300P AIRFLOW
OS: Windows 11
Thanks to MSI for providing the test system above.
Test Memory Kits
Our DDR5 comparison kits consist of:
ADATA XPG Lancer Blade RGB DDR5-6400 C32 32GB
Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5-5600 C36 64GB
Corsair Dominator Titanium DDR5-6000 C30 64GB
Corsair Vengeance DDR5-5200 C38 32GB
G.Skill Ripjaws M5 RGB DDR5-6400 C32 32GB
G.Skill Trident Z5 DDR5-7200 C34 32GB
G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000MT/s CL26 32GB
G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal DDR5-6400 C32 64GB
Kingston Fury Beast DDR5-5200 C36 32GB
Klevv Cras X5 RGB DDR5-6000 C40 32GB
Klevv Cras V RGB DDR5-6000MT/s 32GB
Klevv Cras V RGB DDR5-7600 CL36 48GB
Lexar ARES RGB DDR5-6400 CL32 32GB
TeamGroup T-Force XTREEM DDR5-7600 C36 32GB
TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5-6400 C40 32GB
TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan a DDR5-6000 C40 32GB
Thermaltake Toughram RC DDR5-5600 C36 32GB
Thermaltake Toughram XG RGB D5 DDR5-7200 C36 32GB
Tests:
7-Zip v19.00 – Built-in 7-Zip benchmark test (CPU & Memory).
Cinebench 2024 – All-core CPU benchmark (CPU & Memory).
HandBrake H264 – Convert 1440p60 H264 video to 1080p60 H264 using the YouTube HQ 1080p60 preset (CPU & Memory).
AIDA64 – Memory bandwidth, memory latency (Memory).
Total War Pharaoh.
Final Fantasy XIV-Dawntrail.
Cyberpunk 2077.
Memory Benchmarks
AIDA64
In the AIDA64 Memory Bandwidth test, the 96GB kit of G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6000 read result of 91,281MB/s is the slowest of the G.Skill modules we tested to date and places the kit in the bottom half of the result table.
The latency result of 79.9ns is the slowest we've seen to date in the AIDA 64 memory test.
Compute and Productivity Tests
7-Zip
In the 7-Zip benchmark, the 96GB kit of G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 is the fastest kit we've seen to date, with a Compressing result of 186 GIPS.
Cinebench 2024
The G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 96GB kit doesn't seem to handle the Cinebench 2024 multi-core test too well, as its score of 1900 sees it close to the bottom of the results chart.
Encoding
Handbrake
In the Handbrake test, the 96GB kit G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6000 memory kit is a little faster than the 32GB C26 kit, but it still sits third from the bottom of the table.
Office Productivity
PCMark 10
Essentials
Productivity
Digital Content Creation
The 96GB kit of G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6000 doesn't seem to handle the PCMark 10 benchmark too well, sitting in last but one place in the Essential and last place in the Digital Content Creation tests. Its hows a small improvement in the Productivity test, where it sits fourth from the bottom of the table.
Gaming (1080p)
Total War Pharaoh – Battle
Using the Total War Pharaoh Battle benchmark with Ultra settings, the 96GB Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6000 kit sits in last place on the results table. But in truth, there is only a 1.57fps difference (average fps) between the G.Skill kit and the Corsair Vengeance DDR5-5200 C38 kit in first place, while its 1% low performance is better than most.
Switching over to the low-quality settings, the drive's performance improved a little; its test result of 398.768fps sees it move up to fourth from bottom.
Final Fantasy XIV-Dawntrail
Using the maximum quality settings in the Final Fantasy XIV-Dawntrail benchmark, the memory sits in last but one place – but the margins are very slim. Reducing the quality settings to Standard Desktop results in an obvious increase in frame rate, but unfortunately, the modules remain in the same position in the table.
Cyberpunk 2077
When tested with the Cyberpunk game benchmark under Ultra image quality settings, the drive produced test results of 98.401fps (average), the second fastest we've seen for a G.Skill memory kit, and 79.4871fps (1% Low), which puts the memory in the top half of the results chart. Switching over to the low image quality setting saw the module rise to fifth place on our results chart.
We will be testing the memory kit performance with an AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU, MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi motherboard and a GeForce RTX 4060 VENTUS 2X BLACK 8G OC graphics card. The processor is maintained at its stock frequency.
Test System
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (8 cores/ 16 threads)
CPU Cooler: MSI MAG CORELIQUID E360
Motherboard: MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi
Graphics card: GeForce RTX 4060 VENTUS 2X BLACK 8G OC
Power supply: MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5 850W
SSD: MSI SPATIUM M570
Case: MSI MPG GUNGNIR 300P AIRFLOW
OS: Windows 11
Thanks to MSI for providing the test system above.
Memory Benchmarks
AIDA64
When tested with the AIDA64 memory benchmark, the 96GB kit of G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 C28 produced a read figure of 60,788MB/s, a result which places the modules into fourth place on the results chart.
Unfortunately, the C28 latency doesn't do the modules any favours, as the kit sits in last place on the results chart.
Compute and Productivity Tests
7-Zip
In the 7-Zip benchmark, the 96GB kit of G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6000 C28 sits third from the bottom of the results chart. In reality, there isn't an awful lot in it between it and the Klevv Cras V RGB 6000 C28 in top spot.
Cinebench 2024
In the Cinebench 2024 multi-core test, the 96GB kit of G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6000 C28 sits in last place in the results table.
Encoding
Handbrake
In the Handbrake test, the 96GB of G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6000 C28 sits in the penultimate position on the results chart, but in reality, there's only just under 6fps difference between it and the Klevv Urbane V RGB DDR5-7600 C36 kit, which sits at the top of the table.
Office Productivity
PCMark 10
Essentials
Productivity
Digital Content Creation
In the PCMark 10 benchmark, G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB displayed a mixed bag of results. It sits in last place in the Essentials test and in a mid-table position for both the Productivity and Digital Content Creation tests.
Gaming (1080p)
Total War Pharaoh – Battle
In the Total War: Pharaoh – Battle benchmark using Ultra quality settings, G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6000 96GB kit produces an average fps score of 131.508fps, which puts it in the fourth-from-bottom slot in the results table. Switching over to the low-quality settings sees the drive move up one place on the table.
Final Fantasy XIV-Dawntrail
The 96GB kit of G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6000 C28 doesn't fare very well in the Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail benchmark, sitting in the penultimate spot on the results chart using maximum quality settings and in last spot using the standard settings. Having said that, there's not much to choose from among all the kits in this benchmark.
Cyberpunk 2077
The Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6000 C28 performs well in Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark, sitting in eighth place using Ultra quality settings but moving up to third spot when the quality settings are dropped to Low.
Designed as performance DDR5 memory for PC enthusiasts and gamers, G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB memory is primarily aimed at AMD's EXPO technology platforms. Having said that, it will still work in Intel platforms. It features customisable RGB lighting, while the aluminium heatspreaders come in matte white or matte black finishes. The modules are 42.8mm high, giving a wider range of compatibility with air coolers and motherboards.
The Trident Z5 Neo RGB line-up consists of five speeds: 5600 MT/s, 6000MT/s, 6400MT/s, 7200MT/s and 8000MT/s and seven kit capacities. The 6000MT/s product line is available in seven latencies: CL26, CL28, CL30, CL32, CL34, CL36, and CL40 and all seven capacities: 32GB, 48GB, 64GB, 128GB, 192GB and 256GB.
The memory kit that G.Skill sent in for review was one of the matte white 96GB DDR5-6000 CL28-36-36-96 (1.35V) kits (F5-6000J2836F48GX2-TZ5NRW) comprising two 48GB single-sided modules each using sixteen SK Hynix M-die memory chips. It runs natively at DDR5-5600 with timings of 46-45-45-90-135 (1.10V), but the single EXPO profile bumps this up to 6000MT/s at 1.35V (28-36-36-96).
The RGB system comprises eight LED segments per module. These LEDs are very bright, but they can be turned down in the software if they are too overpowering. There are two choices when it comes to controlling the RGB system. One is to use G.Skill's own Trident Z Lighting Control utility, which can be downloaded from the G.Skill site. The Trident Z Lighting Control supports up to four independent profiles with their own custom light setup. The software has fourteen lighting effects and a wide colour palette, and modules can be synced or set up as individual units, so pretty much the sky is the limit when it comes to custom schemes. The other is to use the motherboard RGB controller software; most of the 3rd party software is catered for with support for ASRock Polychrome Sync, Asus Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light Sync and Gigabyte RGB Fusion 2.0.
We found the 96GB kit of G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB 6000MT/s CL28-36-36-96 on Amazon UK for around £393 (inc VAT) HERE.
Pros
- Overall performance.
- Build quality.
- RGB.
Cons
- Only one memory profile (EXPO).
- Pricey.
KitGuru says: DDR5-6000 is the sweet spot for AMD's Ryzen 7000 & 9000 series, and G.Skill cover it with a wide range of options in the form of kit size and latency options. The 96GB kit of Trident Z5 Neo RGB is towards the top of the capacity range that G.Skill offer for DDR5-6000. Although designed to work on AMD platforms, it still performs on Intel-based systems.
