Introduction
Today we’re taking a look at Lexar’s ARES RGB DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz (LD5FU016G-R6000GDGA) kit to see how it performs on both our Raptor Lake and Zen 4 test beds and whether it will help level up your gaming rig.
When it comes to memory solutions, Lexar has been around the block for a couple of decades now and is often the go-to purveyor for your DLSR camera’s storage needs. Lexar has recently expanded into the enthusiast market where it is offering NVME SSDs and DDR 4/5 memory targeted at gaming rigs.
On our test bench, today is at the high end of Lexar’s offerings and is from the ARES RGB series. It’s a fairly short series, consisting of a 5600MHz flavor and a 6000MHz flavor. We’re reviewing the 6000MHz flavor today that offers 34-38-38-76 timings with both XMP 3.0 and EXPO profiles. It accomplishes the 6000MHz speed with the assistance of 1.3V of power. It sports a $149.99 suggested price from Lexar and we’re seeing that out in the e-tail environment at the time of publication.
Lexar ARES RGB DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz Memory
The Lexar ARES RGB DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz Memory comes in a black box with red accents that shows off the RGB capabilities of the DIMMs and indicates the 32GB size, 2x16GB kit, and 6000MHz speed. It states that it is capable of supporting XMP and EXPO configurations.
Flipping the box over, we see some marketing speak about the kit in several languages and in mice type a few references to the various companies involved in making the product, including one that uses a Hotmail.com address for business purposes. There is no mention of the warranty length on the packaging, however, Lexar’s website and documentation indicate it is a limited lifetime warranty. There are no indications of the rated timings for the memory kit on the box, however, they are spelled out on Lexar’s website.
Inside the packaging, we found two 16GB modules labeled with the part number HM2G8GA. The modules are clad in a black heat spreader which is topped by a white RGB bar that adds “ARES” like a hood ornament in the middle.
The kits sport Hynix memory modules that have base timings of PC5-38400 (4800MHz) at 40-39-39-77 using 1.1V. Their tested (and marketed) frequency is PC5-48000 (6000MHz) at timings of 34-38-38-76 at 1.3V. They are equipped with a thermal sensor, on-die ECC, and support for your favorite motherboard manufacturer’s RGB bling controller.
From a sizing perspective, the Lexar ARES RGB DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz Memory measures 1.75” in height, which is equal to the CORSAIR VENGEANCE DDR5 that we recently reviewed and shorter than the CORSAIR Dominator series that weighs in at 2.25”. If you’re going with a large tower air cooler, these modules will give you a bit more clearance than other larger modules.
Installation and Configuration
We installed the Lexar ARES RGB DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz Memory into our GIGABYTE B650 AERO G motherboard that is paired with a 7900X processor as well as an MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Wifi Motherboard that is paired with an Intel 13900K processor. The RGB entered a default pattern that paired with the other RGB bling on our test rig.
By default, the modules load up the base timings described above which is PC5-38400 (4800MHz) at 40-39-39-77, but throwing the XMP and EXPO switch bumped it up to PC5-48000 (6000MHz) at timings of 34-38-38-76. We were able to boot into Windows 11 and start benchmarking without an issue.