Getting to know the LoVo

In our current computing generation, speed is everything. The faster your computer can compute tasks, the better. In the growing gaming, video/photo editing industry, computers are required to have more and more memory buffer to keep up with the tasks at hand. In order to do so, large amounts of RAM are required to overcome this situation, but at a high cost, both short and long term. These high capacity RAMs don’t come cheap, what more, with more RAM you put in your system, the more electricity it consumes, causing the long term cost and also a growing threat to the environment by consuming these large amounts of energy. And so, the market leader for memory products, Kingston, has addressed this issue with their new release of low voltage memory, incorporating it into their award winning high performance memory, HyperX, and launched the new Kingston HyperX LoVo line.


Kingston HyperX LoVo box-up

First look

I was given the privilege to review a Kingston HyperX LoVo 4GB 1800MHz CL9 DDR3 (KHX1800C9D3LK2/4GX) thanks to the kind people at Kingston Taiwan. This model comes in 2 pairs of 2GB in a kit, amounting to 4GB. Instead of the standard blue heatsink that comes with the HyperX, these heatsinks were in a classy new green colour to symbolize their “going green” effort of energy saving.


A closer look at the Kingston HyperX LoVo 4GB 1800MHz CL9 DDR3

Specifications

The spec sheet for this particular model can be found here: http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KHX1800C9D3LK2_4GX.pdf

FEATURES:
JEDEC standard 1.5V ± 0.075V Power Supply
VDDQ = 1.5V ± 0.075V
667MHz fCK for 1333Mb/sec/pin
8 independent internal bank
Programmable CAS Latency: 6,7,8,9
Posted CAS
Programmable Additive Latency: 0, CL - 2, or CL - 1 clock
Programmable CAS Write Latency(CWL) = 7(DDR3-1333)
8-bit pre-fetch
Burst Length: 8 (Interleave without any limit, sequential with
starting address “000” only), 4 with tCCD = 4 which does not
allow seamless read or write [either on the fly using A12 or MRS]
Bi-directional Differential Data Strobe
Internal(self) calibration : Internal self calibration through ZQ pin (RZQ : 240 ohm ± 1%)
On Die Termination using ODT pin
Average Refresh Period 7.8us at lower then TCASE 85°C, 3.9us at 85°C < TCASE . 95°C
Asynchronous Reset
PCB : Height 1.180” (30.00mm), double sided component

PERFORMANCE:
CL(IDD) 9 cycles
Row Cycle Time (tRCmin) 49.5ns (min.)
Refresh to Active/Refresh Command Time (tRFCmin) 110ns
Row Active Time (tRASmin) 36ns (min.)
Power (operating per module) 2.160 W (DDR3-1333 @ standard 1.5V)
UL Rating 94 V - 0
Operating Temperature 0o C to 85o C
Storage Temperature -55o C to +100o C
Given that this is a combination between performance and energy saving RAM, the timings have been adjusted to a reasonable amount at CL9 to cater for the energy saving requirement, although it is still possible to overclock it to CL8, this would defeat the purpose of being an energy saving RAM.

Test system

Since the LoVo series runs from 1.25V to 1.35V, motherboards would have to be adjusted to meet these voltage requirements in order for the LoVo to perform optimally. Of course, the motherboard’s standard voltage could be applied, thus overclocking the LoVo but my main purpose for testing this RAM is for its energy saving feature. The motherboard I used was an Intel DP55WG which the voltages had to be manually adjusted. The LoVo was tested against my current Kingston HyperX 4GB 1600MHz CL8 DDR3 using Sandra and here are the results:
Kingston HyperX 4GB 1600MHz CL8 DDR3: 19.32GB/s
Kingston HyperX LoVo 4GB 1800MHz CL9 DDR3: 21.91GB/s
The LoVo proved to be better than my current 1600MHz at default clock timings without much surprise. This was done at even lower voltages than my current HyperX RAM, so imagine the amount of electricity that could be saved without the need of compromising speed.

Final say

The LoVo definitely lives up to its name, providing awesome performance at affordable prices, giving the users a chance to cut costs on their bills and at the same time save the Earth! Considering there is the other option of the premium 1866MHz LoVo, this 1800MHz LoVo would be a more economical choice with a considerably cheaper price tag and delivering a decent amount of performance.
Good for those who want to:
- Save money and reduce electricity bills.
- Get more performance while saving money (or you could just overclock to get even more awesomeness!! – defeats the purpose of being a green RAM though)
- Save our planet Earth!
So, if you’re like me, a humanitarian doing my part, get yourself one of the LoVo’s and do your part for Mother Nature!