The Hardware Pr0n
Being two individual dual channel kits we have two sets of packaging to open. Both kits use the standard plastic clam shell for Memory modules encased in cardboard packaging which is then shrink-wrapped “for your protection.”
Starting with a black glossy base the packaging uses yellow to gold hues for accenting with a rather uncomplicated front layout. An image of the sticks centers the package with the company logo and Division 2 taking precedence of the Viper Extreme nomenclature. Designed for Intel 6 series blurb points out that it is designed to be used with Core I series second generation processors. Unrivaled Performance marketing stuff gets tossed on their discretely as well.
The back of the package is very plain, almost entirely black. A small paragraph is an average font height and goes into more detail about the Division 2 RAM. Division 2 means it is designed for Intel 2nd Generation architectures not that it is dual channel as previously joked about. the Viper Extreme nomenclature signifies that this product is aimed at gamers and enthusiasts. It goes on to mention the copper core heat spreader, hand built fabrication process and 100% life time warranty. Real and email addresses are provided for their 3 Sales Office locations including their headquarters in Fremont, California.
Inside the box is your standard plastic clamshell. the clamshell holds a small “brochure” for lack of a better word that when opened up includes installation instructions for your average motherboard. (IE that requiring two ram clips to be used).
The RAM sticks themselves use a solid black high profile heat spreader that is fairly common anymore. The height of the spreader is about average for high profile RAM although by no means is it the tallest RAM available. Silver pin stripes line the top of the RAM highlighting the parts that stick above normal DIMM height. the Viper Extreme is emblazoned on one side of the DIMM matching the pin striping up top. The backside of the RAM has a muted bronze colored sticker that has product information and main memory speed, timings and voltage.
Through the slits in the heat spreader we can see the copper sheathing that Patriot has used to transfer heat from the ICs to the spreaders themselves. Standard thermal tape is used to adhere the copper sheathing to the sticks themselves although the copper is fastened to the heat spreader by some other method as no gap exists between them. Patriot calls this “Copper Cored” and it is a large piece of copper that covers the entire DIMM under the heatspreader. This seems to be a rather high end cooling device for a product that historically does not need elaborate cooling.
We will find out in testing however but first some quick Overclocking results
