If were forced to quickly summarize the Silicon Power XPower Turbine RGB series in one word, we would say that is ‘adaptable’. What it lacks in shear overclocking potential it more than makes up for in its overall aesthetics and advanced color changing capabilities. While yes this is not the first RGB LED enabled kit we have seen that can boast of such adaptability in many ways when compared to Ballistix’s take on LED enabled RAM the Silicon Power design can arguably be considered superior. Though a more accurate description is it is superior in some ways and inferior in others.
This caveat to declaring which is the ‘best’ LED enabled DDR4 RAM we have seen is because of the differences in design philosophies. While both come clad in attractive metal heat spreaders, and both make use of good RAM ICs, where they differ can be best summed up in two words: light diffuser. This is where they radically diverge. While both make use of a light diffuser, how each company went about including this feature is different. Unlike Ballistix, Silicon Power opted for one that integrates directly into the heat spreader instead of sitting on top of it. This does give the Silicon Power XPower Turbine RGB a slight edge in RAM height clearance issues with larger CPU cooling solutions… and in the overall ‘finished’ look. Basically, the Ballistix Tactical Tracer RGB series is taller and when the LEDs are not enabled the RAM sticks do look a little… odd. Whereas we doubt most would even know the Silicon Power XPower Turbine RGB came with LEDs as they are that well integrated into the overall design of the heat spreader.
Now with that said while the XPower Turbine RGB is slightly easier to use, this tight integration does come at the expense of light output. In this critical area Ballistix’s approach is superior and does give a noticeably larger lighting ‘foot print’ that is noticeably softer. To put it simply the XPower Turbine RGB output is tighter and focuses light like a flashlight while Ballistix Tactical Tracer RGB is more like a LED lightbulb. As such from a color and total light output… your final opinion on which is ‘better’ will vary. It will depend on whether you want the RAM to glow bright and concentrated (XPower Turbine RGB) or have a more ‘laid back’ or ‘mellow’ glow that covers more of the motherboard in light (Ballistix Tactical Tracer RGB). Only you can decide which you would prefer but ultimately it will be hard to go wrong with either choice.
The Review
Silicon Power XPower Turbine RGB DDR4-3200
The XPower Turbine RGB series is easily the best, most capable, most adaptable, and most aesthetically pleasing series of RAM Silicon Power has released to date. It may not be perfect but this series deserves to be on your short list for further consideration.
