Kingston HyperX Predator 8GB 2666MHz DDR3 Memory Kit Review

Intel XMP Profiles on the Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H

As we mentioned in the introduction, this Kingston HyperX Predator memory kit comes with two Intel XMP profiles pre-programmed for your convenience. The first profile is at 2666MHz with 11-13-13 timings and the second is at 2400MHz with 11-13-13 timings. We are using the Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H motherboard for testing with BIOS F8 and as you can see the board properly detected two memory profiles and it booted up with the JEDEC standard timings at 1333MHz.

By selecting the first profile the kit automatically tells the board what to run the kit at, so it changed the memory frequency and raises the voltages all by itself. Getting your board to run 2666MHz is very simple as you just need to adjust one setting.

If you look at the advanced timing settings, you’ll discover that the XMP memory profile also set the timings properly to 11-13-13-32 with a command rate of 2T. The XMP settings also adjusts the advanced timing controls, which is nice as pretty much no one understands what all those settings do.

Just for fun we tried out the second memory profile to make sure it was programmed properly and it was. This profile is designed to run at 2400MHz. If you wanted to run your kit at some other speed than 2666Hz or 2400MHz you can, but you’ll have to manually set all the timings and dial it in yourself.

At the 2400MHz XMP setting you’ll notice that the timings are tighter for better performance as they are now 11-13-13-30 with a command rate of 2T. The XMP settings also changed many of the advanced timing controls from the 2666MHz XMP settings, which is very nice.

Intel XMP memory profiles save a ton of time and get you up and running in a matter of seconds on boards like the Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H!