TeamGroup is no stranger when it comes to high performance PC hardware. They are usually trend setters and be as it may, have released some of the coolest gaming products that kept our eyes peeled for more.
Now what we have here for review is the T-Force Vulcan Z memory kit. It is one of their latest DDR4 memory kits featuring support for both Intel and AMD platforms with 2666 MHz to 3200 MHz of frequency. It comes at 4 GB single and up to 32 GB dual as well. Ours is the 16 GB variant in 2x 8 GB @ 3000 MHz configuration with a price point of around $60 USD. This is certainly one of those value oriented T-Force products and is the complete opposite of the sub-brand’s usual offerings.
Table of Contents:
Technical Specifications
| Memory | |
| Compatibility | Intel, AMD, XMP 2.0 |
| Type | DDR4 |
| Capacity | 16 GB (2x 8 GB) |
| Frequency | 3000 MHz |
| Timings | 16-18-18-38 |
| Voltage | 1.35v |
| Format | NON-ECC, Unbuffered |
| Heatsink Material | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 140 mm |
| Width | 7 mm |
| Height | 32 mm |
| Weight | 110 g |
Packaging and Accessories
The T-Force Vulcan Z comes inside your usual off-the shelf blister pack. It comes with the following bundled accessories:
- Product Warranty pamphlet
- T-Force case badge
Design, Layout and Build Quality
The TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z comes in two color ways: Gun Metal and Red. We obviously have the latter, which is not bad at all. The brushed aluminum finish on this one is subtle compared to others, while the anodization is just spotless. Of course, the Black PCB added a good contrast between the metallic parts as well.
Height is about 32mm, with a thickness of 7 mm. That’s technically the standard profile yet it is low profile enough by this generation’s current standards. It will definitely fit on the majority of systems with tower and down draft coolers considered. Compatibility is one of its major strong points.
Each Vulcan Z stick features a single rank module. Appears to be made by TeamGroup themselves too and comes in 8 chips per rank. That’s 1 GB of unbuffered non-ECC memory per chip.
All memory modules on our review has been tested with MemTest86 prior to testing. This one passed that test perfectly on our Z170 test system at its rated XMP frequency.
Test Setup and Methodology
The performance of the system shall be evaluated by various benchmarking tools and applications. We are testing this system with the high-performance settings enabled at the OS, with the default UEFI configuration. Background processes such as anti-virus and third-party applications are disabled as well. Outlined below are the applications and benchmark tools for reference:
| Test System Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Core-i5 6600K |
| Motherboard | ASUS Z170-A |
| Cooler | Noctua NH-L9i |
| Memory | ADATA Premier DDR4 |
| GPU | ASUS ROG Strix GTX 1060 OC |
| Storage | Crucial BX200 480 GB |
| Case | Thermaltake Core P3 |
| PSU | CORSAIR RM850X |
| Display | DELL U2715H |
| OS | Microsoft Windows 10 Pro |
SYNTHETIC PERFORMANCE:
- Super PI – 32M Calculations
- wPrime – 32M and 1024M Calculations
- AIDA64 Extreme Edition – Memory Benchmark
PRODUCTIVITY PERFORMANCE:
- GIMP – 7 MB worth of image processing
- HandBrake – 150 MB MP4 to H.264 video encoding
- WinRAR – Internal benchmark tool
GAMING PERFORMANCE:
- Battlefield 4 – Ultra Settings | V-SYNC off
- DIRT: Rally – Ultra Settings | V-SYNC off
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Ultra Settings | HairWorks off | V-SYNC off
Synthetic Performance
Super PI is a single-threaded program that calculates pi to a specified number of digits after the decimal point. It is a widely used benchmark within the industry.
WPrime is a multi-threaded program that calculates a set number of square roots. It verifies the results by squaring them, then compares it with the original numbers.
The AIDA64 Memory Benchmark measure the data transfer bandwidth and latency of the system memory.
The T-Force Vulcan Z is a proper 3000 MHz kit, able to keep up with the other memory module with the same frequency. It has a slightly looser timings though which is reflected on the synthetics.
Productivity Performance
GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free and open-source image editing tool. A 7 MB worth of images is be processed and converted to gauge the system performance.
HandBrake is a free video encoding tool that supports a wide variety of media codecs. A 150 MB worth MP4 video is converted using the H.264 codec to gauge the system performance.
WinRAR is a file archive utility that can create, view and unpack numerous archive file formats. The software’s built in benchmark tool is utilized to gauge the system performance.
The real world benchmarks replicates the synthetic benchmark results we’ve got for the Vulcan Z. Nothing is out of place here and is actually pretty convincing that when two modules with the same frequency are compared, the timing will dictate what is faster.
Gaming Performance
Battlefield 4 is Electronic Art’s popular First Person Shooter, running on the Frostbite 3 game engine developed by DICE. It utilizes the DirectX 11 and the Mantle API.
DIRT: Rally is CODEMASTER’s take on the rally racing game genre. It utilizes the EGO game engine with support for the DirectX 11 API.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is CDProjekt RED’s award-winning Action Adventure RPG. The Witcher 3 utilizes the REDengine 3 with DirectX 11 support.
Gaming performance is just where we expected it to be. Frequency is king when it comes to gaming.
Final thoughts
The T-Force Vulcan Z is TeamGroup’s attempt at a value oriented DDR4 memory module with performance in mind and they delivered. It is certainly not the fastest nor the flashiest 3000 MHz kit out there though but we really cannot deny its rock solid performance.
Now there’s nothing extraordinary with this kit – with the exception of its price point. More color options would be appreciated and a slightly lower Z height would definitely appeal to system builders as well.
Price wise, we are looking at a 16 GB kit of two 8 GB sticks at $59.99 USD. That’s about 3, 000 Pesos locally for the available color variants. If you are looking for a plug and play memory kit that wont break the bank then this one should fit the bill.
TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z 3000MHZ DDR4 Review
Summary
The T-Force Vulcan Z is TeamGroup’s attempt at a value oriented DDR4 memory module with performance in mind and they delivered. It is certainly not the fastest nor the flashiest 3000 MHz kit out there though but we really cannot deny its rock solid performance.
Pros
- Rock solid synthetic performance
- Excellent build quality
- Low profile design
- Competitive price point
Cons
- Limited color options
