Successful first attempt? – Acer Predator Talos DDR4-3600 CL18 2x 8 GB Memory Kit | Test with Benchmarks and Teardown

1 - Overview Talos SKUs and Specs 2 - Packaging, Looks and Specs 3 - Teardown and Heatsink-Performance 4 - Test systems and overclocking 5 - AIDA64 Memory and Geekbench 3 6 - Gaming-Performance in Cyberpunk 2077 7 - Final thoughts and conclusion

Has Acer Predator now succeeded in entering the RAM market with the Talos series? As is often the case, the answers lie in the details. The SKUs with their clock rates and timings are based on existing products in the mid-range and high-end segment, so that a suitable variant can be offered for every potential buyer. Such a bold entry into a new market for the brand has to be respected. Now the various SKUs with their different ICs and PCB layouts have to be nicely packaged and above all cooled.

The Talos heatsink is a deliberate attempt to focus on performance, which is achieved primarily through the large mass of the heatsinks. RGB elements are deliberately omitted, so this should also have a positive effect on the price. But the design couldn’t be left completely black and without colored accents and so the white plastic bezels probably found their way onto the heatspreader. Now, aesthetics is a personal matter, but in terms of cooling performance, unfortunately, the insulating bezels could have been spared. Maybe you can start here for a possible Talos version 2, make the accent elements out of metal as well, make them easier to exchange and even customizable – at least that’s my idea.

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And if one should already rework the heatsink design, one could likewise save the bombproof heatsink glue on the PCB rear side, for the benefit of the maintenance and rebuilding friendliness. Since there are also various high-end Talos SKUs, which may also be used for extreme overclocking, I will certainly not remain the last who would like to have the heatsink completely dismantled. But all in all, these are only minor shortcomings that are of little importance in the overall assessment of the design. All in all, the Heatsink design appears well thought-out, flexible, functional and, all in all, surprisingly positive for a newcomer to the market.

The Talos modules also score with their performance and choice of memory chips. Even though this SKU with its relative XMP profile seems relatively inconspicuous at first, BIWIN’s experience in chip packaging and binning shows especially in the overclocking of the modules. Because OC potential for DDR4-4400 at 1.45V and the performance that comes with it is definitely not a given for Micron RevE ICs, especially in this market segment. Speaking of which, unfortunately we haven’t been given a suggested retail price yet. However, comparable kits with Micron RevE are in the range around, and just under 100 euros.

If the Acer Predator Talos DDR4-3600 CL16 2x 8 GB kit should also be listed there, you can buy it without hesitation. In conclusion, the Acer Talos product series can be called a successful entry into the RAM market. While there are minor areas for improvement, as is often the case with a version 1, overall the Predator modules make a very positive first impression. So we can be optimistic and excited about the future of Acer Predator as a memory brand.

The RAM kit was provided to us by BIWIN without obligation, requirement to publish. Moreover, no influence on the tests and their results was exerted.