The Trident Z5 Neo RGB memory family from G.Skill is primarily designed for AMD platforms. The range is broad, especially when it comes to dual-channel kits.

The manufacturer plays with several parameters: frequency, timings, and capacity. At the time of writing this review, capacities range from 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) up to 128 GB (2 x 64 GB), with intermediate options of 96 GB (2 x 48 GB), 64 GB (2 x 32 GB), and 48 GB (2 x 24 GB). In this review, Tech2Geek tested one of the flagship kits: the Trident Z5 Neo RGB 128 GB DDR5-6000 CL34.

Such a RAM configuration targets high-end PCs dedicated to extreme gaming and content creation. We tested it on a Ryzen 9 9950X3D platform paired with a Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master motherboard and a Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming OC.

Kit Overview

This 128 GB kit is available in three variants. All run at DDR5-6000, with the difference lying in the timings. G.Skill offers CL34, CL32, and CL36 versions. The CL36 variant operates at 1.25V, compared to 1.4V and 1.35V for the others.

Our kit is rated at CL34-44-44-96. It includes both EXPO (AMD) and XMP (Intel) profiles to simplify BIOS configuration. Simply select the profile, and all settings are applied automatically.

📌 Note: EXPO stands for Extended Profiles for Overclocking. Without enabling it, the default configuration runs at DDR5-5600.

With EXPO enabled, the kit is configured at DDR5-6000, timings 34-44-44-96, with DRAM voltage at 1.35V.

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CPU-Z under Windows 11 confirms this setup.

Each module features a large heatsink sandwiching the black PCB. Made of brushed aluminum, it balances sporty aesthetics with smooth, elegant lines.

On top, a translucent light bar diffuses RGB lighting. Colors and effects can be customized through motherboard software or G.Skill’s Trident Z Lighting Control app. Synchronization is also supported with Asus Aura, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, MSI Mystic Light, and ASRock Polychrome Sync.

Test Protocol

Test Bench

  • Motherboard: Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master (BIOS F9a)
  • CPU: Ryzen 9 9950X3D
  • GPU: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming OC
  • Storage: Samsung 990 Pro 1 TB
  • PSU: NZXT C1500 Platinum
  • Cooling: 360 mm AIO (Cooler Master)
  • OS: Windows 11 Pro 24H2 64-bit

Benchmarks Used

  • AIDA64 Extreme
  • Blender Benchmark 4.2
  • Audio encoding
  • Cinebench 2024
  • PCMark 10
  • File compression: 7-Zip 23.01 (LZMA2) & WinRAR 7
  • Video encoding (HandBrake) – 6.27 GB source video (4K, H.264) → ~1.48 GB output (1080p, H.264)
  • Gaming (1440p, max settings, no DLSS):
    • Far Cry 6
    • Shadow of the Tomb Raider
    • Cyberpunk 2077
    • Star Wars Outlaws
    • Kingdom Come Deliverance II

Synthetic Performance

AIDA64 Extreme

This tool measures memory bandwidth and latency.

  • Compared to DDR5-5600, the DDR5-6000 kit improves bandwidth by +5.1 GB/s in read and +3.7 GB/s in write.
  • G.Skill’s DDR5-6000 CL28 kit (2 x 16 GB) does slightly better in read bandwidth thanks to tighter timings, with latency at 78.8 ns versus 90.2 ns for our CL34 kit.

PCMark 10

This benchmark evaluates overall system performance across productivity, digital creation, and daily workloads.

  • Both DDR5-6000 kits (2 x 16 GB and 2 x 64 GB) scored similarly.
  • The 128 GB kit led in Essentials (+0.8%) and Productivity (+3.5%), while it fell slightly behind in Digital Content Creation (-0.9%).
  • Against DDR5-5600, gains can exceed 5%, especially in content creation tasks handling large datasets.
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Real-World Performance

Cinebench 2024

Compared to DDR5-5600, DDR5-6000 delivers about +5% higher scores. Both DDR5-6000 kits perform nearly identically.

Blender 4.2

Gains are modest (~+1%) versus DDR5-5600, with no difference between 2 x 16 GB and 2 x 64 GB kits since the scenes tested did not exceed 32 GB memory usage.

File Compression

Compression of 198 photos (1.07 GB):

  • The DDR5-6000 CL28 kit was fastest thanks to lower timings.
  • Our DDR5-6000 CL34 kit came second.
  • DDR5-5600 lagged behind with several seconds longer processing time.

Video Encoding (HandBrake)

  • The DDR5-6000 CL34 2 x 64 GB kit achieved the fastest encoding time.
  • 1 second faster than DDR5-6000 2 x 16 GB.
  • 2 seconds faster than DDR5-5600.

Audio Encoding

Conversion of 10 MP3s to AAC in iTunes:

  • DDR5-6000 kits were tied.
  • DDR5-5600 was about 1 second slower.

Gaming Performance

At 1440p, max settings (RTX 4090):

  • DDR5-6000 provided ~+2% FPS gains over DDR5-5600.
  • DDR5-6000 2 x 16 GB and 2 x 64 GB kits showed nearly identical performance (~0.3% difference).

Temperatures

Tested in open-air conditions, modules reached 50–68 °C depending on workload. This is relatively high, so strong case airflow is recommended.

Conclusion

With the Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 128 GB kit, G.Skill delivers a premium memory solution that combines massive capacity, refined aesthetics, and solid performance.

✅ Strengths:

  • Noticeable bandwidth gains vs DDR5-5600
  • Performance boosts in content creation, video encoding, and file compression
  • Elegant RGB lighting, customizable and well-integrated
  • EXPO/XMP profiles simplify setup

⚠️ Weaknesses:

  • Only marginal improvements over smaller DDR5-6000 kits in gaming and everyday workloads
  • High operating temperatures under load
  • Expensive, with benefits best suited to heavy data workloads
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👉 In summary: This kit is tailored for content creators, professionals, and enthusiasts handling massive projects who need both speed and very high capacity. For standard gaming or office use, the performance gains over smaller kits are minimal. It’s an XXL RAM solution for those who want future-proof memory with a premium design — but beware of heat.

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