Verdict: Very fast overclockable RAM at a bargaintastic price.

OCZ currently produces several different series of high-speed DDR2 modules, which are differentiated by their speeds, latency timings and cooling systems.

Sitting near the top of this list, the Reaper HPC is distinguishable by its inclusion of a 'heat pipe conduit', as OCZ calls it. This feature comprises a copper heatpipe and aluminium heatsink, and is supposed to help cool the RAM. However, as the heatspreader to which the heatpipe is attached is only glued onto the plastic top of the DRAMs, it's debatable how much extra cooling the heatpipe and heatsink provide.

What we do know for certain, however, is that this Reaper kit is rated as PC2-8500 RAM, so it's guaranteed to run at up to 1,066MHz at 5-5-5-15 latency timings. Even better, the Reaper HPC is very overclockable, and was happy to run at an astounding 1.23GHz when we increased its input voltage from 2.3V to 2.5V.

While the Reaper HPC heatspreader is more of a gimmick than a genuinely beneficial cooling method, the entire kit is barely any more expensive than the OCZ PC2-8500 SLI-Ready Edition, and even more overclockable. As such, it's the ideal memory for unlocking the overclocking potential of your PC.

• Gaming Headsets - 26th September 2008
• Dream PCs - 24th September 2008
• Headphones - 12th September 2008
• Media PC components - 22nd August 2008
• PSUs - 14th July 2008
• Multi-GPU graphics - 20th June 2008
• CPU water cooling - 17th June 2008

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• DFI Lanparty DK P45-T2RS PLUS - Motherboards
• Hyundai W240D-PVA - TFT monitors
• Intel X25-M Mainstream SATA SSD - Hard disks / storage
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky - Games
• LanCool Metal-Boned K10 - Cases
• Asus Maximus II Formula - Motherboards