More memory for our motherboards? Why not. 2GB was the standard not long ago with Windows XP. Vista brought about 4GB for the most part, and now it's not terribly uncommon for 4GB to be the minimum, with many people sporting 6GB in triple-channel mode on an X58 LGA1366 motherboard. So what about 12GB, who needs that? Probably those who feel the need to brag, or more likely those that use workstation-type applications that are notorious for being black hole for memory.

Today we are looking at just that, with 12GB of Kingston HyperX DDR3-1600 on the bench in a 6 x 2GB configuration. That's a whole lot of RAM, no doubt. Typically such setups are built for stability, as experiencing a crash during the middle of a 5-hour rendering session is unacceptable. Fair enough. But what about overclocking, why not push those 12GB? Why not, indeed.

Let's take a closer look at these 12GB of Kingston sticks, we'll not only be pitting them against 12GB from another manufacturer, but we'll also strap on our overclocking gloves to see see how far 6 sticks and a boatload of memory can go.

Thanks go to Kingston Technology for supplying the review sample.

Founded in 1987 with a single product offering, Kingston® Technology now offers more than 2,000 memory products that support nearly every device that uses memory, from computers, servers and printers to MP3 players, digital cameras and cell phones. In 2007, the company's sales exceeded $4.5 billion. With global headquarters in Fountain Valley, California, Kingston employs more than 4,500 people worldwide. Regarded as one of the “Best Companies to Work for in America” by Fortune magazine, Kingston’s tenets of respect, loyalty, flexibility and integrity create an exemplary corporate culture. Kingston believes that investing in its people is essential, and each employee is a vital part of Kingston’s success.