Kingston KTH-PL556S8-16G 16GB 5600MHz PC5-44800 CL46 ECC Memory

Core Specifications

Key Details

This product category centers on the following key technical specifications: 16GB capacity, 5600MHz (PC5-44800) data rate, CL46 latency, ECC protection, single-rank x8 organization, 1.1V operating voltage, DDR5 SDRAM architecture, and a 288-pin RDIMM form factor. Each element contributes to overall system behavior—capacity affects working set size, data rate determines raw bandwidth, CAS latency influences access timing, ECC provides error detection and correction, and single-rank x8 topology determines channel population and compatibility with server memory controllers.

Capacity: 16GB

A 16GB module is often chosen as a balance between cost, density, and memory slot utilization. For servers with many DIMM sockets, 16GB modules allow flexible capacity scaling—supporting configurations from modest memory footprints to large total pool sizes depending on the number of populated channels and sockets. In virtualization and containerized environments where many small VMs are hosted, using 16GB modules lets administrators right-size memory per VM while keeping upgrade paths open.

Speed: 5600MHz (PC5-44800)

The 5600MHz specification (also referred to as PC5-44800) indicates the module’s peak theoretical bandwidth per DIMM and positions it among higher-frequency DDR5 offerings. For memory-bound tasks—such as large in-memory databases, analytics, scientific computing, and high-throughput packet processing—this speed delivers measurable improvements over lower-frequency DDR5 parts, particularly in multi-threaded, multi-channel server designs.

Latency: CL46

CL46 represents the column access strobe (CAS) latency value. In DDR5, raw frequencies are higher, and latencies are often numerically larger than older DDR generations. The practical effect is that while CL46 may appear higher, the overall performance depends on both latency and bandwidth. For throughput-oriented server workloads the bandwidth advantage of 5600MHz typically outweighs the modest increase in CAS cycles, resulting in faster overall data movement.

ECC

ECC is a critical differentiator for server-class memory. ECC modules detect and correct single-bit errors and detect multi-bit errors, protecting data integrity in long-running systems where memory errors—caused by cosmic rays, electrical noise, or silicon defects—could otherwise corrupt data or cause crashes. For mission-critical applications (databases, virtualization, financial systems), ECC memory reduces risks associated with silent data corruption and unplanned downtime.

Module Topology

Single rank x8 indicates the organization of the memory chips on the module and affects how the memory controller addresses the DIMM. Single-rank modules can offer advantages in some server platforms in terms of signal integrity and supported speeds when compared to multi-rank modules. The x8 chip configuration also suggests 8-bit wide devices composing the module’s data path—common in enterprise RDIMM designs.

Voltage

Operating at 1.1V aligns with DDR5’s lower nominal voltage compared to previous DDR generations. Reduced voltage helps with power efficiency across large memory arrays typical in servers, lowering thermal output and contributing to reduced cooling and energy costs over time—an important consideration for hyperscale deployments and energy-conscious data centers.

Form Factor

The 288-pin RDIMM form factor signals the module’s physical and electrical pinout used in many server platforms. As a registered module (RDIMM), it contains an onboard register/buffer between the DRAM devices and the memory controller, which improves signal integrity for large memory configurations and enables higher-capacity and denser memory populations across multiple channels and sockets.

Performance Characteristics

Bandwidth vs. Latency: Understanding the Trade-Offs

For server workloads, raw bandwidth is often the limiting factor—especially for multi-threaded applications, large dataset analytics, and memory streaming operations. The Kingston KTH-PL556S8-16G’s 5600MHz data rate increases the amount of data that can flow per second, reducing bottlenecks in memory-bound code paths. While CL46 represents a higher CAS number compared with lower-speed memory, the net effect for throughput-heavy tasks is improved performance due to the larger amount of data transferred each cycle.

Database and In-Memory Processing

Databases (both relational and NoSQL) and in-memory caches benefit greatly from increased memory throughput. Faster DIMMs reduce time spent paging data in and out, lower query latencies for large result sets, and improve transaction throughput. Servers running in-memory databases (or large buffer pools) will see improved aggregate performance when paired with high-frequency ECC RDIMMs.

Virtualization and Hyperconverged Infrastructures

Virtualization platforms (hypervisors) and hyperconverged nodes that host many VMs or containers rely on consistent memory performance and large capacities. The combination of ECC protection (for reliability), moderate 16GB density (for flexible VM sizing), and 5600MHz speed (for throughput) makes these modules an attractive choice for node-level memory composition in cloud and private cloud environments.

Compatibility

Checking Platform Support

Before purchasing and deploying modules from this category, check the server or motherboard vendor’s Qualified Vendor List (QVL) and memory support matrix. Compatibility depends on memory controller support for DDR5 RDIMM operation, maximum supported frequency per DIMM population, and rank/topology limitations. Although the module’s physical 288-pin RDIMM format aligns with many server sockets, BIOS and firmware support determine the achievable speeds and timings when multiple modules and CPU sockets are in use.

Population Guidelines and Channel Balancing

For optimal performance, populate memory channels in balanced configurations as defined by the server vendor—this often means installing identical modules across slots to enable interleaving and maximize throughput. Single-rank modules are typically friendly to higher speeds in many platforms, but mixing ranks or capacities across channels can reduce achievable clock rates or memory interleaving benefits.

Mixing Memory Types: Best Practices

Mixing different speeds, timings, or non-ECC and ECC modules is generally discouraged in production servers. The memory controller will usually downclock to the slowest module, and mixing ECC and non-ECC memory can disable error-correction capabilities. To maintain predictable behavior and full reliability benefits, standardize on the same Kingston RDIMM part or matched kits across a system.

Use Cases

Ideal Workloads

This category suits a wide range of enterprise workloads:

• Virtualization hosts — multiple VMs or containers per host where memory density and ECC reliability are required.
• Database servers — for buffer pools, transaction processing, and analytic queries that benefit from bandwidth.
• Web and application servers — session caching and high-concurrency tasks.
• High-performance compute (HPC) nodes — memory bandwidth-sensitive compute tasks such as simulations and data transforms.
• Edge and telco equipment — where reliability and resistance to intermittent errors are important for continuous operation.

Comparisons

When comparing the Kingston KTH-PL556S8-16G modules to alternatives, consider these vectors:

• Capacity vs. cost: 16GB strikes a middle ground—more affordable than large 32GB/64GB modules but higher density than 8GB parts.
• Speed vs. latency: 5600MHz provides bandwidth advantages over lower-speed RDIMMs; CL46 latency is typical for that frequency tier.
• ECC vs. non-ECC: ECC modules offer superior data integrity and are preferable in production server environments.
• Registered (RDIMM) vs. unbuffered (UDIMM) vs. LRDIMM: RDIMM is often the default for balanced capacity and performance; LRDIMMs support even higher capacities per DIMM at the cost of different electrical characteristics.

Wrap-Up

The Kingston KTH-PL556S8-16G 16GB 5600MHz PC5-44800 CL46 ECC Single Rank X8 1.1V DDR5 SDRAM 288-Pin Rdimm Server Memory Module category serves IT teams who require a combination of bandwidth, reliability, and reasonable capacity per DIMM. Whether building new servers, refreshing existing nodes, or stocking replacements for deployed systems, this class of RDIMM offers an attractive blend of DDR5 performance and ECC protection for scale-up and virtualization workloads. Carefully match module selection with server vendor compatibility lists, population guidelines, and capacity planning to ensure the memory subsystem delivers the expected throughput and reliability for your applications.