SWTOR Hoth Red Matrix Shard Location Guide

The Red Matrix Shards are remnant relics of the Infinite Empire and no longer useful. Once they were used to create your first relics at the game's launch. Now it's simply part of the Datacron Master Achievement along with codex: Galactic History 66: The Jedi Covenant. There are 5 Datacrons in total located on the planet of Hoth.

Datacrons are collectables scattered around the galaxy in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Each Datacron contributes towards your Legacy's passive stats permanently. Furthermore, they also provide interesting Lore and Codex Entries about the Old Republic era.

This Datacron is located south of Leth Outpost in Highmount Ridge, but before you go there, you will need to purchase an item at your local Cantina Vendor, called Hydro-Thinner for 18,000 credits.

Imperial Cantina Vendor:

Republic Cantina Vendor:

Now travel to Highmount Ridge, and follow the dotted path south of Leth Outpost.
Datacron coordinates: -736, 1703.

Use the Hydro-Thinner to thaw the ice and uncover your Datacron. It will take a few seconds.
Pro tip: You can sell the item straight after using it and get your 18,000 credits back. It is not bound and you don't need it again.

This will grant you a Red Matrix Shard, which is no longer useful, but is simply part of the Legacy achievement towards Datacron Master, along with the codex: Galactic History 66: The Jedi Covenant.

This datacron holds unheard of power and knowledge collected by an ancient race. You access its power and discover writings which are clearly only one small piece of a massive galactic history:

The fall of Exar Kun and the destruction caused by the Great Sith War weighed heavily on the consciences of many Jedi. The Jedi seer Krynda Draay, who had lost her husband in the conflict, blamed herself for not foreseeing Exar Kun's corruption as a Sith Lord and decided to take action. Having trained the order's visionaries for years, she secretly created a Jedi Covenant without the Council's knowledge, binding the most powerful Jedi seers into a WatchCircle.

The Covenant's task was simple: Watch for Sith influences and eliminate them before they became a threat. Funded by Krynda Draay's vast family wealth, the Covenant quietly recruited Jedi--usually those believed missing in action--as its shadows and operatives and sought out Sith artifacts to destroy. Meanwhile, its seers remained vigilant, watching through the Force for any approaching evil.