Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR3 PC3-12800 6GB kit

 

 

 
 

Setting the memory up presented no problems at all with our test rig. With just a few BIOS tweaks, we were up and running at the Ballistix stock settings of 8-8-8-24 @ 1600MHz. As you can see above the 'Tracer' effect of the ram is very domineering. The modules have four sets of LED's, two 'dormant' sets at the base of the modules which light up the memory slot. These do not move and simply glow. Then the top of the module has two rows of eight "chasing" green LEDs atop the module, pulsating out from the centre in a random pattern based on memory utilisation. A custom-designed circuit relays bus activity to the LEDs, allowing them to accurately reflect usage of each memory module. Think 70's Sci-Fi control panel and you are almost there. One can only assume that the different coloured heatsinks (Red, Blue and Green) would be matched by the same colour LED's but don't quote me on that. I personally like the effect the tracer LED's give off but then I always was a sucker for gimmicks!
 

For testing the memory we used a number of synthetic benchmarks and games:

 

 
For the run of benchmarks, we will be comparing the 1600MHz 6GB Crucial Ballistix Tracer to the MuskinXP, Patriot Viper and Corsair Dominator kit.
 
 

 

Starting from scratch we disabled on the settings that may affect the overclocked settings such as Intel Speed Step as well as disabling the C-State settings which may also affect some of the results in the benchmark testing phase of the review. Here's how the sticks look at stock speed: