Verdict and Conclusion
I have to say, I was little disappointed with the overall performance of the Crucial Ballistix Elite 16GB DDR4-3000 CL16 Memory Kit. With XMP profiles 2.0 selected, sure I got DDR4-3000 speed as reported, but this didn’t reflect in the results of our tests. I’m not sure whether it’s a compatibility issue with the motherboard, so I’m pretty baffled as I didn’t get the same with other DDR4 modules.
There may be some clues as to why. Firstly, the memory chips identified in these modules are made by SEC (Samsung Semiconductor) with the markings SEC601 K4A4G085WEBCPB, which according to the spec sheet shows that these memory ICs are actually rated at DDR4-2400. This leads me to believe that Crucial has taken these DDR4-2400 memory chips, and pre-overclocked them to DDR4-3000 … that’s why the voltages seem a little high at 1.35v. Most DDR4 modules I’ve come across operate at a lower voltage of 1.2v. Even so, they should run at DDR4-3000 speeds … but our results show otherwise.
However having said, our overclocking results actually tells a different and better story. We mildly overclock the modules to DDR4-3200, that’s an increase of 100Mhz to 1600Mhz. Voltages were left untouched at 1.35v as well as the memory timings of 15-16-16-35. At this speed, we got some pretty decent results from our benchmark tests.
Performance aside, I can said that the build quality of these modules are pretty solid. The “menacing military” look from those nice black heat spreaders and PCB, make them aesthetically pleasing. According to Crucial, these kits are optimized for the latest Intel platforms and they come with life-time warranty.
Pricewise, the Crucial Ballistix Elite 16GB DDR4-3000 CL16 Memory Kit will cost you around USD $150.00, which is attractively affordable. However, make sure you double check the compatibility of these modules with your motherboard to avoid unwanted results. Buy now at Amazon – https://goo.gl/chRQHh
Pros:
- Great looks
- Nice heatspeaders and black PCB
- Solid build quality
Cons:
- Questionable performance at default speeds.
Final Thoughts
The Crucial Ballistix Elite 16GB DDR4-3000 CL16 Memory Kits offers great looks, solid build quality, with modest but decent overclocking performance. However, if you’re after real break-neck performance, you may want to look at other DDR4 kits on the market.
