Wednesday, May 17th 2023

Crucial Launches the Pro Series Memory

Last year, Crucial canned its Ballistix brand of gaming focused memory, but it seems like the company still wants to offer its customers a more premium product, as Crucial has just introduced its new Pro series of memory products. Crucial will offer its new Pro series in both DDR5 and DDR4 flavours at either DDR5-5600 or DDR4-3200 speeds. It should be noted that the DDR4 modules still rely on a green PCB, while the DDR5 modules get the same black PCB as Crucial's regular DDR5 modules. Beyond the heatsink, there isn't much that differs between the Pro series and Crucial's regular modules, but there is one thing that might matter to potential buyers.

Crucial has added support for AMD EXPO and Intel XMP 3.0 to its Pro series of modules. In the case of AMD EXPO this only applies to DDR5 modules, whereas the DDR4 modules support Intel XMP 2.0, in this case a feature its standard DDR4 modules lack. This should make it easier for end users to take advantage of the extra performance offered by some of these modules. That said, as Crucial has stuck to JEDEC timings, taking the Pro DDR5-5600 UDIMM kit as an example, you end up with timings of 46-46-45-45 at 1.1 Volts, where competing products have timings in the range of 36-36-36-36, although usually at 1.25 Volts or higher. Even as far as JEDEC timing goes, Crucial has chosen the middle ground for DDR5 5600, as there is a timing option from JEDEC that supports 40-40-40-40, which would make more sense for a more premium product. Price wise, a 32 GB kit with two 16 GB modules of DD5-5600 modules carries an $11 price premium over Crucials standard modules, with a retail price of US$114.99 versus US$103.99, but there are better options out there at this price point.
Source: Crucial
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44 Comments on Crucial Launches the Pro Series Memory

#26
MachineLearning
R-T-BToo bad their DDR5 is so bad timings wise, their DDR4 lineup was much better. They are bottom barrel in DDR5 land. The last die you want to get saddled with...


I do hope so. I like Crucial as far as having fond memories of them, but right now their chip lineup isn't very competitive OCing wise.
They are at least beginning to improve, with 24Gbit ICs:
www.igorslab.de/en/micron-is-back-corsair-vengeance-2x-24-gb-ddr5-7000-and-5600-kits-test-with-overclocking-and-teardown/4/
Needs much improvement to reach SK Hynix but at least no longer complete trash.
Posted on Reply
#27
JustJohnny
Crucial memory after SDRAM were a dumpster fire of quality and synonymous with Mushkin quality. Close down the brand was the proper decision.
Posted on Reply
#28
R-T-B
JustJohnnyCrucial memory after SDRAM were a dumpster fire of quality and synonymous with Mushkin quality. Close down the brand was the proper decision.
That's a new take I've never heard before, I'll give you that.
Posted on Reply
#29
XDDDant
If this product line focuses on affordability and no-frills low profile DIMMs I think it's another decent option
They just need to get the chips more competitive
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#30
mechtech
Black heat spreaders are nice. What else does PRO version add?? 10 layer pcb? Gotta sell it somehow.
Posted on Reply
#32
Veseleil
So now Micron-E 19nm DDR4 magic under Ballistix brand is a thing to remember, and that was it, eh Crucial? It was too good for the money I guess, instead, sell the rgb gaming labeled garbage to the clueless and call it a day. At least they had the self respect to not do that under the Ballistix name though.
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#33
JustJohnny
R-T-BThat's a new take I've never heard before, I'll give you that.
I'll give you that. Comparison to Mushkin was exaggerated, albeit not by much. Let's just say their DDR Ballistics did not live up to their SDR days, where I happily paid a slight premium for bulletproof compatibility.
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#34
R-T-B
HairyLobstersWhat exactly are JEDEC timings?
Pretty much the worst timings possible. The bare minimum.
Posted on Reply
#35
unwind-protect
JustJohnnyCrucial memory after SDRAM were a dumpster fire of quality and synonymous with Mushkin quality. Close down the brand was the proper decision.
Hey what's wrong with Mushkin?
Posted on Reply
#36
JustJohnny
unwind-protectHey what's wrong with Mushkin?
How much time do you have? I have PTSD from their Green and Black lines from yester years with timing and compatibility issues, separating heat spreaders and warranty claims. SODIMM did not fair any better.
Posted on Reply
#37
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
JustJohnnyCrucial memory after SDRAM were a dumpster fire of quality and synonymous with Mushkin quality. Close down the brand was the proper decision.
Boy you certainly are not that bright.
unwind-protectHey what's wrong with Mushkin?
Never had a problem from Mushkin or Crucial, it was Corsair and Kingston that were troublesome.
Posted on Reply
#38
TheLostSwede
News Editor
HairyLobstersWhat exactly are JEDEC timings?
JEDEC is the industry standards organisation that sets the memory speeds and timings. Prior to DDR5, there was only one set of timings for memory at each speed, but with DDR5, there are A, B and C timings and in this specific case, Crucial went with B timings.
Please see the link below for details.
www.anandtech.com/show/16143/insights-into-ddr5-subtimings-and-latencies
Posted on Reply
#39
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
TheLostSwedeJEDEC is the industry standards organisation that sets the memory speeds and timings. Prior to DDR5, there was only one set of timings for memory at each speed, but with DDR5, there are A, B and C timings and in this specific case, Crucial went with B timings.
Please see the link below for details.
www.anandtech.com/show/16143/insights-into-ddr5-subtimings-and-latencies
I think Crucial is playing it safe for now as DDR5 only launched what less than a year ago I believe.
JustJohnnyI'll give you that. Comparison to Mushkin was exaggerated, albeit not by much. Let's just say their DDR Ballistics did not live up to their SDR days, where I happily paid a slight premium for bulletproof compatibility.
You're full of bullshit. I had Ballistix 4000 and they dropped in fine.
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#40
TheLostSwede
News Editor
eidairaman1I think Crucial is playing it safe for now as DDR5 only launched what less than a year ago I believe.
Might well be, but even the A timings at 5600 is 40-40-40-40 which is not even close to what most other brands sell.
Obviously, Crucial is about compatibility and stability over all else, but it also makes this feel like a poor effort and not at all a replacement for their Ballistix products.
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#41
KrazyT
TheLostSwedeConsidering they offer EXPO and XMP profiles, why would they only stick to JEDEC timings? Obviously it's guaranteed to work, but as a "pro" product, it feels lacklustre.
TheLostSwedeObviously, Crucial is about compatibility and stability over all else, but it also makes this feel like a poor effort and not at all a replacement for their Ballistix products.
You're right here, but the "safe" route taken by Crucial could be a smart move in theses times of troubled hardware.
The "pros" Crucial reffering to, are people in office, labs ... who wants stability & compatibility > perfs ...
It's like i understood the "pro" word :)
Posted on Reply
#42
TheLostSwede
News Editor
KrazyTYou're right here, but the "safe" route taken by Crucial could be a smart move in theses times of troubled hardware.
The "pros" Crucial reffering to, are people in office, labs ... who wants stability & compatibility > perfs ...
It's like i understood the "pro" word :)
Well, it doesn't say Gamer as I mentioned elsewhere in this thread, so yeah.
Posted on Reply
#43
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
KrazyTYou're right here, but the "safe" route taken by Crucial could be a smart move in theses times of troubled hardware.
The "pros" Crucial reffering to, are people in office, labs ... who wants stability & compatibility > perfs ...
It's like i understood the "pro" word :)
Yeah they could be used by OEMs and system Integrators unlike GSkill...
Posted on Reply
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