Ballistix Elite 3466 MHz DDR4

[cadaveca]

Ballistix Elite DDR4 sticks have been granted a speed bump all the way up to 3466 MHz. We take the 8 GB DIMMs for a spin on Intel's Z270 platform because these sticks are still too Elite for AMD systems.

Show full review

 

[Sabishii Hito]

More B-Die!!!!1111ONE

Well hopefully these will cost less than the likes of Corsair and G.Skill.

 

[buggalugs]

I havent seen Crucial Ballistix at my local computer stores for years. They pretty much stock only Gskill, Corsair and Kingston these days.

 

[Chaitanya]

From the pics it seems like it's possible to remove those screws and have right orientation of labels(if someone is OCD about such things). Otherwise I dont think those labels are a big issue. Also how is missing leds a CON? Crucial has a RGB tracer ram on its way soon so if someone wants a RGB ram they can simply wait for couple of weeks.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I havent seen Crucial Ballistix at my local computer stores for years. They pretty much stock only Gskill, Corsair and Kingston these days.

Might be because Crucial mostly sells memory direct online these days?

 

[cadaveca]

From the pics it seems like it's possible to remove those screws and have right orientation of labels(if someone is OCD about such things). Otherwise I dont think those labels are a big issue. Also how is missing leds a CON? Crucial has a RGB tracer ram on its way soon so if someone wants a RGB ram they can simply wait for couple of weeks.

Those cons don't always have an impact on score. They are just things to consider. So, yeah, you can swap he tops for sure (I've done it before), asnd yeah, no LEDs area con these days when everything has LEDs and you don't. And yes, RGB Ballistix are inbound.

 

[Mistral]

Any chance you can include memory tests on Ryzen in the future? We know the stuff will work on Intel, and the AMD results will likely be more lively.

 

[cadaveca]

Any chance you can include memory tests on Ryzen in the future? We know the stuff will work on Intel, and the AMD results will likely be more lively.

Ryzen memory clocking is a mixed bag. I have one Ryzen-ready kit for board testing, and was thinking of doing a review, yet since the Ryzen IMC favors certain ICs, what would I actually be doing the review for?

I mean, I most definitely could test Ryzen systems, but the only data I would be giving in such a situation is whether the board I'm using is ready, and not the Ryzen platform itself, or the memory.

(And yes, I do test all kits on Ryzen, but not ready to write about it yet, for the reason mentioned above.)

 

[Woomack]

Any chance you can include memory tests on Ryzen in the future? We know the stuff will work on Intel, and the AMD results will likely be more lively.

I was testing this memory on Ryzen ~2 months ago and it's still in my Ryzen gaming rig. There are no issues at 3200 14-14-14 1.35V on ASUS/Gigabyte/Biostar but as I said, I was testing it before new AGESA release so I had no chance to test it above 3200. There is new BIOS for my Biostar ITX board but I had no time to check it yet.

Here is forum thread with some of my tests made in March:
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/...te-2x8GB-DDR4-3466-BLE2K8G4D34AEEAK?p=8001298

 

[vega22]

i see the lack of lights as a plus point

just saying

 

[Zeed]

Ryzen memory clocking is a mixed bag. I have one Ryzen-ready kit for board testing, and was thinking of doing a review, yet since the Ryzen IMC favors certain ICs, what would I actually be doing the review for?

I mean, I most definitely could test Ryzen systems, but the only data I would be giving in such a situation is whether the board I'm using is ready, and not the Ryzen platform itself, or the memory.

(And yes, I do test all kits on Ryzen, but not ready to write about it yet, for the reason mentioned above.)

Ye but how do we know if it even works with Ryzen at all ??

 

[cadaveca]

Ye but how do we know if it even works with Ryzen at all ??

I cannot go and say a product not on QVL and not made for a platform works fine, in an official context, as I do not want to misguide someone into purchasing the wrong stuff. I take doing reviews very seriously, and strive to not give information that may cause issues. That is in part why my OC voltage recommendations have been called "conservative". I make sure, when giving advice, that it applies to all situations, or is in a very specific context.

In a direct answer to your question, all DDR4 memory works with Ryzen, the question that remains is whether the memory can work at its "rated" speed, and the board and BIOS used play a huge role in that.


See me not posting AMD board reviews? OEMs aren't sending them to me. Perhaps there is something they don't want me to say? I dunno...

 

[ps000000]

B-Die is good.

 

[cellar door]

How about min fps in the chart? You talk about it in the conclusion and rightly so. I think it be a good addition to just a number(is it high low, avg?)

 

[Sabishii Hito]

B-Die is good.

True, though it has a habit of dying suddenly. I've received quite a few DOA B-Die sticks myself. On the other hand it is the best clocking DDR4 IC to date. The Crucials could be a gem since they don't have any SKUs higher than 3466 so the binning likely isn't as tight as G.Skill's/Corsair's etc.

 

[Woomack]

My kit can make 4200+ at more relaxed timings but doesn't like really tight timings at 3733+ ( 12-12-12 or something near ). On the other hand it works better on Ryzen boards than any G.Skill or anything else that I have and is easier to stabilize at 3200+.
So far I had no dead Samsung B and I was testing them up to 2V+. Right now I have 7 kits and many others were sold. Some don't like higher voltages.

 

[Ubersonic]

If you undo the screws can you remove the heat sink bits on the top? Thus making the RAM regular sized.

 

[cadaveca]

If you undo the screws can you remove the heat sink bits on the top? Thus making the RAM regular sized.

It will shorten the ram a wee bit, but not a lot. The sides extend up under the top cover a bit.