Memory Performance Results

Test System

I've recently built a new system for memory testing, and I spent about 8 weeks playing with multiple Haswell CPUs and multiple Z87-based motherboards before settling on the configuration used for all testing. Due to memory overclocking in part being limited by CPU speeds, I've chosen to run all testing with my Intel Core i7-4770K running at default speeds, although I did enable ASUS's performance-optimized turbo profiling feature. All kits are tested by simply enabling XMP in the BIOS after clearing the CMOS fully. I also clear the CMOS when I swap kits to ensure that the numbers reported are identical to what end users can obtain using a similar configuration.


Getting the Crucial Ballistix Sport 1866 MHz 8 GB kit booted up the first time was easy on all motherboards, but they booted right up with what I thought was "XMP enabled" in the BIOS, matching the listed specifications without any intervention on my part. Timings in ASUS's MemTweakIt utility matched what was listed in the SPD, something I did not expected at all. A closer inspection of the XMP and "JEDEC" listings in the Ballistix Sport XT's SPD showed that they matched perfectly, making the "XMP" part of their certification more of a gimmick than anything else. I tried installing them into several other motherboards and had it happen again, so I made a mental note to keep these modules in mind when playing with newer AMD systems. All of AMD's latest support at least 1866 MHz right out of the box--the A10-6800K even supports 2133 MHz. AMD's latest was perhaps Crucial's main focus with this release.