Crucial Ballistix 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLT2KIT8G3D1608DT1TX0

Pros: Price, fast, maxes out Windows Home Premium (16 GB), heat spreaders

Cons: The ad said 1600 with a CAS latency of 8. Out of the box it looks like it does one or the other. Other RAM in the same price range says 1600 with 10 or sometimes 9 latency. I don't really care; it's fast enough and was a better price at the time.

Pros: Specs are CL8.

Cons: Fails in system. Ran memtest 86 even at CL11 it is failing computer keeps failing. This ram was expensive and doesn't work.

Other Thoughts: I am sure if you get modules that work it is fine ram. I have owned this ram for over 30 days and just put it in a system, and the system was not stable.

Manufacturer Response:

Hello,

Thanks you for your feedback. Your system configuration would be helpful so we can determine if it's an incompatibility, need for an update mother BIOS or other setting. Please contact our support at 1-800-336-8896 or online at www.crucial.com/help with your system configuration details and we will assist you any way we can to get the memory working at their rated speed and timings. There will be some BIOS settings that need to be changed, either enabling XMP or manually in order to reach the rated speed and timings.

Regards,
Crucial

Pros: *Fast
*Good-looking

Cons: *High failure rate

Other Thoughts: From 4 modules that I bought one failed in Memtest x86 in less than a month (originally passed, but later on computer started bluescreening with various memory-related messages and the test allowed to find a culprit). Now the second one failing even more spectacularly. The system with the faulty module in any slot won't even get to the POST messages, it would just keep on rebooting.

No overclocking, manufacturer-specified parameters.

I've never ever had a 50% failure rate for memory and I've assembled a lot of systems both for personal use and at work.

Seriously, Crucial?

Manufacturer Response:

Hello,

Thanks you for your feedback. We're sorry our memory has caused any issues. Please contact our support at 1-800-336-8896 or online at http://www.crucial.com/help . We will do our best to assist you with troublshooting or an RMA if necessary.

Regards,
Crucial

Pros: First off, even with the heat spreaders on the modules look very sleek, not too big or obtrusive like other heat spreaders and most of all it runs very cool. Installation like always is relatively simple, just pop them and your ready to go. Running @ 1600 Mhz 1.5 volts the modules are pretty fast. Used SiSoftware Sandra Lite to measure available bandwidth with these modules installed. Compared to other RAM with the same speed, the lower CAS timings makes this a better buy. Definitely a very good set for all those that are looking for quality RAM.

Cons: None really. Make sure you fix your timings upon first installation.

Other Thoughts: When installing this for the first time, the UEFI picked this up running @ 1333 Mhz with 9-9-9-27. This is set to the automatic JEDEC specs. Go to the UEFI and change it from JEDEC to XMP and it should change it to 1600 Mhz 8-8-8-24 with the same voltage. XMP ftw!

Pros: When it worked it was great :)

Cons: $279 worth of memory failed after only 4 months. After Crucial received it, they sent me a note that they didn't have any in stock to replace it with. Another week later and they had enough stock to send to NewEgg, but don't have any stock allocated to making current customers happy. They can't tell me when they will know when they'll get any. They'll "upgrade shipping" when it comes in... but, having a $2,000 PC sitting collecting dust for a month is disappointing. I am moving to GSkill memory only.

Manufacturer Response:

Hello,

We are terribly sorry to hear you were affected by any inventory levels. Your comments have been passed to the support team, we should have offered some other options for Tactical Tracer or Elite if they were available.

Regard,
Jeremy

Pros: Fair Price, Overclockable, 8-8-8-24. The computer set it automatically at the pre-set settings. I first overclock it at 9-9-9-24, 2100 and it was not stable then I tried 9-9-9-24, 1866 and it runs perfectly.

Cons: None so far

Other Thoughts: I'm Using

ASUS sabertooth 990fx
AMD Phenom II x4 965

Pros: I love crucial memory.

Cons: Fails Memtest86+ in multiple locations after only 4 months. This is at a very conservative CL9 timing... nothing overclocked... Very disappointing when I paid for "Highest Quality" "Highest Speed" memory.

Other Thoughts: We'll see how painful the Crucial RMA process is. Luckily, I had just purchased 32GB of GSkills memory for my other system, so could swap in during the transition.

Pros: When I bought 2 sets of these (for a total of 4 = 2x2x8 GB) I put it to the test. It worked on default and XMP profile settings in all the standard industry benchmarks (Prime95 with settings to test memory for 48 hours, Cinebench, 3D Mark, WinSAT, memtest x86 for 48 hours, gaming, everyday work). Memory was fast, I was young and life was good.

Cons: In a month from purchase my computer started bluescreening with memory-related crash reasons. Tested the SSD first and the test said it was defective. However, moving it to another rig and running the same test (Intel SSD) I found the drive to be perfectly fine. Then I ran memtest x86 and voila -- one of the modules was showing errors at multiple addresses. Tried it in different motherboards and different slots -- same picture. Tried 3 other modules -- no problem at all.

Returned for RMA, life is not so good, I am not that young, waiting for replacement...

Pros: Works as fast as advertised. Recognized by my new MSI system. Low heat spreaders work great with my Noctua C14 HSF. Got them with a great discount from NewEgg.

Cons: None whatsoever.

Other Thoughts: Glad I bought them when I did.

Pros: Ran fine with a minor hiccup. Excellent price.

Cons: See other thoughts.

Other Thoughts: Did not pass memtest+ 4.20 test 6 on two different MB's. A couple of bad addresses. Tested at published timings. Would have liked to have kept the memory but RMA'd. Great pirce on a usually great product.