Crucial Ballistix Tracer Red PC-6400 4GB kit - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 17th Mar 2008, 07:45

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200..._pc-6400_4gb/1

4GB kits are swiftly becoming the choice of gamers and enthusiasts - and since prices have dropped considerably for DDR2, it makes upgrading all that much sweeter. We look at Crucial's new Ballistix Tracer modules, which are now available all in red.

Sark.inc · 17th Mar 2008, 10:18

Quote:

he standard Ballistix Tracer 4GB in black competes with a few of the funkier OCZ modules shown above

i don't see any pictures of the OCZ ????

Bindibadgi · 17th Mar 2008, 10:40

Sorry, I meant "linked above".

naokaji · 17th Mar 2008, 10:45

having a 2GB kit in the mix to compare performance to the 4GB ones would have been nice... anyway, nice review of a good product, shame that it doesnt oc like the legendary D9GMH / D9GMX ram though.

Bindibadgi · 17th Mar 2008, 11:29

There's plenty of 2GB memory reviews out there already and we've planned to do a specific "Is more memory better" review in a few weeks

Cupboard · 17th Mar 2008, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi

we've planned to do a specific "Is more memory better" review in a few weeks

Sounds good

Could you do a comparison using 4GB on a 32bit OS as well? That would be really great

Tidy_Boy · 17th Mar 2008, 11:44

"4GB on a 32bit"

That would be ok if 32bit OS could use all of it

sam.g.taylor · 17th Mar 2008, 12:34

How dare ye misspell Corsair! (Check the charts)

HandMadeAndroid · 17th Mar 2008, 12:44

agree with tidy_boy, I had problems with 4gb in winxp 32bit edition

Bindibadgi · 17th Mar 2008, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cupboard

Sounds good

Could you do a comparison using 4GB on a 32bit OS as well? That would be really great

Nope, 64-bit only. The price difference between 32-bit and 64-bit OEM is nothing these days.

TreeDude · 17th Mar 2008, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cupboard

Sounds good

Could you do a comparison using 4GB on a 32bit OS as well? That would be really great

Nope, 64-bit only. The price difference between 32-bit and 64-bit OEM is nothing these days.

Yes, but Vista in 64-bit takes up more memory that 32-bit. As do all your apps. In the comparisons I have read it is usually between 15% and 20% more memory usage than 32-bit. So having a 32-bit configuration for the test might be a good idea.

Cupboard · 17th Mar 2008, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tidy_Boy

"4GB on a 32bit"

That would be ok if 32bit OS could use all of it

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi

Nope, 64-bit only. The price difference between 32-bit and 64-bit OEM is nothing these days.

I know that there is little difference in price and that 32bit OSs can't use the lot. But I though it might have been an interesting comparison to do.

Not to worry though.

Zargon · 17th Mar 2008, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi

we've planned to do a specific "Is more memory better" review in a few weeks

Any chance you can look at 8gb in the review? I have quite a few questions regarding the advantages of 8gb vs 4gb (64bit vista).

SNIPERMikeUK · 17th Mar 2008, 14:32

Well overclockers.co.uk are stocking the crucial ram reviewed here, on this week only for just £84.59 (inc. Vat)

Bindibadgi · 17th Mar 2008, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNIPERMikeUK

Well overclockers.co.uk are stocking the crucial ram reviewed here, on this week only for just Â£84.59 (inc. Vat)

Nice find! When did it go this week only? I tried looking around last night but didn't find it. Admittedly I didn't look at OCUK though. We can't really take a special offer as a consistent price though, because next week it could be much more expensive?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...d=8&subcat=813

Bargain!

Zargon - it's planned as: 2x1GB, 4x1GB, 2x2GB, 4x2GB. That's a lot of hours testing.

konsta · 17th Mar 2008, 15:46

Just for an unscientific/interest point, I felt that putting another 2gb in my vista 64 system did give it an perceptible extra oomph...

And given that the OS now idles on 1.8gb used...that would make sense. I assume that a fair chunk of that is superfetch, although it is still slightly incredible!

konsta · 17th Mar 2008, 15:49

---addendum for Zargon

I have never yet managed to use the full 4gb, or even get within 200/300mb of it, regardless of how heavily I am multitasking - I just cannot imagine 8gb giving any further use.

Bindibadgi · 17th Mar 2008, 16:49

The 64-bit version of Vista is designed to use memory more dynamically, so if you have 8GB of memory it'll simply throw more into it to take even less weight off the need to access the hard drive and pagefile.

ryanjleng · 17th Mar 2008, 16:56

Hate to jump on the request bandwagon, but if you have a bit of extra time can you run Vista vs Vista SP1. Just a normal 4GB bench (startup-idle and stressed) should be enough.

Forget about it. I could do that here.

Suspect M$ did something to the fundamental way Vista works with RAM given that they got a wacky branding case in the court and the slight delay in SP1 by a month or so.

I think Vista SP1 should be out in a week or 2 to some. In April or May for most.

Vista SP1 out tomorrow. Not in a week.

Quote:

Originally Posted by konsta

I have never yet managed to use the full 4gb, or even get within 200/300mb of it, regardless of how heavily I am multitasking - I just cannot imagine 8gb giving any further use.

It's has a lot to do with the way software is coded.

Bindibadgi · 17th Mar 2008, 19:43

Article Addendum: We got in contact with CrucialPR that corrected us that the memory chips used are in fact Micron, not Prochip. We have corrected this technicality accordingly

17th Mar 2008, 07:45	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Crucial Ballistix Tracer Red PC-6400 4GB kit http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200..._pc-6400_4gb/1 4GB kits are swiftly becoming the choice of gamers and enthusiasts - and since prices have dropped considerably for DDR2, it makes upgrading all that much sweeter. We look at Crucial's new Ballistix Tracer modules, which are now available all in red. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

17th Mar 2008, 10:40	#3
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,259	Sorry, I meant "linked above". __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek!

17th Mar 2008, 11:29	#5
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,259	There's plenty of 2GB memory reviews out there already and we've planned to do a specific "Is more memory better" review in a few weeks __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek!

17th Mar 2008, 11:44	#7
Tidy_Boy What's a Dremel? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Portsmouth UK Posts: 7	"4GB on a 32bit" That would be ok if 32bit OS could use all of it __________________ Silverstone TJ09, ASUS Maxmius Formula, Intel Duo E8500 (Still to come), 4GB 8500 Crucial Ballistx Tracer, 2x Segate 500gb, 1X Seagate 750gb, Enermax 1000w PSU, 8800GTX

17th Mar 2008, 12:34	#8
sam.g.taylor Apparently I'm Greg Kinnear Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 378	How dare ye misspell Corsair! (Check the charts) __________________ In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.

17th Mar 2008, 12:44	#9
HandMadeAndroid Multimodder Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Newcastle Posts: 125	agree with tidy_boy, I had problems with 4gb in winxp 32bit edition __________________ Give them cake

17th Mar 2008, 14:32	#14
SNIPERMikeUK Multimodder Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Notts, UK Posts: 136	Well overclockers.co.uk are stocking the crucial ram reviewed here, on this week only for just £84.59 (inc. Vat) __________________ SNIPERMikeUK

17th Mar 2008, 15:46	#16
konsta Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 92	Just for an unscientific/interest point, I felt that putting another 2gb in my vista 64 system did give it an perceptible extra oomph... And given that the OS now idles on 1.8gb used...that would make sense. I assume that a fair chunk of that is superfetch, although it is still slightly incredible!

17th Mar 2008, 15:49	#17
konsta Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 92	---addendum for Zargon I have never yet managed to use the full 4gb, or even get within 200/300mb of it, regardless of how heavily I am multitasking - I just cannot imagine 8gb giving any further use.

17th Mar 2008, 16:49	#18
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,259	The 64-bit version of Vista is designed to use memory more dynamically, so if you have 8GB of memory it'll simply throw more into it to take even less weight off the need to access the hard drive and pagefile. __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek!

17th Mar 2008, 19:43	#20
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,259	Article Addendum: We got in contact with CrucialPR that corrected us that the memory chips used are in fact Micron, not Prochip. We have corrected this technicality accordingly __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek!