Page 1: Intro, Packaging, Modules
Intro:
Even though DDR3 is the new player in town and boards are starting to utilize only DDR3, DDR2 is the king of RAM at this point in time. AMD systems still use it exclusively and even the newest chipsets from Intel still support DDR2. Crucial understands this and we chatted about it during CES. At that point they showed me the special Tracer Red series that they were working on. Red is my absolute favorite color and these sticks are right up my ally. The BL2KIT25664AR804 is a 4GB kit and ASE Labs is the first US publication to receive and review these modules. They are so new that the US division of Crucial doesn't even sell them... yet.
Packaging:
Crucial's standard brown box returns yet again. I was expecting something with a splash of red, but you just throw away these boxes anyway.
As always, each module is individually wrapped in anti-static plastic and positioned in the box so they don't slam into each other in transit. Why change something that has been working for years?
The anti-static plastic contains some information about the modules. Sadly, Crucial still doesn't provide enough information about the modules in the packaging or on a sticker on the sticks themselves. Venturing to the website is fine, but it is easy enough to put a sticker with all the needed timings and voltages.
Red:
Remember that the Tracer series from Crucial is very mature. I even reviewed the original set of »black modules last year. These new red modules mark a trend in computing that Crucial is good to follow. The fact of the matter is that people like personalization. I'm guilty of that myself. I know that these modules are hardly better than the normal Ballistix breed, but the fact that it is red and has lights adds something of value to people. Red is my favorite color and I would naturally gravitate to these in a computer I would build. I will say that these modules are no different than other Crucial products in that it runs at the rated specs. These modules just add a bit of personality and form. There is no functionality added since the original Tracer series. Remember that I did comment that the lights on the RAM assist in troubleshooting which is quite helpful.
Modules:
The word for this review is red. Everything is red. The heatspreaders on the sticks are red. The PCB is red. Red is such a great color. It instills a sense of urgency and fire. ASE Labs originally had a red and black color scheme (but switched to blue on Version 3). Regardless, these modules look great and the silver accents just add more to the look.
These modules are rated for use at a few timings and voltages. It contains EPP for use with Nvidia board, but I'm still against the use of lazy overclocking for true enthusiasts. Part of the fun is to get these modules as fast as possible. EPP is nice for people that want to run without fuss, just as SPD settings are used. JEDEC voltage (1.8V) provides these modules the ability to run at 5-5-5-15 at DDR2-800 which is PC2-6400. Increase the voltage to 2.2V drops the timings to 4-4-4-12. These are the specifications on the modules that Crucial provides and they are guidelines as the testing will show.
The primary form feature on these sticks are the lights on the top. It completes the red look as you will see a bit later in the testing part of the review. Other than looking nice, it adds a bit of troubleshooting information so it is helpful as well.
These heatspreaders are nicely bonded to the modules so there is no need for clips to clamp on and fall off. Don't try to remove these, why would you want to destroy such beautiful RAM?
My only Nvidia board decided to die after 7 months of use (Asus P5N32-E SLI) and is in for warranty repair. I could not test the EPP for these modules, but I don't bother with it anyway.
Even though DDR3 is the new player in town and boards are starting to utilize only DDR3, DDR2 is the king of RAM at this point in time. AMD systems still use it exclusively and even the newest chipsets from Intel still support DDR2. Crucial understands this and we chatted about it during CES. At that point they showed me the special Tracer Red series that they were working on. Red is my absolute favorite color and these sticks are right up my ally. The BL2KIT25664AR804 is a 4GB kit and ASE Labs is the first US publication to receive and review these modules. They are so new that the US division of Crucial doesn't even sell them... yet.
Packaging:
Crucial's standard brown box returns yet again. I was expecting something with a splash of red, but you just throw away these boxes anyway.
As always, each module is individually wrapped in anti-static plastic and positioned in the box so they don't slam into each other in transit. Why change something that has been working for years?
The anti-static plastic contains some information about the modules. Sadly, Crucial still doesn't provide enough information about the modules in the packaging or on a sticker on the sticks themselves. Venturing to the website is fine, but it is easy enough to put a sticker with all the needed timings and voltages.
Red:
Remember that the Tracer series from Crucial is very mature. I even reviewed the original set of »black modules last year. These new red modules mark a trend in computing that Crucial is good to follow. The fact of the matter is that people like personalization. I'm guilty of that myself. I know that these modules are hardly better than the normal Ballistix breed, but the fact that it is red and has lights adds something of value to people. Red is my favorite color and I would naturally gravitate to these in a computer I would build. I will say that these modules are no different than other Crucial products in that it runs at the rated specs. These modules just add a bit of personality and form. There is no functionality added since the original Tracer series. Remember that I did comment that the lights on the RAM assist in troubleshooting which is quite helpful.
Modules:
The word for this review is red. Everything is red. The heatspreaders on the sticks are red. The PCB is red. Red is such a great color. It instills a sense of urgency and fire. ASE Labs originally had a red and black color scheme (but switched to blue on Version 3). Regardless, these modules look great and the silver accents just add more to the look.
These modules are rated for use at a few timings and voltages. It contains EPP for use with Nvidia board, but I'm still against the use of lazy overclocking for true enthusiasts. Part of the fun is to get these modules as fast as possible. EPP is nice for people that want to run without fuss, just as SPD settings are used. JEDEC voltage (1.8V) provides these modules the ability to run at 5-5-5-15 at DDR2-800 which is PC2-6400. Increase the voltage to 2.2V drops the timings to 4-4-4-12. These are the specifications on the modules that Crucial provides and they are guidelines as the testing will show.
The primary form feature on these sticks are the lights on the top. It completes the red look as you will see a bit later in the testing part of the review. Other than looking nice, it adds a bit of troubleshooting information so it is helpful as well.
These heatspreaders are nicely bonded to the modules so there is no need for clips to clamp on and fall off. Don't try to remove these, why would you want to destroy such beautiful RAM?
My only Nvidia board decided to die after 7 months of use (Asus P5N32-E SLI) and is in for warranty repair. I could not test the EPP for these modules, but I don't bother with it anyway.