FEATURED Crucial Ballistix Elite 16GB ( 4x4GB ) DDR4-2666 CL16 1.20V - BLE4K4G4D26AFEA

[Woomack]

I was waiting for a Crucial Ballistix Elite DDR4 for couple of months and I think it was worth it as this memory is slightly different than what you could see on our market.
Crucial is rarely releasing new products but many of them are exceptional.












There is only one XMP profile - 2666 CL16 1.2V. I think it's enough and so far I've seen only 2 profiles in Corsair memory. Most enthusiasts/overclockers will use manual settings anyway.
Below you can see how SPD/XMP looks like in AIDA64, ASUS MemTweakIt and CPU-Z.









What is interesting and maybe you noticed that, SPD is starting at DDR4-2400 what means Crucial used higher bin IC instead of popular in most other DDR4 kits - 2133MHz.

Results at XMP settings can be seen below:



and some overclocking results starting from default 1.20V

2400 / 2666 / 2800 1.20V


2400 12-12-12 1.20V




2666 14-14-14 1.20V




2800 15-15-15 1.20V




2400 / 2666 / 2800 1.25V


2400 12-12-12 1.25V - the same settings as 1.20V, look above

2666 14-14-14 1.25V




2800 15-15-15 1.25V




2400 / 2666 / 2800 / 3000 1.30V


2400 12-12-12 1.30V - the same settings as 1.20V/1.25V, look above

2666 14-14-14 1.30V - the same settings as 1.25V, look above

2800 15-15-15 1.30V - the same settings as 1.25V, look above

3000 16-16-16 1.30V




2400 / 2666 / 2800 / 3000 1.35V


2400 12-12-12 1.35V - the same settings as 1.20V/1.25V/1.30V, look above

2666 13-13-13 1.35V



2800 15-15-15 1.35V - the same settings as 1.20V/1.25V/1.30V, look above

3000 15-15-15 1.35V




2400 / 2666 / 2800 / 3000 1.40V


2400 11-11-11 1.40V



2666 13-13-13 1.40V - the same settings as 1.35V, look above

2800 14-14-14 1.40V



3000 15-15-15 1.40V - the same settings as 1.35V, look above

 

[Woomack]

Various OC results

3000 13-13-13-36 1.375V ( 1.375-1.390V during tests )




XTU result made for competition:
2750 10-10-11-28 1N 1.45V




3000 12-12-12-32 1.45V

 

[Woomack]

If there are any users of this memory then don't hesitate to share your overclocking results.
If anyone has issues with M.O.D. utility on new motherboards ( Z97/X99 ) then it will be fixed soon. I will probably get beta of the latest version so will let you know how it works.

 

[Woomack]

OC results - summary:
2400 12-12-12 1.20V , 12-12-12 1.25V , 12-12-12 1.30V , 12-12-12 1.35V , 11-11-11 1.40V
2666 15-15-15 1.20V , 14-14-14 1.25V , 14-14-14 1.30V , 13-13-13 1.35V , 13-13-13 1.40V
2800 15-15-15 1.20V , 15-15-15 1.25V , 15-15-15 1.30V , 15-15-15 1.35V , 14-14-14 1.40V
3000 16-16-16 1.30V , 15-15-15 1.35V , 15-15-15 1.40V


I wonder why there are no comments as it's one of the best DDR4 kits around. I mean 3000 13-13-13 ~1.4V ... even best Hynix kits need 1.55V+ to make 3000 12-14-15 or something similar.
I also added 3000 12-12-12 1.45V made in XTU if CL13 is not tight enough

 

[V I P E R]

Very nice review Woomack. I'll definitely buy one kit of these. Can you test on 1,5 - 1,55 volts?

 

[Woomack]

Thanks and nope. My kit is not scalling above ~1.45V and above 1.5V is losing stability. It doesn't change fact it's overclocking good at low voltages.
I was using it for quick benchmarks @3000 CL12-12-12 1.45V. Not stable but was passing tests which I needed.

Crucial sent me latest MOD software version. Below you can see memory temps under load ( AIDA64 memory+cache stability test ).

Load at 1.20V



Load at 1.40V



Test platform without case but also without any additional fans. CPU on water cooling. As you see difference between 1.2V and 1.4V is 2-3*C. Simply like nothing when under load maximum temperature barely passes 40*C.
Temperature in idle was about 29-30*C.

 

[V I P E R]

Hello Woomack,
I've purchased this memory, but I'm unable to overclock it past 2666 Mhz. If I try 2800 and up I'm losing memory channels. I've tried up to 1,375 volts.

Do you manually set secondary and tertiary timings and what system agent voltage did you used for tests at 2800Mhz and above?

I've played with Crucial Ballistix Sport and they were easy to get to 2800Mhz, but not more, so I grabbed the Elite, but so far I'm unable to get anything out of them.

 

[Woomack]

On X99 I have no problems to set any memory at 3000+ using ~1.0V SA. To make 3000 on Elite kit I only changed timings which you see on the screenshots. Some secondary timings were manual but most were auto.
For 3000 try 100 and 125 bclk. Maybe on one of them will work better. My kit didn't like anything above 1.4V and I think you can try ~1.30-1.35V for 16-16-16. Try at more relaxed timings or even something like XMP with some manual settings. When you make it boot and pass some stability tests then start to work on timings.

I'm not sure if all of these kits can make 3000. I had luck to 3 Crucial kits which could but it's never guaranteed.

 

[V I P E R]

I've tested each stick and 3 out of 4 are booting and working on 3000 Mhz @ 13/13/13 @ 1.37 volts memtest stable and also can handle up to 1.55 volts for 11/11/11, but the fourth stick is crap and cannot boot at anything above 2933 Mhz and up no matter voltages, strap or anything and it cannot hold any more voltage than 1,390 v. So my Elite are going up for sale . I want to pick up some hynix memory now, do you have any recommendations for a kit. I'm running now 24/7 @ 3000 Mhz @ 15/16/16/35 @ 1,35 v. on my Corsair with Samsung chips, but I want some better timings at that frequency.

 

[Woomack]

There are many kits but most are Samsung right now. Only Kingston has Hynix in all their kits.

 

[BugFreak]

Nice sticks for sure. Did Crucial say if the 1.45v is safe for daily use or is that only good for short benching runs?

 

[Woomack]

I don't think anything will happen in longer usage but as I said these sticks don't like anything above 1.4V and depends from settings, are losing stability. Anyway I haven't been asking Crucial about that.
1.35V is optimal for higher clock and tighter timings and should be safe 24/7.
You can also check in above posts that after raising voltage from 1.20V to 1.40V temps barely went up ( ~2*C ). For sure it won't overheat.