Crucial's DDR2, a Ballistix Bundle

Time to open up the Crucial anti-static plastic wrapping and get a look at what we are dealing with. Having removed the memory from the static wrapping, we notice that the heat spreaders on the Crucial Ballistix PC2-8000 2GB kit are yellow/gold aluminum, with a lovely mirrored finish. The lightweight design and shiny heatsinks are awesome and stylish to say the least. These are the typical style of heat spreaders we are used to see from Crucial, although they have recently changed this. This pair of memory comes in a dual channel kit to ensure compatibility of running dual channel on either an AMD or Intel platform.

Crucial is known for their excellent support, but not so much for their style and looks. But that has changed with their new heat spreaders, although our kit still features the previous design. The mirrored yellow/gold finish looks really good and gives these modules a nice look, while providing the more than enough heat dissipation capabilities. In the middle we spot the Ballistix branding, so we are talking about the high performance series from Crucial. What is missing somehow are the actual details of the memory sticks at hand. But then again, that would spoil the view of these nifty golden heat spreaders. So how will they perform? We will get the low down later on...

The Crucial Ballistix PC2-8000 dual channel modules have the word performance written all over it. These modules are some of the nicest specimens we have seen. The heat spreaders offer a semi mirror like yellow/gold finish and are adorned with the Ballistix logo. The CL 5-5-5-15 timings are one of the most aggressive in the industry, supercharging this ram into new realms and performance needed for today's super fast gaming computers. So, no wonder that these memory stick are marked as high performance. Just by looks these sticks give away their true purpose already...

Main Specifications

• 1000MHz Speed DDR2 (PC2-8000)
• 5-5-5-15 Memory Timings
• Unbuffered DIMM Type
• Ballistix 240-pin DIMM
• 2.2V Power Operation
• 2GB (2x 1024MB) Dual Channel Kit
• Aluminum Gold Finish Heat Spreader
• Lifetime Warranty

Encased in a gold mirrored aluminum heat spreader to aid in effective heat dissipation, the Ballistix DDR2-1000 modules are one of the fastest PC2-8000 1024MB memory on the market. Unlike no other 2GB memory solution, this cutting edge line operates with the ultra fast latency timings of 5-5-5-15! On top, the Ballistix Edition memory is build and designed to meet the high demands set by enthusiasts and overclockers throughout the world. These Crucial sticks are made for the high-end system capable of running at high speed and memory bandwidth.

The memory modules are provided on a black plate (PCB) with yellow passive heat spreaders which are supposed to enhance the cooling of the memory modules also with higher frequencies and/or higher voltages. Thus one achieves on the one hand better results with overclocking and on the other hand a longer lifetime, whereby Crucial by the way grants lifelong warranty for the buyer. These modules are fine tuned for optimum performance while looking really sweet. If viewed from a distance, the heat spreaders looks dark yellow in color but it gets clearer as you take a closer look, or when some light hits the heat spreaders surface.

The heat spreaders are held in place with retention clips and a double side thermal tape giving the Crucial Ballistix a very light weight but smooth feel. These are the higher quality clips that we've praised before, not the flimsy clips used on earlier generation heat spreaders. The Crucial Ballistix yellow and gold color is just fantastic to look at. Not only that but if your system is set up with UV and lamps then these sticks will you some cool effects with its mirror finish. This ram kit is totally awesome looking, what more can be said about such powerful modules?

Awesome looking DDR2 modules, with a professional design in mind. And that is with the older heat spreaders, as since not so long Crucial has redesigned these for an even better look and thermal efficiency. This ram is great for the latest gaming titles, swap hits will be the thing of the past, creating a whole new gaming experience like never before. The low latencies will give excellent stability for super fast performance for any game titles right on down to everyday application that requires lightning fast high capacity memory for today's multi-task environments.