Introduction

DDR3 memory has pretty much followed the same progression that DDR2 memory did. Starting with lower speed 2GB kits, the speeds started climbing until they reached a certain point, then 4GB kits started appearing, along with 2GB kits with tighter timings. The time has come for DDR3 4GB kits with tight timings to start appearing.

DDR3 prices have pretty much gotten to where DDR2 was at the same point in its life, and I guess DDR too. Yet many enthusiasts still haven't seriously considered making the move to DDR3. If you think about it, the reason is pretty simple.Intel users were forced to go to DDR2 pretty early on, and AMD fans were forced to a little later. Yet here we are, well into DDR3's lifespan, and we are still seeing brand new chipsets capable of running DDR2, with the motherboard manufacturers still building DDR2 boards. You can still build a brand new system with a newly released processor, brand new motherboard with a newly released chipset, and still use DDR2 memory.

Crucial, a division of Micron, and one of the oldest memory manufacturers in the industry, has just released a new low-latency DDR3-1333 4GB kit in their Ballistix Tracer line, with timings of 6-6-6-20. You may know that their Tracer memory has LEDs to enhance your case lighting scheme, and this new Tracer memory has a new LED setup. The price is actually less than some of the competition's higher latency DDR3-1333 memory. Will the Ballistix Tracer DDR3 impress us as much as the DDR2, which was an overclocking monster, did? Read on to see!

Specifications

Part Number: BL2KIT25664TA1336
Module Type: 240-pin SDRAM 2GB Modules
Memory Speed: DDR3-1333 (PC3-10600)
CAS Latency: 6
Timings: 6-6-6-20
Voltage: 1.8v
- Unbuffered
- Non-ECC
- 256Meg x 64

Packaging

The Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR3-1333 comes in a new retail packaging. The last I received was in a cardboard box. This is packaged with each module in a separate hanging hermetically sealed blisterpack wrapped with a "cigar band". There is little information here other than the memory specs noted on the module itself.