Looking for a basic ‘no frills’ DDR4 memory kit? Then look no further as Crucial have just what you need to keep the costs down when joining the Enthusiast platform.
Product on Review Crucial Desktop DDR4 16GB kit
Manufacturer & Sponsor: Crucial
Street Price: £149.99 GBP / $265 USD
Some people will always be tempted by the biggest, the best, the fastest, the tastiest. These items inevitably come at an inflated price and quite often offer little ‘real world’ benefit over ‘lesser’ products. Others are more content with the basics, indeed supermarkets have their own basics brand which is testament to the need for a no frills, ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’ product. Look around you and you will find extravagance and basics. The Ferraris to the Dacia, the Heinz beans to Tesco basics. Both do the same thing but one product costs considerably more than the other.
So then why are we discussing this? Well the same can be applied to many computer components, no more so than the product we have for review today; the Crucial Desktop DDR4 kit. You won’t find highly polished packaging, oversized heatsinks nor overclocked XMP profiling. What you get is a basic memory kit that performs as it should yet costing less than half that of more extravagant offerings. Servers don’t need to look great, nor do enclosed PCs that don’t have a window so who cares what it looks like as long as it runs as it should right? In today’s market and unstable economy where appeal is driven not by indulgence but by value for money, we see if the Crucial Desktop DDR4 kit is a worthwhile proposition for a desktop environment. At just £149 it certainly appears to tick the right box but is value enough?
Crucial on their Ballistix Sport
Overcome one of your greatest server limitations: memory. From networking, cloud computing, and virtualization to HPC, Big Data and more, memory-dependent server applications require increasingly higher densities of memory and higher levels of performance than are attainable on current DDR3 technology. Enter Crucial DDR4 server memory.
Specification & Features
2133MHz (PC4-17000)
– CAS Timings: 16-16-16
– Voltage: 1.20v
– Warranty: Lifetime
– CAS Timings: 16-16-16
– Voltage: 1.20v
– Warranty: Lifetime
DDR4 288-pin DIMM
More speed. More bandwidth. More efficient. Next generation DDR4 memory is here.
Overcome one of your greatest server limitations: memory. From networking, cloud computing, and virtualization to HPC, Big Data and more, memory-dependent server applications require increasingly higher densities of memory and higher levels of performance than are attainable on current DDR3 technology. Enter Crucial DDR4 server memory.
2x the Speed
Process data faster. Enable up to twice the responsiveness, and increase memory bandwidth by up to 50% to 25.6 GB/s. With Crucial DDR4 memory, introductory data rates start at 2133 MT/s and get even faster as the technology matures, compared to introductory DDR3 rates of 1066 MT/s. Crucial DDR4 memory also delivers faster burst access speeds for improved sequential data throughput by utilizing 4-bank groups that are unique to DDR4 technology.
2x the Capacity
Maximize system performance by doubling memory capacity. As DDR4 memory technology matures, it will allow you to double your server’s memory capacity and get more out of every module – and your entire network. Built using smaller die that allow more gigabits per component, Crucial DDR4 memory is designed to utilize higher density components, allowing us to deliver DDR4 modules that are up to twice as dense.
Up to 40% More Energy Efficient
Reduce power and cooling expenses. Crucial DDR4 memory uses 20% less voltage than DDR3 technology, and operates at just 1.2V compared to 1.5V for standard DDR3 server memory. Combined with the additional power-saving features inherent in DDR4 memory architecture, Crucial DDR4 memory is able to deliver up to 40% power savings compared to standard DDR3 technology. Also, since less heat is generated per module, it’s easier to keep systems cool.
Enhance cloud computing, Big Data, HPC, and more
For memory-dependant server applications such as virtualization, cloud computing, Big Data, and HPC, Crucial DDR4 server memory is an ideal way to increase memory bandwidth and capacity, while also reducing power expenses. Since memory often functions as a fixed (non-shared) component, it’s one of the biggest performance constraints for data centers. Maximize DDR4 memory capacity and achieve next generation performance and efficiency. Crucial DDR4 memory is compatible with future Intel® Xeon® processor E3-1200 v3 and E5-2600 v3 product families, allowing you to handle diverse enterprise workloads with ease.
Micron Quality – A Higher Level of Reliability
As a brand of Micron, one of the largest memory manufacturers in the world, Crucial DDR4 memory represents the future of server capability. From the original DDR technology to DDR4, we’ve engineered the memory technologies that have powered the world’s servers for 35 years and counting. Designed for leading platforms, compatible with OEM systems and warranties, and backed by a limited lifetime warranty, Crucial DDR4 memory pushes the limits on server performance.*
More speed. More bandwidth. More efficient. Next generation DDR4 memory is here.
Overcome one of your greatest server limitations: memory. From networking, cloud computing, and virtualization to HPC, Big Data and more, memory-dependent server applications require increasingly higher densities of memory and higher levels of performance than are attainable on current DDR3 technology. Enter Crucial DDR4 server memory.
2x the Speed
Process data faster. Enable up to twice the responsiveness, and increase memory bandwidth by up to 50% to 25.6 GB/s. With Crucial DDR4 memory, introductory data rates start at 2133 MT/s and get even faster as the technology matures, compared to introductory DDR3 rates of 1066 MT/s. Crucial DDR4 memory also delivers faster burst access speeds for improved sequential data throughput by utilizing 4-bank groups that are unique to DDR4 technology.
2x the Capacity
Maximize system performance by doubling memory capacity. As DDR4 memory technology matures, it will allow you to double your server’s memory capacity and get more out of every module – and your entire network. Built using smaller die that allow more gigabits per component, Crucial DDR4 memory is designed to utilize higher density components, allowing us to deliver DDR4 modules that are up to twice as dense.
Up to 40% More Energy Efficient
Reduce power and cooling expenses. Crucial DDR4 memory uses 20% less voltage than DDR3 technology, and operates at just 1.2V compared to 1.5V for standard DDR3 server memory. Combined with the additional power-saving features inherent in DDR4 memory architecture, Crucial DDR4 memory is able to deliver up to 40% power savings compared to standard DDR3 technology. Also, since less heat is generated per module, it’s easier to keep systems cool.
Enhance cloud computing, Big Data, HPC, and more
For memory-dependant server applications such as virtualization, cloud computing, Big Data, and HPC, Crucial DDR4 server memory is an ideal way to increase memory bandwidth and capacity, while also reducing power expenses. Since memory often functions as a fixed (non-shared) component, it’s one of the biggest performance constraints for data centers. Maximize DDR4 memory capacity and achieve next generation performance and efficiency. Crucial DDR4 memory is compatible with future Intel® Xeon® processor E3-1200 v3 and E5-2600 v3 product families, allowing you to handle diverse enterprise workloads with ease.
Micron Quality – A Higher Level of Reliability
As a brand of Micron, one of the largest memory manufacturers in the world, Crucial DDR4 memory represents the future of server capability. From the original DDR technology to DDR4, we’ve engineered the memory technologies that have powered the world’s servers for 35 years and counting. Designed for leading platforms, compatible with OEM systems and warranties, and backed by a limited lifetime warranty, Crucial DDR4 memory pushes the limits on server performance.*
First Look
The ram sticks as you would expect from a server line are nothing great to look at. No heatsinks and a green PCB do nothing for the aesthetics but as we said previously; are aesthetics really a concern in a server/enclosed PC environment? We think not.
What we do find are a couple of stickers both of which have a variety of serial numbers. The right most sticker also tells us the speed at which the DDR4 kit is specified to run at along with the voltage but there is no indication either on the sticks or the packaging (which is simply a blister pack) at what latencies the kit is specified to run at..
Things get even more ‘basic’ on the opposite side as there is simply nothing to see. We suspect this is because there are other kits in the range which will have a further bank of 4 chips to make each memory module 8GB.
Overall then, there really isn’t much to tell you about the visuals other than do not expect this memory kit to win a beauty pageant any time soon!
Test Setup & Methodology
GPU: NVIDIA GTX 760
Power Supply: Corsair RM1000
Cooler: Corsair H105
Motherboard: MSI X99S Gaming 9 AC
SSD: Corsair Force LX 512GB
Power Supply: Corsair RM1000
Cooler: Corsair H105
Motherboard: MSI X99S Gaming 9 AC
SSD: Corsair Force LX 512GB
Memory
Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (4x4GB) 2400MHz 16-16-16-39 2T
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (4x4GB) 2666MHz 16-17-17-35 2T
GSKILL RipJawZ 16GB (4x4GB) 2800MHz 16-16-16-36 2T
Crucial Desktop 16GB (4x4GB) 2133MHz 15-15-15-36 2T
Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (4x4GB) 2400MHz 16-16-16-39 2T
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (4x4GB) 2666MHz 16-17-17-35 2T
GSKILL RipJawZ 16GB (4x4GB) 2800MHz 16-16-16-36 2T
Benchmarks
We have taken a long hard look at our memory benchmarks and feel that many of the utilities that are commonly used such as games and ‘overall’ benchmarking systems give an inaccurate representation of the memory on test. For example, a game is just as likely to be influenced by CPU speed as memory speed and if th CPU frequency is required to be adjusted to attain the correct bandwidth then there is little point in using said game as a benchmark as the system with the higher CPU speed will possibly reflect a greater score. IT is akin to testing a set of tyres at 100Mph and then testing another setat 50Mph. You wouldn’t compare the results between them so we don’t think it is correct for us to compare results of benchmarks where there are other influencing factors at play. For this reason we will be sticking to memory specific benchmarks for our comparisons. While these will not show ‘real world’ effects, they will show you which kit is the faster and thus you can draw your own conclusions from those results more accurately than using a game as the basis of comparison! The following tests were used to compare performance of the memory kits on test:
SiSoft Sandra
AIDA64
Passmark 8
We have taken a long hard look at our memory benchmarks and feel that many of the utilities that are commonly used such as games and ‘overall’ benchmarking systems give an inaccurate representation of the memory on test. For example, a game is just as likely to be influenced by CPU speed as memory speed and if th CPU frequency is required to be adjusted to attain the correct bandwidth then there is little point in using said game as a benchmark as the system with the higher CPU speed will possibly reflect a greater score. IT is akin to testing a set of tyres at 100Mph and then testing another setat 50Mph. You wouldn’t compare the results between them so we don’t think it is correct for us to compare results of benchmarks where there are other influencing factors at play. For this reason we will be sticking to memory specific benchmarks for our comparisons. While these will not show ‘real world’ effects, they will show you which kit is the faster and thus you can draw your own conclusions from those results more accurately than using a game as the basis of comparison! The following tests were used to compare performance of the memory kits on test:
SiSoft Sandra
AIDA64
Passmark 8
SPD, XMP & Overclocking
Above is the recorded SPD reading of the Crucial Desktop ram. This setting was automatically detected and validated by passing through all of our benchmarks and a 4 hour Prime95 run.
Above is a screenshot of the stock settings the modules. At 2133MHz it is the slowest kit on test so we are not expecting ground breaking performance here. The latencies are however quite good, being set to 15-15-15 so we were happy with that. Sadly, there wasn’t an XMP profile for the kit so we just went with the rated settings for our benchmarks.
Overclocking the kit was simply a no-go area. We tried increasing the bandwidth, slackening the latencies, and increasing the voltage. None of our efforts gave us anything to write home about so if you are looking to buy this kit, we would advise overclockers to look elsewhere which in fairness, they would most likely do regardless due to the entry level specification and the fact this is far removed from being touted as an overclockers memory kit.
SiSoft Sandra
SANDRA isn’t always a benchmark that is included in hardware reviews but I believe it shouldn’t be ignored. SANDRA provides a vigorous package that tests your system in a rather large array of benchmarks. There are many aspects of benchmark that can be executed. We will be considering – CPU and memory tests.
AIDA64
AIDA64 is the successor to Everest ULTIMATE. This application not only details every component within a system but it also incorporates a comprehensive memory benchmarking tool that will ascertain bandwidth and latency figures.
Passmark8
Fast, easy to use, PC speed testing and benchmarking. PassMark PerformanceTest ™ allows you to objectively benchmark a PC using a variety of different speed tests and compare the results to other computers. Memory tests allocating and accessing memory speed and efficiency.
Conclusion
The Crucial DDR4 kit we have reviewed today is an easy product to place. It will appeal to those who are looking for a no nonsense entry level DDR4 memory kit that will be at home in either server or desktop environment. While it may not possess the glamour of other memory kits on the market, without all of that gloss, this memory kit will perform just as well as any other kit at the same speed so long as you do not intend to overclock.
For £149 you can’t really go wrong. DDR4 is inherently expensive at the moment due to it being new to the market but we expect prices to begin to settle after the Christmas period when stocking levels are placed under less strain so this will certainly be even more of a bargain when that time comes. Until then, if you are desperate to make the jump to an X99 based platform then this kit will leave a little extra funds in the bank to either spend elsewhere in your PC configuration or indeed allow you to purchase 2 kits for the same price it would cost for one higher range set. Whatever your needs, it is worth noting that Crucial have other memory kits in the range if this kit doesn’t serve your purpose (excuse the pun). Check out the Ballistix range if overclocking is your game but if you are happy with the simpler things in life then this kit is worthy of consideration if nothing else for the value it offers.
Costing less than half the price of high end memory kits, you could double your RAM levels with this keenly priced DDR4 memory kit from Crucial.
Pros
+ Value for money
+ No frills computing
+ Suitable for Server or Desktop environments
Cons
– Overclockers should look elsewhere
+ Value for money
+ No frills computing
+ Suitable for Server or Desktop environments
Cons
– Overclockers should look elsewhere
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