Memory for ASUS P8Z68-V-PRO

[rmzero]

My first PC build.
I purchased 8GB DDR3-1600 MHz Crucial Ballsitix memory BL2KIT51264BA160A. Before build I read he user guide qualified vendors list for capability. I also called ASUS both say this is not capabile memory. I would stop there and send this memory back but I call Crucial before ordering to verify the right memory kit.and the person I talk with at ASUS didn't give me the impression he was very knowlegable in finding this same list I have. There are other vendors on the list such as Corsair, Patriot, Kingston G.Skill. Should RMA the memory and replace it? Thanks!

 

[Binky]

Just because it's not in their qualified list doesn't mean it wont work.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

You have the option to try it with a deliberate choice to RMA it anyway as you see fit within the reseller's policies and timeline.

So unless they haven't shipped the order or that time period has run out, here are some more thoughts.

Crucial seemed to be the rage around 2007 with both the Ballistics and the Tracers [Ballistics with LEDs]. You could keep them roughly within their voltage spec and set reasonably tight timings, and if you wanted to do so despite Crucial's recommendation, you could set them at a command rate CMD=1.

Then, there was apparently a surge of RMAs, and I personally had to follow suit twice for two different kits -- a DDR2-1000 Ballistics kit, and a "NewEgg LanFest" [rebadged Crucial Tracer] kit during fall, 2007.

Most memory will exhibit some infant mortality as part of any QC sample -- lower or higher. Once memory sticks have been through a 72-hour burn-in, they don't tend to blink out very soon.

But comparing notes and recollections with my fellow Crucial owners back then, it seems that for any kit, the expectation was six months to a year.

Since Crucial had failed to avert the flurry of RMAs, their inventory probably fell short, but generally they would start to lose sales anyway and the DDR2s were nearing the end of their production cycle.

So they ran all RMAs through testing, discarded the dead modules and salvaged any good ones. Then they paired any two of the salvaged sticks, put them in an anti-stat wrap sealed, and shipped them in their little boxes.

My DDR2-1000s came back unable to run at the T1 command rate. And Crucial was probably correct that they should only be run at T2. I heard or saw no warnings or prohibitions; what do you think the other enthusiasts did?

Check mobo and Crucial web-sites for cross-compatibility on your model mobo and chipset. Why not do the same for G.SKILL? The Ripjaws -GBRL kits work great with the P8Z68 models, and the -GBXL Ripjaws were produced to focus on the Z68 chipset.

I never bought the -GBXL's, which cost just a little more. But you can easily over-clock the -GBRLs at near-minimum voltage. They're both spec'd to run at 1.5V -- with timings 9-9-9-24.

 

[rmzero]

Thanks for your response. I have decided to RMA the memory and purchase G Skill memory that is on the list and has been verified by other user or this MB