Question about Crucial ram

[TC91]

Do all of the ballistix lineup use micron d9 chips? Specifically the ballistix / ballistix tracers 2x2gb kits. Thanks in advance.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

That's what i'd like to know: *subscribing*

 

[Andrew1990]

Well I know that about 90% of the PC6400 1gig sticks use it but there are 2-3 different types of D9 memory they use. The latest stuff they use is horrible in my opinion and crap out very fast. The old stuff overclocked very good but it also has a shorter life span.

When you look for 1 gig sticks, look for the double sided sticks. If you get the single sided, they will probably burn out faster than most memory modules but no worries, Crucial RMAs back the good double sided stuff.

 

[n7]

I have still yet to find information on what chips the 2x2 Ballistix use, but it's likely Powerchips.

If it's Micron, it's a new IC, but one that does clock well, similarly to how Powerchips do.

 

[cyberfish]

I have also heard bad things about Crucial Ballistix single sided 2x1gb kit too, but I own one myself (DDR2-800) that is doing happily at 5-5-5-15, 1.8V, 1000mhz (500 FSB). Note that the voltage is lower than stock (2.2), which is great. memtest86+ 9 hrs stable.

 

[TC91]

Originally posted by: cyberfish
I have also heard bad things about Crucial Ballistix single sided 2x1gb kit too, but I own one myself (DDR2-800) that is doing happily at 5-5-5-15, 1.8V, 1000mhz (500 FSB). Note that the voltage is lower than stock (2.2), which is great. memtest86+ 9 hrs stable.

Holy crap, 1000mhz on 1.8v, that is incredible. I'm only thinking of 2gb sticks atm as i already have 4x1gb sticks, specifically ones that have a good chance of really tight timings or really high speeds (although i think my motherboard might be limiting me from super high speed ram).

 

[cyberfish]

I couldn't believe it either =). I am extremely lucky with my cheap new build - Crucial Ballistix @ 1000mhz on 1.8v, and GA-EP35-DS3L (P35 chipset) that does 500 FSB on stock volts, and E6300 @ 3ghz heavily undervolted (1.184V after Vdroop).

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: cyberfish
I have also heard bad things about Crucial Ballistix single sided 2x1gb kit too, but I own one myself (DDR2-800) that is doing happily at 5-5-5-15, 1.8V, 1000mhz (500 FSB). Note that the voltage is lower than stock (2.2), which is great. memtest86+ 9 hrs stable.

The reason people hate the new single sided 2x1 GB Ballistix is because there were doing DDR2-1200 5-5-5 with the old D9GMH-based ones.

IOW, their expectations are a lot higher.

Your new Crucial is very likely D9JKH, which is a newer 1 Gb IC designed for default speeds of DDR2-1066 7-7-7 1.8V.

For reference, D9GMH is default DDR2-667 5-5-5 1.8V.

 

[cyberfish]

Ah, I see. Glad I made this choice then. On another forum people were suggesting OCZ Gold DDR2-800 over this one, which according to Google overclocks to ~900mhz on average. I guess they are meant to be at different price points (hence the disappointment in Crucial), but @ where I live, I can get the Ballistix 2x1gb for $26 and OCZ Gold for about the same price.

 

[cyberfish]

which is a newer 1 Gb IC designed for default speeds of DDR2-1066 7-7-7 1.8V

Then why is Crucial labelling them as DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 2.2V? Sounds like it should do 1.8V at that speed? It actually made me hesitant before I bought it, thinking the high voltage would limit my OC. The OCZ Gold is rated at 1.8V.

 

[chuckm]

Does this also explain the high failure rate? Not being a wisea$$, really want to know. I used Ballistix for a long time in builds for other people, ordered some for myself and got the dreaded batch from the egg. Don't have mt mobo yet but RMA'ed them while I could.
Just have to decide what to use now.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: cyberfish

which is a newer 1 Gb IC designed for default speeds of DDR2-1066 7-7-7 1.8V

Then why is Crucial labelling them as DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 2.2V? Sounds like it should do 1.8V at that speed? It actually made me hesitant before I bought it, thinking the high voltage would limit my OC. The OCZ Gold is rated at 1.8V.

Marketing.

Very few enthusiasts, nevermind the average user, understand RAM at all.
I barely know the basics, but knowing the basics makes understanding things a lot easier.

If you try to sell DDR2-1066 7-7-7 1.8v, you get people posting "LOL CAS 7 that's so bad :roll:", since they don't realize their own DDR2-800 is actually DDR2-667 5-5-5 1.8v.

They won't understand just because RAM is labeled one speed, timings, & voltage doesn't mean it cannot run a much higher speed, tighter timings, lower voltage, etc.

Also, while some dimms may do DDR2-1000 5-5-5 1.8v like yours, others may not, so it will depend on how rigorously the manufacturer is binning their stuff.
You can see some RAM barely able to do its rated speed, & then the same stuff overclocking far higher.
Obviously, results tend to be similar if using the same IC, but again, binning [or lack thereof] will affect what results we get.

As for the Crucial's epic fail with so much of their DDR2 lately, it's hard to say for sure why.

I believe part of it is due to Micron, which really doesn't do well longterm with the voltage often used (2.1v & higher).
Maybe poorer QC on their part, who knows.

I will admit i wouldn't likely be buying Crucial 2x1 GB kits myself due to the high numbers of issues reported, but as can be seen, not all are bad of course.

 

[cyberfish]

I see. Thanks for the detailed information.

As the 2GB kit was on sale for $26 here, I thought I would gamble it. If and when it fails, I heard I can RMA it and ask for double sided sticks (and they actually send double sided sticks back, but you have to ask for it).

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: cyberfish
I see. Thanks for the detailed information.

As the 2GB kit was on sale for $26 here, I thought I would gamble it. If and when it fails, I heard I can RMA it and ask for double sided sticks (and they actually send double sided sticks back, but you have to ask for it).

You don't want the double sided sticks IMO

Those are the ones with the most issues as they are D9GMH, which seems to have a very high failure rate.

I owned some D9GMH myself...it died after about a year.

 

[chuckm]

What ram would you guys suggest? Getting an abit IP35 PRO and 2X1, DDR2-800 for now.
Thinking Geil, G.Skill, Muskin, or Supertalent.

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: chuckm
What ram would you guys suggest? Getting an abit IP35 PRO and 2X1, DDR2-800 for now.
Thinking Geil, G.Skill, Muskin, or Supertalent.

G. Skill or Mushkin are seemingly the best, and most advocated here... !!


N7 and I are partial to Mushkin, I personally like them because they are smaller, and more customer focused.

But I know many forum rats that like the GS also... I also have their Laptop memory, and it is very good.

 

[cyberfish]

You don't want the double sided sticks IMO

Those are the ones with the most issues as they are D9GMH, which seems to have a very high failure rate.

Hmm. That is strange. I thought (heard from numerous places) that the ones with high failure rate are the single sided ones, and the ones that OC like mad are the double sided ones.

 

[*kjm]

Originally posted by: cyberfish

You don't want the double sided sticks IMO

Those are the ones with the most issues as they are D9GMH, which seems to have a very high failure rate.

Hmm. That is strange. I thought (heard from numerous places) that the ones with high failure rate are the single sided ones, and the ones that OC like mad are the double sided ones.

Ditto... I just sent back my single sided ones last week because they went bad and my doubles are running strong yet. I got the doubles almost a year before the singles and have always ran them at 1.8V????

 

[n7]

Eh, so apparently they're all crapping out :\

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: cyberfish
Then why is Crucial labelling them as DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 2.2V? Sounds like it should do 1.8V at that speed?

It can, just not at CAS 4. I'm not sure any manufacturer sells RAM rated for CAS 4 at 800MHz 1.8v. They seem to all be 2.0-2.2v. If you check the SPD of the Ballistix (using CPU-Z) you'll see that there are the stock 1.8v settings as well as EPP settings.

 

[cyberfish]

ah I see

SPD of my Ballistix:

333mhz, 4-5-5-15, 1.8V (JEDEC)
400mhz, 5-5-5-18, 1.8V (JEDEC)
400mhz, 4-4-4-12, 2.2V (EPP)
500mhz, 5-5-5-15, 2.2V (EPP)

Strange... Does that mean it is rated to run at 500mhz, 5-5-5-15 @ 2.2V? Then why are they labeled DDR2-800 at all... I thought people look at the frequency before the timings.

 

[PlanetX]

Sorry to dig up an old thread. I have been a Ballistix user exclusively since 2005 and I have been through a number of kits, having to RMA all of them. For some reason (probably Crucial's fantastic customer service) I have stuck with them. My most recent purchase is single-sided Ballistix PC2-6400, much like Cyberfish's. It's from the dreaded 97432 batch. For me, it works very well. Currently it's running at DDR1021, and I've taken it all the way to DDR1065 on 1.86V, which is pretty good considering it's DDR800, and so many people say this SS Ballistix is awful. I don't agree. I think it depends on the motherboard you're using. If it's P35 based, you are more likely to have problems.

My only problem is compatibility with my Asus board. I have major problems getting it to boot with both sticks installed. When it eventually does boot, it runs great. Only thing is I'm scared to power the machine off because then it sometimes won't boot with more than one stick installed. I'm not sure whether to live with it and deal with the hassle it gives me to get both sticks going, or RMA this set and try again. I already emailed Crucial yesterday and I'm waiting to hear back from them and advise me what to do.

Lastly, I'm wondering if they'd be prepared to send me some 8500 in return for this 6400 if I pay them the difference? Anyone know if this is a possibility? On one hand I don't want to let this stuff go because it clocks well. On the other, I could be running this speed with 8500 anyway, plus possibly much higher when overclocked.