Page 2: Stability, Testing, Conclusion
Stability:
Let me reiterate again how ASE Labs determines stability. I shall do this for every RAM review that is done. At ASE Labs, RAM is only stable if it passes Memtest86+ and a plethora of memory intensive applications for a few hours like mprime and doing continuous compiling of specific programs. Just because the memory POSTs and runs doesn't mean that it is stable. Linux users may find memory errors by having errors in compiling (very common) to errors in tar as well as segfaults. Windows users can expect program faults and BSODs. Memory stability is very important. When we say that a specific specification of RAM is stable, we mean it!
How does the new Tracer Red series from Crucial handle itself? Excellently. In fact I was running these modules at the normal 1.8V (JEDEC) at the rated timings and speed with no problem. That means these modules can handle tight timings of 4-4-4-12 running at 800MHz (PC2-6400) with a voltage of 1.8V. That is a feather in the cap for Crucial. This doesn't mean that modules you get will be able to do the same, just make sure your board can handle 2.2V just in case.
Overclocking:
I decided to try my luck at 1.8V for as far as I could go. I had some interesting results with this memory. Unfortunately, this kit is 2x2GB which means that pathways are longer and these modules usually handle a bit worse that 1GB modules. This happened to be the case, I hit a wall at any voltage with timings of 4-4-4-12 at 830MHz. I decided to try a bit higher timings of 5-5-5-15 which allowed the RAM to go as high as 960MHz before becoming unstable at any voltage even up to 2.30V. The weird thing is that the modules were stable at this speed at 1.8V which is really something. 2GB modules are a new thing for me and I have another set I'm reviewing from Corsair this week. Hopefully some parallels can be drawn.
Testing:
I want to preface this section by saying how ASE Labs will be doing benchmarks from now on. There will be no synthetic benchmarks at ASE Labs. This means that for fair comparisons, an apples to apples system will need to be made. We will be using tools that anyone will be able to get so anybody can reproduce our results. Current memory tests include compilation of LAME and FFMPEG, encoding in each of those programs, and a round of mprime to round everything out. We will be adding testing as we see fit during future reviews. If you would like to see specific (real world stuff) programs, please send me an email.
By using real world testing, a deduction can be made about memory at the same specs; Unless a major problem occurs in a set of modules, there is no statistical difference between one set and another set of modules. It is more important to look at the stability and overclockability of the modules as well as the price.
Testing was done with a Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz on an Asus P5B Deluxe. The Tracer Red was running at the rated 4-4-4-12 at 800MHz and was tested against the Corsair 4GB kit running at the same timings and speed. This is a fair comparison. In a future article we will go over how more RAM can increase performance.
What can I say except that memory is memory. These are apples to apples comparison of a component that is standard running at the same specs. There should be little difference. There is a difference between the speed of 2GB and 1GB modules and we will look at that in the future.
So how do these modules look?
Awesome. The lights on the RAM respond to usage which is very neat. The modules are all glowing red as you can see from the base. The light from these sticks can light an entire case fairly well, but as accent lighting, it rocks. It makes your computer look like it's doing something.
Conclusion:
Pricing and available will probably come soon from Crucial. I suspect that these modules will have a slight premium over their regular black counterparts. If red isn't your color or you don't need the flashiness, these modules aren't for you. Crucial's RAM has always been stable and well performing and the Red series is no different. Looking for RAM that will turn heads? Here it is. Now if we can just get some stock in the US. Hopefully we will see the Tracer Red return on new DDR3 modules.
I'd like to thank everyone at Crucial for making this review possible and I'm pleased to be the first US publication to review these modules. Red is my favorite color, after all.
Let me reiterate again how ASE Labs determines stability. I shall do this for every RAM review that is done. At ASE Labs, RAM is only stable if it passes Memtest86+ and a plethora of memory intensive applications for a few hours like mprime and doing continuous compiling of specific programs. Just because the memory POSTs and runs doesn't mean that it is stable. Linux users may find memory errors by having errors in compiling (very common) to errors in tar as well as segfaults. Windows users can expect program faults and BSODs. Memory stability is very important. When we say that a specific specification of RAM is stable, we mean it!
How does the new Tracer Red series from Crucial handle itself? Excellently. In fact I was running these modules at the normal 1.8V (JEDEC) at the rated timings and speed with no problem. That means these modules can handle tight timings of 4-4-4-12 running at 800MHz (PC2-6400) with a voltage of 1.8V. That is a feather in the cap for Crucial. This doesn't mean that modules you get will be able to do the same, just make sure your board can handle 2.2V just in case.
Overclocking:
I decided to try my luck at 1.8V for as far as I could go. I had some interesting results with this memory. Unfortunately, this kit is 2x2GB which means that pathways are longer and these modules usually handle a bit worse that 1GB modules. This happened to be the case, I hit a wall at any voltage with timings of 4-4-4-12 at 830MHz. I decided to try a bit higher timings of 5-5-5-15 which allowed the RAM to go as high as 960MHz before becoming unstable at any voltage even up to 2.30V. The weird thing is that the modules were stable at this speed at 1.8V which is really something. 2GB modules are a new thing for me and I have another set I'm reviewing from Corsair this week. Hopefully some parallels can be drawn.
Testing:
I want to preface this section by saying how ASE Labs will be doing benchmarks from now on. There will be no synthetic benchmarks at ASE Labs. This means that for fair comparisons, an apples to apples system will need to be made. We will be using tools that anyone will be able to get so anybody can reproduce our results. Current memory tests include compilation of LAME and FFMPEG, encoding in each of those programs, and a round of mprime to round everything out. We will be adding testing as we see fit during future reviews. If you would like to see specific (real world stuff) programs, please send me an email.
By using real world testing, a deduction can be made about memory at the same specs; Unless a major problem occurs in a set of modules, there is no statistical difference between one set and another set of modules. It is more important to look at the stability and overclockability of the modules as well as the price.
Testing was done with a Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz on an Asus P5B Deluxe. The Tracer Red was running at the rated 4-4-4-12 at 800MHz and was tested against the Corsair 4GB kit running at the same timings and speed. This is a fair comparison. In a future article we will go over how more RAM can increase performance.
What can I say except that memory is memory. These are apples to apples comparison of a component that is standard running at the same specs. There should be little difference. There is a difference between the speed of 2GB and 1GB modules and we will look at that in the future.
So how do these modules look?
Awesome. The lights on the RAM respond to usage which is very neat. The modules are all glowing red as you can see from the base. The light from these sticks can light an entire case fairly well, but as accent lighting, it rocks. It makes your computer look like it's doing something.
Conclusion:
Pricing and available will probably come soon from Crucial. I suspect that these modules will have a slight premium over their regular black counterparts. If red isn't your color or you don't need the flashiness, these modules aren't for you. Crucial's RAM has always been stable and well performing and the Red series is no different. Looking for RAM that will turn heads? Here it is. Now if we can just get some stock in the US. Hopefully we will see the Tracer Red return on new DDR3 modules.
I'd like to thank everyone at Crucial for making this review possible and I'm pleased to be the first US publication to review these modules. Red is my favorite color, after all.