In what seems to be another product announcement that was made specifically for me, Crucial have announced instant availability of “Low Profile” versions of their Ballistix Sport and Ballistix Tactical RAM. They are available on their web store right now.
As you know from reading the Memory Reviews here at HCW, we are not fond of needlessly huge heatsinks. More often than not, they are unnecessary, and sometimes their only function is to get in the way of large coolers like the Noctua NH-D14 or Phanteks PH-TC14PE. The lower profile should also make for better active cooling on hit VRM components – this is especially important for those with AMD FX builds.
Crucial takes it a step further – the DIMMs used in the Ballistix Sport and Ballistix Tactical are all rated for 1.35v. This at the very least should lead to better efficiency, but could open up the possibility for higher overclocks as well. We’ll have to wait and see when we get some in!
Both types are rated for DDR3 1600 MHz. The more expensive Ballistix Tactical VLP has timings of 8-8-8-24, the same as the standard kit we reviewed here. The Ballistix Sport has slightly loosened timings, at 9-9-9-24, and costs about $10 less for an 8GB kit.
Full announcement after the break.
Crucial, a leading global brand of memory and storage upgrades, today announced the immediate availability of Crucial Ballistix Low Profile (LP) memory, which delivers a true low profile design to provide more clearance around high-end CPU coolers and improve airflow throughout the system. Designed for performance enthusiasts and small form factor computer builders with limited space, Crucial Ballistix LP memory features all the performance benefits of Ballistix memory without the height concerns of taller modules.
Since overclocked systems with power-hungry processors are often heat-intensive and require oversized CPU coolers to regulate temperatures, clearance for memory modules is often limited. To address this, Crucial Ballistix LP memory modules are between 15 percent and 35 percent lower profile than competing modules.* Using up to 10 percent less power (1.35V) than standard modules (1.5V), Crucial Ballistix LP memory modules also help reduce the cooling problem in high-performance systems, resulting in a lower thermal profile and less fan noise, and enable easier overall system cooling.
“Crucial Ballistix LP memory delivers all the benefits users have come to expect from Crucial high-performance memory – just in a smaller package,” said Jeremy Mortensen, senior worldwide product manager, Crucial. “While other low profile offerings on the market provide some clearance, Crucial Ballistix LP memory delivers a true low profile and low power design to give users more clearance around their CPU coolers, while using less power for increased energy efficiency.”
Leveraging the industry-leading design and manufacturing capability of Micron Technology, Crucial Ballistix LP memory is backed by a limited lifetime warranty, and is compatible with the latest platforms from Intel® and AMD. Crucial Ballistix LP memory is available in a variety of popular DDR3L speeds and up to 8GB in density for both Crucial Ballistix Sport VLP (very low profile) and Tactical LP models. Crucial Ballistix LP memory modules are available now at www.crucial.com
