INTRODUCTION

   Thanks to Intel and their Z690 chipset (and of course their Core i9-12xxx CPUs) consumers and professionals alike may now have access to DDR5 modules but for the vast majority DDR4 is still the way to go. Yes, DDR5 modules can go all the way up to 7GHz right now (whereas the fastest DDR4 modules top at just over 5GHz) but on one hand they are more expensive than DDR4 ones (alas not by much) while on the other availability is limited at best (not to mention you need a whole new system as well). Still since i will also need to move to DDR5 reviews soon (although i will also keep my Z590 test rig for DDR4 tests) i did one last large push and got as many DDR4 kits i could to review the first of which is no other than the Ballistix Max RGB 32GB DDR4 4400MHz from our friends over at Crucial.

   Crucial is a global brand of Micron Technology, Inc. Crucial solid-state drives (SSDs) and memory (DRAM) upgrades are compatible with over 100,000 new and old desktops, laptops, workstations and servers. Crucial Ballistix memory delivers a performance edge to gamers, enthusiasts and power users. Available worldwide at leading retail and e-tail stores, commercial resellers and system integrators, Crucial products enhance system performance and user productivity. Learn more at crucial.com.

   Once again, the Crucial Ballistix Max series is available in both RGB and non-RGB models and only in dual-channel configuration (2x8/16GB) with frequencies all the way to 4400MHz (4000/4400MHz - they did make a limited 5100MHz kit which is now discontinued), CAS latency timings as low as 18 (4000MHz CL18 / 4400MHz CL19) and voltages up to 1.4v (4000MHz 1.35V / 4400MHz 1.4V). Under the low-profile anodized aluminum heatspreaders we find single rank 8/16GB B/E-Die memory chips by Micron (16GB B-Die for this kit), built-in Giantec thermal sensors, 3D printed cover (you can create your very own with files provided by Crucial) and a LED bar that has a total of 16 RGB LEDs (8 zones with 12 effects) and is fully compatible with all the popular mainboard sync technologies (including ASUS AURA Sync, GIGABYTE RGB Fusion, MSI Mystic Light Sync and ASRock RGB Sync). As with their previous lines Crucial covers the entire Ballistix Max DDR4 RAM with a limited lifetime warranty.