Sensors and reporting
User will need to download the Memory Overview Display (MOD) utility that provides the front-end GUI for the sensor.
Click to enlargeThe program installs Microsoft's NET Framework 4.0. Upon loading, this is the first screen you're presented with. It provides rudimentary data on the installed DIMMs - be they Ballistix Finned or another manufacturer's - but doesn't display the current timings and speed, strangely.
Click to enlargeWe tested the MOD utility on both the ASUS P7P55D Premium (Intel P55 chipset) and ASUS Crosshair IV Formula (AMD 890FX chipset) motherboards. It worked as expected on the P55 chipset but wouldn't play ball with the AMD chipset, as per the screenshot, above.
Click to enlargeComing back to the P55 board, MOD provides temperature readings for both modules - for the PCB and not the chips, remember - in a well-laid-out front-end. There's a logging function that saves readings to a notepad file and a configuration section that, as the name suggests, tweaks settings.
Installed inside a Corsair Obsidian 700D chassis with the side-panel taken off, the on-board sensor returned an average temperature of 30.5°C when the modules idled in Windows 7.
Click to enlargeTemperatures rose to an average 45.75°C after 20 minutes of Prime95 load. While the temperature readings are semi-useful in isolation, giving you an insight into RAM activity and heat, we wanted to see how the Crucial-provided readings tallied up with an infra-red sensor's.
Click to enlargeWaving the sensor over various parts of the heatsink returned an average temperature of 48°C, or 2.25°C above Crucial's. At idle, the infra-red gun retained a 2°C higher reading than the on-board sensor's.
Summary
We don't believe that having on-board temperature sensors for DDR3 modules is a make-or-break deal with respect to RAM purchases: the modules simply don't get hot enough to warrant a super-close eye on temps. Crucial probably appreciates this line of thinking and thus is introducing sensor-equipped Ballistix Finned modules at no extra cost to the consumer. Working perfectly on an Intel P55 chipset-based motherboard, folks with AMD rigs may feel left out, based on our findings with the beta software.
Available in the US for $109.99, plus taxes, there's no indication of UK availability almost two months on from initial release. While not setting our hearts aflutter, we can think of no obvious reason for not putting them on a shortlist if looking for some high-quality DDR3 in the near future.
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Crucial Ballistix Finned DDR3 1,600 4GB (BL2KIT25664FN1608)
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$109.99 at Newegg.comHEXUS Right2Reply
Crucial had the following to say about the compatibility issues with the AMD 890FX platform.
There is some compatibility issues with the application and the AMD 890FX that we are working on. Originally Ballistix MOD and these parts were designed for the P55, X58, X48 and other Intel chipsets supporting XMP. We will continue to add compatibility with other chipsets and motherboards. The modules should work in the board but configuration is manual and performance varies. The download page mentions the parts are for Core i5 and Core i7 based systems.
