Configuration:

The following system was used to evaluate the Crucial Ballistix Sport VLP 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 memory kit...

» Intel Core i5 2500K LGA 1155 Quad Core @ 3.7Ghz (OC to 4.7Ghz w/1.38v)
» ASUS P8Z68 Deluxe Motherboard (Rev 1.0) w/0902 BIOS
» Cooler Master Hyper TX3 Heatpipe CPU Cooler
» OS Disk: OCZ Agility II 2.5" 60GB SATA II 3Gbps
» Storage Disk: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB hard drive SATA 3Gbps
» 2x nVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 graphics cards (SLI)
» OCZ 750W Fatal1ty Modular Power Supply
» Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gamer Case
» Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit operating system w/latest Windows Updates



For comparison purposes, we decided to pit the Crucial Ballistix Sport VLP 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 memory kit against its cousins - the previously reviewed 16GB Crucial Ballistix Tactical LP kit and the 8GB Crucial Ballistix Elite kit. Performance specs for both kits are listed below.

Crucial Ballistix Tactical 16GB Memory specifications:

» 2x8GB (16GB)
» PC3-12800 DDR3-1600
» 8-8-8-24, 1.35V

Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB Memory specifications:

» 2x4GB (8GB)
» PC3-12800 DDR3-1600
» 8-8-8-24, 1.5V

With XMP Profile # 1 active, the Crucial Ballistix Sport VLP kit correctly adjusted to the timings to the specified 9-9-9-24 . With the voltage manually set to 1.35v, the test system booted into Windows without a hitch. Below is a screenshot of the memory operating in its stock state.



Overclocking:

Overclocking potential of the Crucial Ballistix Sport VLP 16GB Memory Kit was established by pushing the RAM voltage all the way up to 1.65v. The Sport VLP kit required 1.5v to run 1866MHz with complete stability and required the memory timings to be backed off to 10-10-10-27. Stability was verified by running MemTest86 on a continuous loop for 12 hours. As a result of the looser timings, we expected the benchmarks to put the Sport VLP kit behind the Tactical LP and Elite memory modules. For the most part - testing proved this to be the case.