Configuration:

The following system was used to evaluate the Crucial Ballistix Tactical LP 16GB 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, the Crucial Ballistix Tactical LP 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 memory kit was tested against the previously reviewed Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB 1600MHz DDR3. See the specifications for this kit below. You may remember the Elite series kit was able to overclock to 1866MHz with 8-8-8-24 timings at 1.65v. This 8GB kit can be found at stores like Amazon.com for just over $5 shipped.

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 Tactical LP kit correctly adjusted to the stock 8-8-8-24 timings. I manually set the voltage to 1.35v and booted into Windows without an issue. See a screenshot of the memory operating at its stock conditions.



Overclocking:

Overclocking potential of the Crucial Ballistix Tactical LP 16GB Memory Kit was established by increasing the voltage and frequency to see what she could do. At 1.5v the Ballistix Tactical LP memory successfully booted and ran stable at 1866MHz, however timings needed to be decreased slightly to 9-9-9-24. Stability was verified by running MemTest86 on a continuous loop for 12 hours. This slight overclock appears to be the most you can push the Tactical kit.