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Crucial announces Ballistix DDR4 16GB memory modules, updates Storage Executive utility

By Koh Wanzi - on 4 Jun 2015, 5:42pm

Crucial announces Ballistix DDR4 16GB memory modules, updates Storage Executive utility

The Crucial Ballistix Elite range of memory modules will include the new high-density 16GB DDR4 sticks. (Image Source: Crucial)

At Computex 2015, Crucial announced new high-density Ballistix DDR4 16GB modules for power users and gaming enthusiasts. Based on Micron’s new high-density 8Gb DDR4 component technology, the memory modules will be available across Crucial’s Ballistix Sport LT, Tactical and Elite range of products in kits up to 128GB.

The memory modules are targeted at gamers and content creation professionals, in addition to use in virtual machines, RAM drives and other memory-intensive applications. According to Crucial, equivalent memory densities were previously only available on server systems, but the new Ballistix DDR4 sticks will bring these higher densities to consumers on high-end desktop systems like the Intel X99 platform.

The higher density modules will also support Intel XMP 2.0 profiles and can help usher in larger memory capacities in the next generation of consumer desktop systems. They are expected to ship in late July and will be available as individual 16GB modules or in kits up to 128GB.

In addition, Crucial announced quite a significant update to its Storage Executive SSD toolbox. The newest version (3.20) adds Momentum Cache, an intelligent caching feature that claims to be able to improve burst performance by up to 10x. It does this by using some of the system’s DRAM to buffer random data writes, which also happens to help increase the life of your SSD.

Image Source: Crucial

This is because random data writes cause flash to wear down faster than sequential writes, but the intelligent caching function combats this by reducing redundant writes. The DRAM buffer takes in the random data before writing it sequentially to the SSD, which helps increase its life span.

Other than that, Storage Executive also allows users to update their drive to the latest firmware, monitor its temperature and health, reset its encryption password and check how much space is being used.

Storage Executive is compatible with Crucial M500, M550, MX100, MX200 and BX100 SSDs on systems running Windows 7 or newer operating systems. It will also work with Micron client SSDs. The program is available for download from Crucial’s website and Micron’s.

Source: Crucial (1), (2)

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