Custom lightbars can be 3D printed for Crucial's new RAM.

General
Custom lightbars can be 3D printed for Crucial's new RAM.

Before we turn our attention to DDR5 RAM kits, it seems that memory manufacturers still have a few tricks up their sleeves: Crucial has announced its next-generation Ballistix DDR4 RAM, and one of its memory lines will allow you to 3D print your own custom designs if you are willing to remove the light You can remove the bar and install it yourself if you feel like 3D printing a custom design.

This option will be available in Crucial's upcoming Ballistix Max memory line. This is the flagship offering, with speeds ranging from 4,000MHz to 4,400MHz and "densities" of 8GB and 16GB; Crucial has yet to reveal any details, but that could mean 32GB or even higher capacity kits are on the way. However, Crucial has been forthcoming about the lighting.

"The RGB option features eight zones with 16 LEDs that can be customized and controlled by Asus Aura, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, and MSI Mystic Light software support. The removable light bar can be replaced with a 3D printed version for ultimate personalization," said Crucial.

I don't own a 3D printer, so I'm not going to speak for those who do, especially if this is something anyone would want. Nevertheless, Crucial touts these as top-of-the-line products, stating that they "meticulously designed and engineered our new line to deliver the high-speed, low-latency, world-class performance that all gamers, builders, and overclockers need and expect."

So, the company has been working on a new line of products for the past several years.

So the question arises, is RAM speed and capacity important for gaming, the short answer is yes, and the long answer is in the link I just provided.

Crucial is a division of Micron, so it is not surprising that both the next generation Ballistix and Ballistix Max kits use Micron memory chips. Non-Max Ballistix memory speeds range from 2,400MHz to 3,600MHz and densities range from 4GB to 32GB. Assuming that Crucial is talking about single modules, we could see options for 64GB or even larger capacities.

These details will have to wait, but Crucial has provided some interesting information that the next generation Ballistix memory will replace the Ballistix Sport, Tactical, and Elite products. I like this approach as opposed to pushing many different memory lines on users.

The new kits will be available on February 4. In the meantime, there is a countdown timer on Crucial's website, so don't worry about missing your chance to 3D print a light bar.

Categories