If you’ve compared these results to the benchmarks I obtained from the Ballistix PC2-8000 RAM I tested last fall , you’ve probably noticed the negative difference in results. My guess is that the discrepancy has to do with inefficiencies in the 680i LT chipset; being unable to interpret the higher memory speed correctly leads to inefficiencies, which means lower bandwidth benchmarks. However, it could also be a function of the older, slower hard drive hosting the OS and Sandra slowing down the transfer of information from the test. In either case, proceed with caution when selecting your motherboard, as you could be wasting your money on more expensive RAM your computer can’t use to its full potential.

Conclusions
Assuming you own a computer that’s truly compatible with PC2-8500 RAM, the newest members of the Ballistix family are definitely worth the upgrade; they’ve got great overclocking potential, will help make your system one of the fastest out there and the Tracer LEDs make for a sweet dynamic light addition to your case’s innards. However, before you drop the money down on a pair of these beauties, check your motherboard’s specifications carefully; given the inconsistencies I encountered with the SiSoft test, it's possible you could be holding back your system with RAM that's too fast to be processed properly.