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Question

Please help me with overclocking and RAM/MBoard compatibilit

Feb 2, 2015 11:03PM PST

I am having trouble understanding all this stuff about overclocking RAM and motherboards that support it.
For my new gaming PC i can buy either:
• DIMM DDR3 2x8GB 2400MHz Kingston HyperX Savage CL11
• DIMM DDR3 2x8GB 1866MHz Kingston HyperX Savage CL9
For my new motherboard i can choose between:
• LGA1150 Z97 ASUS SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK 2
• LGA1150 Z97 ASUS Z97-PRO GAMER
• LGA1150 Z97 MAXIMUS VII RANGER
• LGA1150 Z97 ASUS Z97-AR
My CPU will be Intel i7-4790K and my PSU is a 750w Seasonic SS-750AM2, GPU is Nvidia GTX 980.
I understand that CL9 is better than CL11, but the entire overclocking thing baffles me.

What really confuses me is the following:
1. Sabertooth motherboard does not seem to support 2400MHz RAM - but it does support 1866MHz RAM without overclocking, or am i mistaken?
2. The other 3 mother boards support up to 3000+MHz RAM, but they do not support 1866MHz RAM without overclocking?
3. I do not understand how RAM overclocking works, do i sacrifice my CPU performance (or something else) when i overclock my RAM to 2400MHz?
4. If the 2400MHz RAM is left to work at only 1866 MHz, does it still have CL11 - or does the latency drop to CL9 since it runs on 1866MHz?
5. Which motherboard would be the best choice if i want to run a 1866MHz RAM at CL9?
6. Which motherboard would be the best choice if i want to run a 2400MHZ RAM at CL11?
I am not able to understand which RAM should i pair up with motherboard for maximum performance?
The prices are very similar, so money is not the problem here - i just don't understand which RAM+Motherboard would give the best performance in games like Battlefield 4 (64 multiplayer).

(side question): what is better for a single Nvidia GTX 980 GPU, a PCI (32-bit) slot or a PCI-Express 16x slot?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I'd find Overclocking Forums
Feb 3, 2015 12:18AM PST

I have yet to see such discussions here.
Bob

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Answer
Don't OC ram
Feb 3, 2015 12:19AM PST

OC'ing ram is a stupid mistake. There is no other way to put it, any benefits are short-lived. Ram is too important and wholly dependent on its own make-up and it hardly has any give. While OC schemes do work or provide some measure of increase when it comes to ram its so little that is not worth it. Basically, you push it until it breaks and that's very possible. I realize you may want the best for your cash, but the setup should already come to you ready to work with it own build-in *STABLE* operation, just install the components and leave it at that. Better mtrbds. provide some OC or "turbo" operation even if supported, you find the magic spot and leave it at that, once you pass a certain point, it will be heartache sooner or later. You've been warned.

tada ------Willy Shocked

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Answer
An answer you won't like.
Feb 3, 2015 1:57AM PST

Don't OC.
Not much up side but a lot of down side.
That cpu supports 1600 ram.
Get a mobo that supports 1600 ram....native.
Get 1600 ram....low cl would be nice if it's not crazy expensive.

Work on getting the proper bios and drivers
Work on all that unneeded background stuff that's running.
Allow turbo to do the ocing for you.
That won't give you bragging rights with the Ocer's but as they have crashes and other odd things happen you will be gaming away daily with no fuss.

I don't think you will find a 980 that fits in a pci slot.

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Answer
Where to get some performance without OCing.
Feb 3, 2015 2:07AM PST

1. Look again at the display input lag. There are milliseconds to be had here that you can't gain in other hardware.

2. Forget WiFi. Gamers eventually learn this as well as turning off WiFi or just hooking up directly to the ISP's modem.

3. Go ahead and get a nice SSD. More milliseconds saved.

All this, without overclocking.
Bob