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Question

URGENT! Memory RAM related question.

by Apr 23, 2018 11:27AM PDT

Hello!

I am planning to buy a PC and that is my final build.

CPU: Intel i7 8700 (non-K)
MOBO: Gigabyte Z370-HD3
RAM: G.Skill RipjawsV Black 2x8GB DDR4 3200MHz CL16 Dual Channel (f4-3200c16d-16gvkb)

What do you think about the memory?
Can I run it at 3200MHz? Does the fact that the CPU is locked matter here?

Thank you!

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Clarification Request
New ram
by richtassel Apr 24, 2018 8:32AM PDT

Thank you all for your feedback!



I do not really want just 3200MHz RAM memory but that model was cheaper then other 2666MHz models.



Unfortunately, this model is out of stock so I need to choose another one.



I tought about this model: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB KIT 2x8GB DDR4 2666MHz CL16 Black (cmk16gx4m2a2666c16).

My questions is the same: Would this model run at 2666MHz with my CPU and MoBo? I ask this because I know that under 2666MHz is not that good for Intel CPUs.



Thank you again!

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"I know that under 2666MHz is not that good for Intel CPUs."
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 24, 2018 8:45AM PDT

That changes with the CPU and motherboard. I wish if was this simple.

When you have folk ask for compatibility it's a lot of work that you must defer to the motherboard maker. Crucial.com does this work for us as well.

To really know if this is supported, back to the motherboard maker's site to check their QVL (qualified vendors list) and if that's not on the list then ask them directly.

-> To reiterate. So far it's always been OK to install faster RAM. There are long articles about how RAM is made. They don't intentionally make slow RAM so eventually the process is tuned up and nothing but faster RAM shows up. Which does run fine at the lower speed.

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I checked the QVL
by richtassel Apr 24, 2018 11:53AM PDT

I checked the motherboard's qualified vendors list and it says it supports this model at 2666MHz but I also read on forums about cases when did run at 2400 (to be fully honest, they were speaking about other mobo's - I did not found something related to this Mobo and this ram).

Thanks

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I can't guess why foll put in slower RAM (2400)
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 24, 2018 12:32PM PDT

Unless they had it laying around and just wanted to try it. The way RAM is made is that it starts and is tested to some speed but the sticks may actually beat the spec (most do) but the makers can't test each stick so they test by a batch and the device tester will only test up to some speed so the parts are binned to 2400, 2800, 3x00 and so on. This means if those 2400 didn't pass the 2800 speed test, they could be good to go under the right conditions.

BUT this can lead to very hard to diagnose problems.

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Answer
Depends on the motherboard.
by Forum moderator Apr 23, 2018 12:08PM PDT

It may have options but there is nothing wrong with running RAM at a lower speed. There is usually not enough loss there to worry about or put another way, so little gained by clocking up the RAM.

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