Best RAM for Intel Core i7 4770k

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adzmihakin98

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Sep 19, 2013
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Hello! I'm planning to build a system which uses the intel core i7 4770k processer. What do you guys think the best RAM for them? For gaming specifically. And if it's possible, what are the numbers on the ram like MHz mean too? hahah thanks a bunch
 
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geofelt
Ram compatibility is associated with the motherboard, not the cpu.

You want documented ram compatibility. If you should ever have a problem, you want supported ram.
Otherwise, you risk a finger pointing battle between the ram and motherboard support sites, claiming "not my problem".
One place to check is your motherboards web site.
Look for the ram QVL list. It lists all of the ram kits that have been tested with that particular motherboard.
Sometimes the QVL list is not updated after the motherboard is released.
For more current info, go to a ram vendor's web site and access their ram selection configurator.
Enter your motherboard, and you will get a list of compatible ram kits.
While today's motherboards are more tolerant of...
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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Ram compatibility is associated with the motherboard, not the cpu.

You want documented ram compatibility. If you should ever have a problem, you want supported ram.
Otherwise, you risk a finger pointing battle between the ram and motherboard support sites, claiming "not my problem".
One place to check is your motherboards web site.
Look for the ram QVL list. It lists all of the ram kits that have been tested with that particular motherboard.
Sometimes the QVL list is not updated after the motherboard is released.
For more current info, go to a ram vendor's web site and access their ram selection configurator.
Enter your motherboard, and you will get a list of compatible ram kits.
While today's motherboards are more tolerant of different ram, it makes sense to buy ram that is known to work and is supported.

The MHz numbers refer to speed. The cas numbers refer to the delay before getting up to that speed.
The higher the speed, the higher the delay(cas) so they somewhat offset each other.

Ultimately the speed of the ram past 1600 has not that much effect on real app performance or fps(vs. synthetic benchmarks) on intel platforms.
Read this: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/sandy-bridge-memory-scaling-choosing-the-best-ddr3

For just gaming, 8gb is the sweet spot. But, since ram is cheap, I would buy 16gb. Windows keeps more code in ram available for instant reuse.

I would look for a 16gb kit(2 x 8gb) of 1600 or 1866 low profile ram.
High heat spreaders are not useful and can impact many cpu coolers.
 
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adzmihakin98

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Sep 19, 2013
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Wow, really appreciate for the well detailed answer geofelt. Thank you so much!
Does the size of the RAM eg: (8gb,16gb,32gb) affects the flow of the OS?
And maybe ill be using the Asus Maximus VI Hero for these RAMs. It'll sure be compatible yes?
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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Basicall for gaming 1600/1866 is fine, and 8GB is sufficient, look for 1600/8 or 1866/9 (either in 1.5 volt) or better in 2x4GB so can use dual channel - as far what DRAM, basically any, QVLs from mobo manufacturers are pretty worthess, they 'test' at the mobo default, generally 1333/1600 regardless of DRAM spec, so if you see 2400 on the list, yes it may work, but only at 1333 or 1600 (more on QVLs here:

http://www.gskill.us/forum/showthread.php?t=10566

MHz is the effective freq of the DRAM or how fast it runs, I say effective because the true freq is half of what's advertised since this is DDR - DOUBLE DATA RATE you take the true freq (say 800) times 2 to get the effective of advertised freq of 1600.

With the Haswell CPUs, I've found the GSkill Tridents to be best, followed by the GSkill Snipers
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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You don't want a 12GB GB set, that's 3x4GB and it's in a dual channel mobo, which would end up with 8GB running in dual channel and the odd 4 in single channel, which is extra stain on the MC (memory controller), either 8GB in a 2x4GB or 16GB in a 2x8GB
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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It's simply the amount of the DRAM, there was a suggestion for 12GB above, which makes no sense, so was clarifying either 8GB or 16GB....I favor higher amounts of DRAM which can speed up overall system, but if for strictly gaming, 8GB is more than sufficient for most....if you do go with the Hero (that's what I built my Haswell on (in sig), it loves high freq and large amounts, know whenever I drop to 8GB or 1600 sticks, it starts to feel like it's crawling ;) High freq sticks definitely make a difference if one really uses their rig
 
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waqas3483

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Tradsman1,

Thanks for the info. I am new to building a PC and its my first time. So can u suggest that I am picking right ram or is higher frequency is better and how much. I am using this parts to build.
Core i7 4770k
Asus Z87-Expert
Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
And what better for this board 2x8GB or 4x4GB modules? Is there any impact if I go for 1866 or 2000? I am going to use this for gaming.
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Nice mobo, good choice, if looking to 16GB, best to look at at a 2x8GB set, two sticks is less stress on the MC (memory controller) than 4 and ever so slightly faster. Haswell scales to RAM better than previous Intel CPUs so would suggest either 1866 or 2133, will see some gains in gaming from the wider bandwidth and larger gains in new games as the developers utilize DRAM more, i.e. BF4 while still primarily dependent on GPU performance wise also gears up more with better CPUs and DRAM
 
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waqas3483

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Thanks for the suggestion. I check the QVL of Asus Z87 - Expert but I cannot find any Corsair Vengeance Pro in this list. They give the list only with Vendor and Part number not the series, so what should I check to select the RAM? Although Corsair specifically said that this series is specially build for 3rd and 4th generation processors. Any suggestion ?
 
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waqas3483

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Thanks for your reply. What about the timing. Is the difference in timings of both rams have any impact because 1866 is better timing according to my knowledge but 2400 have better speed Is there any difference if i run both on stock speed. I forgot to mention the board which is ASUS Z87 - Expert. Kindly suggest. And what about the configuration is it user friendly or easy?
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Contrary to the (2) popular beliefs (many say say high freq and CL be ignored - others say low CL and freq doesn't matter), neither one is correct, to get best performance it takes a combination of the the highest freq paired with the lowest CL - true performance sticks will normally be rated

1600/7 1866/8 2133/9 2400/10 2666/11 2800/12 at any of the freqs and with a higher CL say 1600/9 tou are looking at entry level for that freq and a higher CL should be completely ignored like 1600/10 or 1600/11 (which should be cheap) performance wise better off with say 1333/8 or 9
 
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waqas3483

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So which one is better in performance and stability according to my board, if I want to run it on stock speed and not overclock. I didn't overclock before so I am not aware of its basics. I am confuse, why they are selling those two on same price :).
 
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