Choosing optimal memory specs

IMHO, I personally believe that you are looking for answers that will never really matter for your everyday use.

4x4 or 2x8 or 4x8, you will not see the difference really

If pricing permits, go with as much ram as you can afford and what the MB can permit. Quad is moreso of a marketing gimmick and most likely will carry a premium.

Look for the highest freq combined with the lowest CL, also best to get the least number of sticks i.e. 2x8GB vs 4x4GB for 16 GB - less sticks = less stress on the MC (memory controller) and less paths 2 vs 4. For performance DRAM I generally look for

1600/7 1866/8 2133/9 2400/10 2666/11 and of course if you can find the freq with a tighter CL, so much the better

For most people, No. If you use a lot of memory centric apps and use large amounts of DRAM then it may well be, for me it was, I wanted to go 2800 but the prices when I bought were much higher and the sticks were were very hard to come by

Hope you don't mind me asking, I'm in a similar situation as AINTD trying to decide which combination of Ram to use in an application very similar for my present build. I`ll be requiring it for Video Editing, Graphics Programs, Corel, Photoshop Etc. with some gaming as well. Hardware I'm using is a 4930K CPU and Rampage IV 2011 board which accommodates a wide choice of Ram.

I checked the Asus Rampage QVL for Ram compatibility and had my eyes on G-Skill RipJaws or the F3-2133C11Q-32GZL(XMP) or the CL 10 cousin, both are quad (4X8GB) sticks.

From what you`ve suggested to AINTD maybe I would be further ahead (if I stick with 2133 MHz) to stay with CL9 (for performance) so the Corsair CMD32GX3M4A2133C9 (Ver4.21)(XMP)32GB ( 4x 8GB ) would be faster?

Next up: moving up in speed to 2400 MHz we have G.SKILL F3-19200CL10Q-32GBZHD(XMP) 32GB ( 4x 8GB ) This would be the next wise choice according to your advice given. It has been suggested as well 32 GB is totally unnecessary, so in real world rendering applications how much Ram do we really need under extreme work load?

This is just a note of interest, but I stumbled on a formula someone on the ASUS site uses that confirmed what you said in relation to Ram Speed/CL ,although I just added the values it seems to hold true, let me know what you think or is it not wise to follow?

Here is the quote,
" Choosing a frequency is sometimes also complicated a bit by the timings of the RAM. There is a formula that can help you in deciding if one kit is faster than the other when the timings are taken into account.

(CAS/frequency) x 2000 gives you a number in nanoseconds for comparing speeds.
(CAS divided by Frequency) x 2000
Say you see a 1600 kit at 7-8-7-20 and a 1866 kit at 9-10-9-28 which is faster?

Well 7/1600 x 2000 = 8.75 nanoseconds; 9/1866 x 2000 = 9.646 so the 1600 kit actually looks quicker." (end of quote)

Perhaps this may be just a quick indicator for general CL rules, but enough to give us a quick reference to speed, one Ram over another.

Very appreciative of your advice, thank you!

With your CPU 2400 would be good, and look for CL10 - the Ripjaws Z line is a good choice as it it slightly optimized for true quad channel (this line of DRAM came out with the release of the 2011 socket), Tridents and Snipers are also good choices....as to latency, while the turnaround on actions is ever so slightly faster, the higher freq allows for much greater bandwidth per action so you have more DRAM involved in each action it undertakes, which provides better performance hence with performance sticks if you have 1866/8 it is a little better overall than 1600/7 and a little behind 2133/9, then comes 2400/10 and on to 2666/11 and 2800 12 - each step up offers a slight performance advantage

MykeyMyke's math is correct. Do what he says.

_______________
Yes so:

1600/7 8.75
1866/8 8.57
2133/9 8.43
and as mentioned the higher the freq the higher the bandwidth - more DRAM being used

Good to know this formula is based on fact, it's all starting to make sense!

I have the SKILL Ripjaws Z F3-19200CL10Q-32GBZHD 32GB 4X8GB DDR3-2400 CL10 240PIN Quad Channel Memory Kit as my choice, they are the blue Z's if there is any difference in performance to the Red Ripjaws I'm not sure, it's the numbers that matter. G-Skills Z's are about 2 hundred dollars cheaper than the Corsair Dominators and to be honest I don't think I'm going to notice any performance difference, they both have the same speed and latency 10CL specs. Rippers are $451.00, Dominators are $632.78 currently at NCIX for the 32GB quads that'll give me almost $200.00 to put into other components.

Glad I checked with you guys- awesome! Thanks so much

Yep, the GSkill models are also established models, they've had the Zs, Tridents and believe the X models in 32GB since around May of 2012, Corsair just got their sets out about 4-5 months ago (which is why they are so high)

I hoped my joining the conversation helped you out a bit with your decision..via the expert advice
Cheers!

Hello TradesMan, I was wondering if you could advise me on Ram choice, related to this past discussion.
I've been purchasing components for a new build and have everything on order except the Ram you suggested I can't get, I guess I can get it if I wait, yet suppliers always suggest you pick something in stock and I'd rather wait then settle for something of lesser performance.

My question on Ram for the 4930K CPU, Rampage Black comb is: I had 32BG of G-Skill Ripjaws Z 2400 CAS 10 all set to order(compatible with Rampage Black) but they are on back order, if I pick another G-Skill choice what would be the best for my CPU and MB and for rendering function, "to get that sweet spot" in efficiency, speed, and also good for gaming or whatever else I throw at it?

With your rig, I'd look for the Ripjaws Z, Trident X, Snipers, Ripjaws X or Ares in 2400/10 in that order

That sounds good I will just keep the Z's on order. I don't think I'll ever use more than 32GB even at that it's overkill for what I do, but you never know what the future may have in store say for example 3D works with increased resolution comes increased demands.

Thanks for your help
Mike

No worries, and you may be surprised

I would be surprised by how much Ram is used, or required? I'm curious to know what you mean or may be implying? If getting 64 GB is practical by spending almost $450.00 more, is it not really throwing money away unless you really need it, But in what real world application would you ever need more than 32GB of Ram?

Mainly at how much you might use, have had numerous people tell me they'll never even come close to 16GB, then really start using their rig and find they are right there, and need more, have a number of folks that regularly hit 20+

I've had numerous people tell me that I'll never use all 64 Kilo-Bytes of RAM in a Commodore 64. It's just not possible. Even with the bloated BASIC language, no human being can write that much code.

The moral of this story is: We will eventually use it all. I mean...Microsoft even added animation to the Windows Desktop!

Good point, I guess it depends what you're doing, I've heard gaming doesn't require a lot of ram so for all intensive purposes 16GB is plenty, as opposed to HD video rendering or even layers of hi res Photoshop, swapping huge files, even turning on axis commands are very taxing on the system as a whole.

My build is presently at a stand still... I have the 32GB G.SKILL RipjawsZ F3-19200CL10Q-32GBZHD 64GB 4X8GB DDR3-2400 CL10 240PIN Quad Channel Memory Kit on back order, yet the 64GB kit is teasing me sitting in stock.

Here's an option I have, maybe you could tell me if this would work just for assembly and set up purposes and then I would order the 32GB Z's from someone else that have them in stock and install them after the new computer arrives.

I have another computer an Intel i7 2600 with a ROG Maximus Gene Gen 3 MB with G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory. I was thinking maybe ordering a set of these anyway. So lets say I ordered a matching set of these XL's (listed above), and have the shop install these in the Ramage MB, config Windows 7 and do all the Bios setup, just enough to do their thing, then when the rig gets home and the 32GB kit arrives I just swap them out and then I can use the XL's 2X4GB kit in my i72600 rig and that would give me 16GB there, which would be perfect at an $84.99 price tag? Note too as well they are configuring Windows without a graphics card as well, I'll be assembling that when it arrives as well.

The problem is the Rampage Black MB uses XMP compatible Ram pretty much "across the board"... Do you think there would be a compatibility issue if I told them to install the XL's in dual channel? It would only be for set up purposes, so I don't want to do any damage of course, I know this would not be recommended and it conflicts with the approved vendors list as well for the Ramp Black MB.

Or would you just say go for the 64GB and break the bank in doing so?

Mike

No they'll be fine, the DRAM itself doesn't care what it runs in, that's determined by the MC and what slots are filled

MC is the master controller I guess. I think that will be my plan of attack-kill two birds with one stone as they say.
thanks again Trades- you're awesome

I was just noticing on the Asus Rampage Black support page in the Qualified Vendors List (QVL) for Ram compatibility it lists the G.SKILL RipjawsZ F3-19200CL10Q-32GBZHD 64GB 4X8GB DDR3-2400 CL10 240PIN Quad Channel Memory kits compatibility and gives the timing specs of 10-12-12-31 and over in the DIMM socket Support (Optional) section lists this memory only with the 2DIMM choice selected, not the 4DIMM or 6 or 8 DIMM checked off? What does this mean or does it have any significance to the overall set up and performance of 32GB and 64GB options where 4 or the full 8 dock slots are used?

MC is the Memory Controller

First, QVLs are pretty worthless, more on hat in my info thread here:

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

They prob didn't have the full 8 stick set, these also come in 2 and 4 stick sets, or someone else was testing with the rest of the set, there's no telling, the Black is a newer mobo, so testing has prob been somewhat minimal

You have more than good insight on this topic Trades, your link proves one must look at things much more and ask questions how they arrive at their qualifications.

I pulled an interesting comment from a Newegg review of an owner of the G-Skill Z Ram I'm considering to run and most probably will and he has the same hardware as well same i7 4930k CPU and Asus Rampage Black MB...Now here we have not a vague and lacking example of a QVL approval, but some real time testing more so in compatibility than performance...

Here's the review and rating...

"5 out of 5 eggs - Will not work in conjunction with another kit of the same specs."

Pros: G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200) Desktop Memory Model F3-19200CL10Q-32GBZHD. If you are going to run 32Gb only and not upgrade later , this is the kit to buy. Fast and reliable.

Cons: G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200) Desktop Memory Model F3-19200CL10Q-32GBZHD. If you are going to run 64 Gb need to buy one single kit. Do not use 2 kits of the same. Many issues and did not pass Memtest86 on first pass!

Other Thoughts: Using ASUS Rampage Extreme Black edition with i7 4930K. GeForce 760x 3 SLI. Samsung 840 Pro 512. Corsair H110. Xilent Pro 1200w."
(End of Quote)

Here you have real time experience with exactly what will be replicated on my build, if this is true then I shouldn't add a 32GB kit later, I should do it now!