Great DDR3-2133 2 x 8GB Kit for Gaming

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PlusOne

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Jun 20, 2012
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I'm trying to finalize a nice gaming build and I had a few questions regarding what memory kit to get. I know everyone says that 1600 is all you need for gaming, but I felt like stepping it up a notch just for good measure (and money is less of a factor thanks to a reasonable Christmas bonus). This would be for an i7 4770k CPU with a Noctura NH-D14 cooler (still unsure about a motherboard, but for the time being let's assume a Asus Maximus VI FORMULA).

I liked the timings on this kit:

G.Skill Trident X

But I had some concerns about clearance for the Noctura cooler. I know I can take the top fins off, but I was also a little concerned that the kit required 1.6V instead of the CPU's recommended 1.5V. I've read a few forum posts that say not to worry about it, but I'd rather hear someone explain the pros/cons clearly rather than hear a sweeping "it's fine."

To form this into a question, does this kit fit my needs? And if so, what are the repercussions of having to take the heat spreaders off when I'm planning a reasonable CPU and GPU overclock on air cooling?
 
Solution
Lutfij
Reality - ? 1.6v on a ram are actually cool to the touch so the heat spreaders are really overkill when it comes to keeping them cool since the voltages themselves aren't cooking anything. That is mere marketing and aesthetics playing the role of influencing a customer to purchase said product.

So in a nutshell, they will work for you without the heat spreaders. Taking the size and capability of your aforementioned cooler, they are good for introducing cross flow over the mobo area and the dimm slots as well so they should benefit from their passive cooling and some flow of air over them via the Noctua.

The frequency on the rams are also good! Sandy/Ivybridge and Haswell like 2133MHz dimms with optimized timings and if possible try to...
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tachybana

tachybana

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Feb 11, 2013
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You will get no benefit out of a 2133Mhz Memory over a 1600mz (just to put a number on it is <1%). Now, as you mentioned. If you wanna get it :) regardless go ahead, but if you're purchasing the Noctua Cooler you will have a tough time fitting it since it might bump again it, even if you remove the spreaders (try purchasing low profile memory, crucial makes em too)

With regards to the spreakers as long as you have good airflow in your case you're good to go (make certain to buy a case with good quality fans. For example i purchased this one http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-series/define-xl-r2-black-pearl but is quite as heck and plenty of room to grow. Fans are excellent as well

Good luck with your build
 
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Lutfij

Lutfij

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Oct 7, 2009
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Reality - ? 1.6v on a ram are actually cool to the touch so the heat spreaders are really overkill when it comes to keeping them cool since the voltages themselves aren't cooking anything. That is mere marketing and aesthetics playing the role of influencing a customer to purchase said product.

So in a nutshell, they will work for you without the heat spreaders. Taking the size and capability of your aforementioned cooler, they are good for introducing cross flow over the mobo area and the dimm slots as well so they should benefit from their passive cooling and some flow of air over them via the Noctua.

The frequency on the rams are also good! Sandy/Ivybridge and Haswell like 2133MHz dimms with optimized timings and if possible try to find the Mushkin Redlines used in this review by Thomas for Toms

The real question I'd be asking you is: What are your needs? Is gaming all you're going to do?

Right now having 8GB's of ram is plenty fine, 16GB is just for boasting unless you do alot of Photoshop post processing and solidworks renderings.
 
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PlusOne

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Jun 20, 2012
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Thanks for the replies! For the case I was going to go with the Corsair 900D. I like how huge it is and the Tom's review said it was fantastic (with the help of a few aftermarket fans, which I plan on getting as well). It looks very future-proof and if it works well, it might be the last case I ever buy.

Thanks for the link to the article! Those Redlines look really nice (yeah, as tachybana said, looks like roughly 1% better than something slower), and I would like to get them but it looks like availability is limited. Newegg doesn't seem to have any in stock, and Amazon looks somewhat equally barren. Do you have any recommendations on where to get such a kit?

And for the time being, I'll probably just use it for gaming. I do understand that 16 GB is more boasting than anything, but it opens up options to tinker with stuff like Photoshop in the future if I have the desire.
 
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Lutfij

Lutfij

Titan
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You could get the next best thing in that review but then again you could also shell out crazy for the Dominator Platinum range and they also look the bomb+you can customize them down the road however $200+ on kit is well kinda overkill. You could actually get Samsung magic rams and clock them to 2133MHz and yet not break their backs.

The next best thing mind you are the Ripjaws as they also come in varying flavors to suit your aesthetics needs/tastes+themed build.

If you're swapping out tech in reference to keeping up with it by changing every year or so then the 16GB would be kinda futile. If you plan on making your build last for a good number of years - then you can stick to that previously mentioned 16GB goal.

Word of advice outside rams;
Hold onto your mobo+ram+chip, swap out the GPU when its better in performance by a significant margin and the HDD's/ssd's can be added on later provided your case and mobo has sufficient ports and caddy space and that your psu can handle everything powered up :D

My 2 cents though!
:)

Thank you for best answer vote!
 
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