Newegg suggests higher DDR3 memory than CPU supports. Why?

action2288 · Jul 27, 2014

I'm building a new system. Going with an i7-4790k.

Why would Newegg recommend DDR3 2400 memory for a CPU that only supports DDR3 1600 memory?

I'm looking at the recommended memory on the page, CORSAIR Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200) Desktop Memory.

Would I be better off getting G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL?

TopLuca · Jul 27, 2014

Don't pay attention to the recommended section as it only recommends items based on what you've searched or reviewed not anything else , You'd be better off buying a supported RAM

action2288 · Jul 28, 2014

TopLuca :

While that may be the case for the usual recommended section at the bottom of many pages, that's not what I'm talking about. Check out the link:

i7-4790k promo page

Tradesman1 · Jul 28, 2014

The CPU itself is rated by Intel to run 1600 DRAM at stock (and Intel underrates most everything), the 4790 can generally always run even 1866 at stock and some can run 2133. To be on the safe consider that a OC of the CPU may be required for 2133 and up DRAM

action2288 · Jul 28, 2014

Tradesman1 :

So, which RAM should I buy? Is it dangerous to buy 2400? Is 1600 too conservative?

kira70591 · Jul 28, 2014

1600 is still plenty fast enough to use for every day things. You may get a performance boost in some software. However, the price difference between 1600 and 1866 is pretty minimal so you had might as well go for that. I would recommend G. Skill Ripjaws X series. I have used these in multiple builds and have never had an issue apart from one stick being DOA which G. Skill promptly took care of.

I would not call 2400 dangerous per say. However, as stated before, you may need to OC your CPU to support that memory speed which could put you into dangerous thermal territory if you do not have adequate cooling.

action2288 · Jul 28, 2014

kira70591 :

Would 2400 adversely affect my system if I did not OC? I assume the extra power would just go unused without OC'ing? The price difference between 1600 and 2400 is $15.

kira70591 · Jul 28, 2014

Your system will probably default the memory to 1600 or 1333. You would then have to go into the BIOS and enable the XMP profile or manually enter the timings to OC the memory to a higher frequency.

Tradesman1 · Jul 28, 2014

2400 may require a CPU OC of up to 4 GHz or so which is little more than changing the multiplier to 40 and maybe adding a bit of vCore

kristi_metal · Jul 29, 2014

If you buy a 2400Mhz DDR3, you don't even need to OC you CPU (which you will probably do, cause you're buying a 4790K, otherwise don't see the point of getting this CPU), all you have to do is set the XMP profile in UEFI Bios. That will set the apropriate timings, voltages etc for the memory in Bios.
Cheers.

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Newegg suggests higher DDR3 memory than CPU supports. Why?

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