Matching Memory to CPU?

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knitterkuba

Reputable
Sep 16, 2014
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Hi,
I am buying the following CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K. I still need to buy memory and a motherboard.
1) How do I match memory to CPU for best performance? I want to buy a total of 16gb of memory (8x2)
2) Does the motherboard matter aside from having the correct socket and RAM space?

Advices as to particular parts would be very helpful but I would also like to understand why the part is good. I am looking to get the most out of my money. I don't mind paying a little extra if it means a big boost to performance, but I don't want to pay a lot extra just for a tiny bump.
 
Solution
geofelt
The motherboard is what matters, 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...
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,277
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The motherboard is what matters, 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 current Intel cpu's have an excellent integrated ram controller. It is able to keep the cpu fed with data from any speed ram.

The difference in real application performance or FPS between the fastest and slowest ram is on the order of 1-3%.

Synthetic benchmark differences will be impressive, but are largely irrelevant in the real world.

Fancy heat spreaders are mostly marketing too.

In fact tall heat spreaders are a negative because they can impact some cpu coolers.
Only if you are seeking record level overclocks should you consider faster ram or better latencies.

Read this Anandtech article on haswell memory scaling:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7364/memory-scaling-on-haswell
---------------bottom line------------

DDR3 1600 or 1866 1.5v low profile ram is what I would look for.
If anything, prefer low cas numbers over speed.
 
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Solution
G

Guest

Guest
[PCPartPicker part list](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/LRWPvK) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/LRWPvK/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**Memory** | [GeIL EVO CORSA Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/geil-memory-goc316gb1866c9dc) | £119.04

@ Amazon UK
**Memory** | [Mushkin Blackline 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/mushkin-memory-997069) | £113.99 @ Aria PC

**Memory** | [G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory](http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32133c9d16gtx) | £138.75 @ Amazon UK

brands make no difference
so pick a speed and go with it make a very small difference
you get differnt cas timings aswell lower the better all the ones above are cas9
there is also different voltages lower the better all the ones above ithink are 1.5v just double check, you can use any voltage but lower is better
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
Jun 5, 2013
67,883
40
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What all will you be doing with the rig? And while yes the mobo factors in the CPU is primary driving factor in what DRAM you can run, and has been for years. Back in the days of the 775 mobos for example the mobo was the primary factor since the MC (memory controller was in a chipset on the mobo....AMD and Intel have both been putting the MC in the CPU for years now and that is THE driving factor. You can grab a Z97 mobo that runs 3000 DRAM, but unless you get a K model CPU you are going to be lucky to run those sticks at maybe 2133 -Unless of course you want to try some extremely high voltages. As far as the QVLs put out by the mobo makers, that too is a thing of the past, there are too many DRAM manufacturers and too many models of sticks for the mobo makers to 'test', any DRAM that falls into the mobo specs should work with the mobo - BUT ONLY if you have a CPU/MC that can drive the sticks at the freq you want to buy
 
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S

sora

Splendid
Oct 30, 2013
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Well what motherboard are you planning to buy in the first place? What is your budget?
 
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K

knitterkuba

Reputable
Sep 16, 2014
4
0
4,510
Those are all very valid answers. I will be mainly using my system for everyday web browsing, movies and video games. I know that video games can be very demanding but at the same time I don't play enough (according to me Diablo III is the last game that came out) to spend lots of money on it. However, I would like to make sure that I can play games for at least the next 3 years even if it means the game options must be set completely towards performance. As far as my budget goes, I was hoping to not spend more than $250 on both the motherboard and RAM.
What I am getting from the collective of this posts is that I should go with a cheap motherboard and RAM. It sounds like neither one of the parts affects performance drastically and I am not planning on overclocking anything.
Let me know if there is any good reason that would sway me towards spending more money on either one of the parts.
 
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