Memory Advice For 6700K

Wildman1024 · Mar 4, 2016

Hey guys I'm building a new system using the 6700K. The motherboard I have chosen is the ASRock Z170 OC Formula. I'm a little confused on what memory to buy. The board supports DDR4 up to 4266+ and the processor only runs 2133 native.

If I buy ram faster then the 2133 will it automatically run at the slower 2133? Will that cause stability issues? If I decide to overclock in the future will having the already faster memory make that easier? What seems to be the best brand and speed for the 6700k?

BTW this is my 1st intel build ever. I am currently running an AMD 9590 and cant say I'm to impressed after 2 years.

nomas1983 · Mar 4, 2016

As i m currently building a simmilar system, i chose 2x8GB @2800MHz Cl14, cost is around 110e, as DDR4 are still new and expected to become faster in the future i wouldn't invest money atm for something more expensive. I always prefer Kingston (Hyper X Savage seems to be quite good so far) but Corsair is i think at the same level but that's more on what you prefer (looks, profile etc). The forum has a lot of topics on DDR4 and all reach the same advice as long as the brand is reliable go for what you like the most or what is on sale

Wildman1024 · Mar 4, 2016

nomas1983 :

I was planning on running 32gb and 4 sticks to populate all slots and run it dual channel. I guess my biggest concern is the speed. If you are running 2800mhz memory and cpu only supports 2133 native how does that work? Does the memory clock slower?

Tradesman1 · Mar 4, 2016

When you initially install the DRAM it will go to the mobos default of 2133, from there you enable XMP and the BIOS takes the info from the DRAMs SPD and sets the sticks to their spec. For the Z170s I'd look to GSkill in their TridentZ and Ripjaws V lines of DRAM....They've just released some new models of each running at 2800, 3000 and 3200 each with a CL of 14. The 3200 2x16GB Trident Z is a very good set for 32GB, am running those now

The 4x8GB sets are also very good (grabbed a set of those when first released)

Wildman1024 · Mar 4, 2016

Tradesman1 :

So basically no matter what speed you buy unless you use the XMP profile it will default to the 2133? Does that cause any issues? How much performance difference are you actually seeing with anything above 2133?

Stysner · Mar 4, 2016

I have a 6700K with Corsair Vengeance 3200MHz CL16 (2x8GB). If you motherboard and memory support XMP, you can just set the highest XMP that it offers in the BIOS and you're good to go.

The 2133 maximum supported is actually more of a "2133 should work on all motherboards that can handle this CPU".

Most memory manufacturers offer a couple of different XMP profiles, one for 2133 with worse timings, one with 2133 with "normal" timings, one with better timings, and one with the MHz that they're marketed as, with the timings they marketed the RAM for. All of these are optional. Some may just offer one 2133 profile, and the rated one (so 3200MHz in my case), or multiple, it depends and doesn't really matter.

I've just set it to the highest profile, runs fine.

Wildman1024 · Mar 4, 2016

Stysner :

I have a 6700K with Corsair Vengeance 3200MHz CL16 (2x8GB). If you motherboard and memory support XMP, you can just set the highest XMP that it offers in the BIOS and you're good to go.

The 2133 maximum supported is actually more of a "2133 should work on all motherboards that can handle this CPU".

Most memory manufacturers offer a couple of different XMP profiles, one for 2133 with worse timings, one with 2133 with "normal" timings, one with better timings, and one with the MHz that they're marketed as, with the timings they marketed the RAM for. All of these are optional. Some may just offer one 2133 profile, and the rated one (so 3200MHz in my case), or multiple, it depends and doesn't really matter.

I've just set it to the highest profile, runs fine.

What should I be looking for in timings?

Stysner · Mar 4, 2016

Wildman1024 :

Ah, that's an age old question many-a-builder has been mulling over.

It doesn't really matter THAT much. I myself settled for 3200MHz CL16. Some rather have 3000MHz CL15, but the THEORETICAL response time is the exact same.

What I would do personally, is go for higher MHz, just cause, bragging rights maybe?

Comes down to this: get all the components you want, check what's left in your budget, buy the RAM you can afford. Though I would choose higher than 2133MHz.

This calculation might help:

CL Timings / MHz * 1000

That'll give you the response time (theoretical that is) in nanoseconds. Memory is complex, but this is a good guideline. Get 5 nanoseconds.

For me:

CL16 / 3200MHz * 1000 = 16 / 3200 * 1000 = 5.

and 15 / 3000 * 1000 = 5.

---

9 / 1600 = 5.625 (old DDR3 standard).

Wildman1024 · Mar 4, 2016

Stysner :

Wildman1024 :

Ah, that's an age old question many-a-builder has been mulling over.

It doesn't really matter THAT much. I myself settled for 3200MHz CL16. Some rather have 3000MHz CL15, but the THEORETICAL response time is the exact same.

What I would do personally, is go for higher MHz, just cause, bragging rights maybe?

Comes down to this: get all the components you want, check what's left in your budget, buy the RAM you can afford. Though I would choose higher than 2133MHz.

This calculation might help:

CL Timings / MHz * 1000

That'll give you the response time (theoretical that is) in nanoseconds. Memory is complex, but this is a good guideline. Get 5 nanoseconds.

For me:

CL16 / 3200MHz * 1000 = 16 / 3200 * 1000 = 5.

and 15 / 3000 * 1000 = 5.

---

9 / 1600 = 5.625 (old DDR3 standard).

Thank you

Stysner · Mar 4, 2016

Wildman1024 :

Stysner :

Wildman1024 :

Ah, that's an age old question many-a-builder has been mulling over.

It doesn't really matter THAT much. I myself settled for 3200MHz CL16. Some rather have 3000MHz CL15, but the THEORETICAL response time is the exact same.

What I would do personally, is go for higher MHz, just cause, bragging rights maybe?

Comes down to this: get all the components you want, check what's left in your budget, buy the RAM you can afford. Though I would choose higher than 2133MHz.

This calculation might help:

CL Timings / MHz * 1000

That'll give you the response time (theoretical that is) in nanoseconds. Memory is complex, but this is a good guideline. Get 5 nanoseconds.

For me:

CL16 / 3200MHz * 1000 = 16 / 3200 * 1000 = 5.

and 15 / 3000 * 1000 = 5.

---

9 / 1600 = 5.625 (old DDR3 standard).

Thank you

If you know enough, mark an answer as the solution, so people can see it's been solved!

No problem, glad to help. Nothing like a new PC build!

Tradesman1 · Mar 4, 2016

Lower timing are better and also indicative of stronger sticks than will provide OC headroom if you ever wish to run the DR in the above example it's just been rounded off, CL16 is indeed 5ns where the CL 15 is 4.68, and if you go to the CL 14 you'll see faster 4.37. The differences are minimal, the strength of the sticks for potential OCing is where the CL comes in more, like having 3200/14 and say wanting to run 3600 at 15/16

Stysner · Mar 4, 2016

Tradesman1 :

Rounded off? 3000 MHz at CL 15 is 5 (15 / 3 = 5), same for 3200MHz at CL 16 (16 / 3.2, also 5).

Of course the lower the timings the better, but for any practical use, 5 nanoseconds is absolutely fine.

Basically you said: if you get more MHz with lower timings it's going to be better... Yes it will, but that comes with a price tag that isn't worth it unless you do heavy rendering every day.

Wildman1024 · Mar 4, 2016

Thank you all for the explanation and advice.

Tradesman1 · Mar 4, 2016

No worries, let us know what you pick and how you like them.

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