[Asus] Crosshair III Formula and G Skill Ripjaw Compatibility Question

[oldsoulrevival]

So, I have been searching all over for a straightforward answer, but I cannot find any conclusive results anywhere on the damned internet.

My questions:
I need to get new ram, and while looking through my Qualified Vendors List in my Asus manual, I realized that there are no 8gb packages listed, and I do not want 4 sticks in my computer.
1) Is it alright to use ram that is not on the QVL? If not, Why should I NOT use ram not listed on the QVL?
2) Will the RAM posted below work with that board?
3) Do you have any other suggested RAM choices? (Please only post them if you have used that ram with this board)

The Board:
http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=2Y4dQFaJ6gPN18cQ&templete=2

The RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314&cm_re=g_skill_ddr3_1600_8gb-_-20-231-314-_-Product

Thank you

 

[jaquith]

My questions:
I need to get new ram, and while looking through my Qualified Vendors List in my Asus manual, I realized that there are no 8gb packages listed, and I do not want 4 sticks in my computer.
1) Is it alright to use ram that is not on the QVL? If not, Why should I NOT use ram not listed on the QVL?
2) Will the RAM posted below work with that board?
3) Do you have any other suggested RAM choices? (Please only post them if you have used that ram with this board)

ANS 1 - Yes, it's best practices to use either Certified QVL or Tested per RAM Mfg's Configuration tools or via a Ticket to RAM Mfg. edit: {Part 2} There's too much RAM out there for the MOBO Companies to Test for the QVL; too often their lists are old/EOL kits. The QVL is really important in Server/Workstations {Xeon/Opteron} where they need to be 100% Certified Components {HDD, RAM, GPU, etc}.
ANS 2 - Yes, the F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL http://gskill.com/products.php?index=239 works with the Crosshair III Formula and the AMD 790 Chipset.
ANS 3 - Yes, but to properly select RAM both the MOBO and CPU must be listed. Example, the 6-Core AMD can run faster 1800+MHz RAM, and some AMD CPUs are more limited to 1333 MHz or 1600~1800 MHz. The faster RAM often requires a BCLK increase to operate properly; this is because of the disparity between CPU IMC and RAM Frequency.

Q - What CPU?

BTW - this is all pretty straight forward stuff...

 

[oldsoulrevival]

ANS 3 - Yes, but to properly select RAM both the MOBO and CPU must be listed. Example, the 6-Core AMD can run faster 1800+MHz RAM, and some AMD CPUs are more limited to 1333 MHz or 1600~1800 MHz. The faster RAM often requires a BCLK increase to operate properly; this is because of the disparity between CPU IMC and RAM Frequency.

Q - What CPU?

CPU: AMD Phenom ii x4 955

The Crosshair III Formula only supports up to 1600.

Also, I read somewhere that AMD generally prefers a tighter BCLK than Intel... is this true?

 

[jaquith]

I'd didn't even look at supported RAM frequencies until I knew the CPU; just the the Chipset.

I don't know what you mean by 'tighter' BCLK. AMD runs 200 MHz 'FSB' and Intel 133 MHz 'BCLK'; six of one... Both platforms the numbers vary to some degree w/loads. Where 'tighter' comes into place is the CAS Timings 8-8-8 {low & tight} vs 9-8-9 {high & loose}. Low & tight CAS Timings are better when in comparison to the same RAM Frequency. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR3_SDRAM#JEDEC_standard_modules

If the objective is to OC then the 955 is fine for 1600 MHz RAM, I prefer Corsair. The manual offers DRAM Frequency 1600MHz under AI OC Tuner -> Manual so I assume it raises the FSB > 240 MHz if needed.
Corsair Tested -> http://www2.corsair.com/configurator/product_results.aspx?id=1048893
Corsair Approved -> http://www.corsair.com/memory/amd-memory-solutions/phenom-ii.html Phenom II Kits

1600 MHz 4GB Kit - CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 Model CMP4GX3M2A1600C8 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145297

1600 MHz 8GB Kit - CORSAIR DOMINATOR 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 Model CMP8GX3M2A1600C9 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145313

 

[oldsoulrevival]

Best answer selected by oldsoulrevival.