Dominator GT 2133MHz and Maximus V Extreme

[Nietzsche]

Hi guys,

First of all... I know that this question is a nonsense for most of you here, but I still have to ask you for a help.
My brother got ASUS Maximus V Extreme for his birthday and he is looking for DDR3. So I wanted to buy him 16GB Dominator GT, since it fits perfectly with this board (he doesn't like GSkill)! But why get 16GB 2133MHz RAM for 300$ instead of 1600MHz for 100$ or 150$? Let's say this is just a hypothetical question:

1. Will he be able to run this RAM stable at 1600MHz with 1.5V and CL7 on Maximus V Extreme together with with Intel i7 3770K? (this kit is not on MB memory compatibility list)

And second:

2. Some people said that they couldn't to run it at 2133MHz with 1.5V... voltage had to be increased to 1.6V in order make it stable? Is it true?

I will appreciate any kind of help and answer to those questions.

Link to the RAM:

http://www.corsair.com/en/memory-by-product-family/dominator/dominator-gt-with-dhx-pro-connector-1-5v-16gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cmt16gx3m4x2133c9.html?___store=en&___from_store=de

Best regards...

 

[dudewitbow]

if hes a gamer, high timed ram usually makes very little difference on actual fps(think of it as a graph of the square root of x, it increases fast in the begining but theres a point where the extra amount of # becomes useless and should be used on other parts of the computer for optimal performance). Its more aimed for users who actually use a lot of ram though professional work

here is an example of it in gaming use

 

[schnitter]

While gaming, the RAM that is used up most is the video card's RAM. While photo or video editing, you use the system ram.

With this in mind, if your brother will just play games, the top of the line RAM won't be of much performance increase.

Oh, and 16GB of RAM for gaming is complete waste. I'd get him 2x4GB DIMMs so the other two DIMMs are free in case someday (which I doubt) 16GB will be a requirement for him.

As for your second question, if the ram is advertised as 2133 (not 2133 OC) then the voltage doesnt need to be altered. Dominator GT should run fine at 1.5 2133 (but I bet you'd have to go to the BIOS and enable Overclock XMP 2133 for it to work correctly).

 

[Nietzsche]

Yes... he is a gamer and I totally agree with you, but I wanted to buy Dominator GT since he is using Lian Li PC-A77FB case with transparent side panel and white LEDs inside... so this visual impression is important as well as performance. Not sure if this RAM will run flawlessly on his MB?

 

[nikorr]

1. Will he be able to run this RAM stable at 1600MHz with 1.5V and CL7 on Maximus V Extreme together with with Intel i7 3770K? (this kit is not on MB memory compatibility list)

Maximus V Extreme
King of Z77 overclocking boards

Yes, it will run also in 2133MHz.

And second:

2. Some people said that they couldn't to run it at 2133MHz with 1.5V... voltage had to be increased to 1.6V in order make it stable? Is it true?

Some mobos are not this one : )


Great RAM and great mobo and CPU. Will be fine.

Could OC even higher with that mobo and that RAM.

 

[jaquith]

ANS:

1. Doubt it. DDR3-1066 yes, DDR3-1333 CAS 7 maybe, DDR3-1600 CAS 7-7-7-24 @ 1.50v probably not. There are a few kits that can @ 1.60v.
2. Depends on the kit and the CAS Timings, but DDR3-2133 can sure be done @ 1.50v

The CMT16GX3M4X2133C9 is ~$230USD at a online retailer. As far as rationalizing the prices, it depends on your budget and finances. My only issue with >DDR3-1600 is it needs to be the LAST of an entire chain of other non-compromising components. RAM >DDR3-1600 on the SB, SB-E or IB offers very small returns, but to an extreme OC'er it means 'everything' to have slightly higher benchmarks and +0~+3FPS.

If it's for looks then I'd recommend the $115USD Mushkin Enhanced Redline 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3 1866 (9-9-9-27-2N @ 1.50v) Model 994052 - http://www.mushkin.com/Memory/Redline/994052.aspx

/edit - fixed typo

 

[schnitter]

Yes... he is a gamer and I totally agree with you, but I wanted to buy Dominator GT since he is using Lian Li PC-A77FB case with transparent side panel and white LEDs inside... so this visual impression is important as well as performance. Not sure if this RAM will run flawlessly on his MB?

Maximus V Extreme is a top of the line MoBo. It supports ram speeds:

DDR3 2800(O.C.)/2666(O.C.)/2600(O.C.)/2400(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1600/1333/1066

So that ram would run fine at 2133 when you enable the XMP in BIOS.

If visual appeal is important, then you could take a look at CORSAIR Vengance! They are red and real nice looking. They are slower and cheaper but identical in game performance.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233256

 

[Nietzsche]

Ok, thank you very much to ALL of you for your time and advises. I will check a bit more and I will, most probably, buy Dominator GT. Mushkin looks nice as well, but the price isn't an issue in this case. Thank you ALL one more time!

Best regards!

 

[jaquith]

...but the price isn't an issue in this case.

Then GT it is!

 

[jaquith]

BTW - IF Price is no object then IMO the Corsair Platinum CMD16GX3M4A2400C9 or better the CMD16GX3M4A2666C10, which are King of the Hill - http://www.corsair.com/us/memory/intel-memory-upgrades/dual-channel-intel-memory-upgrade-kits/dominator-platinum-with-corsair-link-connector-1-65v-16-gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cmd16gx3m4a2400c9.html or http://www.corsair.com/us/memory/intel-memory-upgrades/dual-channel-intel-memory-upgrade-kits/dominator-platinum-with-corsair-link-connector-1-65v-16-gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cmd16gx3m4a2666c10.html

The DDR3-2666 have been OC'ed to 3GHz!!!

Coming soon are customized LED light bars...

Video Review:
[flash=640,480]http://www.youtube.com/v/G2LLvoiF0N8[/flash]

 

[dudewitbow]

BTW - IF Price is no object then IMO the Corsair Platinum CMD16GX3M4A2400C9, they are King of the Hill - http://www.corsair.com/us/memory/intel-memory-upgrades/dual-channel-intel-memory-upgrade-kits/dominator-platinum-with-corsair-link-connector-1-65v-16-gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cmd16gx3m4a2400c9.html

Coming soon are customized LED light bars...

way to bling out ram sticks to another level

 

[Nietzsche]

BTW - IF Price is no object then IMO the Corsair Platinum CMD16GX3M4A2400C9 or better the CMD16GX3M4A2666C10, which are King of the Hill - http://www.corsair.com/us/memory/intel-memory-upgrades/dual-channel-intel-memory-upgrade-kits/dominator-platinum-with-corsair-link-connector-1-65v-16-gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cmd16gx3m4a2400c9.html or http://www.corsair.com/us/memory/intel-memory-upgrades/dual-channel-intel-memory-upgrade-kits/dominator-platinum-with-corsair-link-connector-1-65v-16-gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cmd16gx3m4a2666c10.html

The DDR3-2666 have been OC'ed to 3GHz!!!

Coming soon are customized LED light bars...

http://www.corsair.com/us/media/cat...b33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/d/o/dom_pt_x4_c.png

Video Review:
[flash=640,480]http://www.youtube.com/v/G2LLvoiF0N8[/flash]

Hehe... nice, but I think that Dominator GT is more than enough. It fits and looks perfectly with Maximus V Extreme... no need for platinum... at leas not yet.

Cheers for the tip though.