Question DDR4 MB Speed Support?

[Mantrid-Drone]

I've just bought a GA B Z790 DDR4 MB and as it is a latest generation one I was surprised to find it says it only states supports up to 3200MHz but OCing support up 5333MHz.

I mentioned in another thread here that I was thinking of upgrading the 16GB (2 x 8GB) 3200MHz I'd originally bought for the build to 64GB (4 x16GB) 3600MHz but this has upset that plan........or has it?

I ask because the Kingston Fury Renegade 3600MHz modules I was considering are actually rated by default at 2400MHz 1.2v which is shown as being exactly the same as the 3200MHz ones.

To get 3600MHz you need to use XMP Profile#1 (1.35v). So you only get that 'full' speed from the 'natively' 3600Mhz modules by OCing anyway.

I also see that using XMP Profile#2, which is 3000MHz 1.35v, both the '3200'MHz and '3600'MHz modules have identical performance too.

This is confusing: does it still mean you can not use the 'natively' 3600MHz modules despite the fact the MB supports 3600MHz and above with OCing?

I'd think if I did use 3600MHz modules I'd might only get 3200MHz with XMP Profile#1 so it would render the RAM upgrade to 3600MHz modules, which are more expensive, pointless. That's what I'm really interested in knowing.

 

[igor_kavinski]

There is nothing to worry about. You won't hit 3600 MT/s with XMP profile #1 if your luck is really bad. Kingston modules are normally pretty good.

This the one? https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KF436C16RB1K2_32.pdf

I see no reason why that shouldn't work.

1.2V profiles are JEDEC ones. They are meant for fallback where the mobo or CPU IMC is so bad that it has no choice but to run at the lowest possible voltage or speed. From my experience with Alder Lake, XMP on Kingston just works.

 

[Mantrid-Drone]

That link is to the very Kingston Fury Renegade RAM spec PDF I've been looking at and comparing their and other RAM modules/makes too.

I was thinking it unlikely it would not work at all and worst I'd just get the same as the 3200MHz performance.

Worth the gamble I think but I'm awaiting the Gigabyte ticket I opened about this before committing to the purchase.

 

[zir_blazer]

Both Alder Lake and Raptor Lake supports up to 3200 MHz DDR4 fully populated (2 DPC, 2 Ranks per module). If you were to load profiles manually, then you would either be using 3600 MHz (Which means overclocking) or 3000 MHz. Ironically, 3200 MHz pretty much requires manual tuning, with no actual guidance at all due to all gaming modules missing anything resembling a standard JEDEC 3200 MHz profile. Compare that to the Kingston Value series which are JEDEC standard, 3200 MHz 22-22-22 1.2V: https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KVR32N22D8_32.pdf
Yeah, I'm also dissapointed about this situation, since you don't get vendor guidance of whenever you could run the Kingston series with heatsinks like the Fury Beast or Fury Renegade at same settings JEDEC standard 1.2V and rest of settings or not. It would be ironic if the Kingston Value series were better binned...

 

[BoomerD]

I'm using These:

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Products/Memory/VENGEANCE-LPX/p/CMK32GX4M2D3600C18#tab-tech-specs

native speed, 2133. XMP#1 (only one available with my board) 3600.

 

[Mantrid-Drone]

Had a response from Gigabyte although they hadn't thought to inform me by email about this.

Non-committal about whether 'natively' Kingston Fury Renegade 3600MHz modules are supported by the MB or not. But the gist was it is dependent on the RAM itself and that I'd probably have to use the XMP Profile#1 setting or manually OC it to get the best performance in any circumstance.

So that seems to support the comments provided here by igor kavinski. But whether I get 3600MHz, the default 2333MHz or it will be capped at 3200MHz even when using the XMP Profile#1 I'm going to have to take the risk of buying those, even possibly incompatible RAM modules, and find out for myself.

 

[igor_kavinski]

or it will be capped at 3200MHz even when using the XMP Profile#1

Don't think it works like that. If the XMP profile isn't compatible with the mobo, it will default to the JEDEC profile or the lowest speed it can work at comfortably. I have a G.Skill DDR5 kit with EXPO profile only. In the mobo BIOS, it shows that there is one EXPO profile for 5600 MT/s and three JEDEC profiles for 4800, 5200 and 5600. The JEDEC profiles are not selectable unfortunately. If I don't select any profile, it works at 3600 MT/s. If I select the EXPO one, it fails and goes back to 3600. I had to manually tune it to 4600 CL28-30-30-60. That's the most I can get out of it no matter what I do (crappy Samsung chips).

 

[coercitiv]

@Mantrid-Drone I think you're overthinking this. As long as you're buying a K CPU, your memory upgrade should be very easy, with a fallback option in case of trouble.

• You get the new memory kit, boot with the default settings which will probably mean 2400Mhz.
• If everything looks fine, go back into UEFI and enable XMP Profille 1 (3600MHz).
• Exit UEFI and see if the system correctly trains with the new memory (the new boot process will take longer than usual after a memory settings change as the system tests the new config)
• In the very probable case of success, you will proceed to the OS and can further test stability there.
• If training fails you will be returned to UEFI, where you can try XMP Profile 2 (3000Mhz) which is a more relaxed profile will work on every 12th or 13th gen CPU. For you this is the backup plan.

That's it. The only reason you should consider another memory kit would be if you bought a non-K CPU, as Intel limits some voltages on these CPUs, votages which the motherboard automatically changes when enabling XMP to maximize stability. In case you're buying something like i5 13400 or even i7 13700, I would recommend to look for a memory kit that has a 3200Mhz XMP profile. Going for 3600Mhz with a non-K CPU is still possble, but no longer virtually guaranteed.

 

[Mantrid-Drone]

I was really just concerned a 3600MHz kit might not work at all because the RAM support information in the GA Z790 D DDR4 MB manual distinguishes between 'native' RAM module support (3200MHz max) and anything above that up to 5000+MHz settings, including 3600MHz is suffixed by (OC).

Compare Result | Motherboard | GIGABYTE - GIGABYTE Global

www.gigabyte.com

However those 'native' speeds are only achieved by overclocking anyway, either manually or using a XMP Profile. That caused my uncertainty.

But as the weight of opinion here is that the specified Kingston 3600MHz 4 x 16GB Fury Renegade set will work and with a good chance at 3600MHz under XMP Profile#1. That's good enough for me.

So thanks again all for the help