Limited RAM options for the 2700x

[sammiezlag]

People probably asked the same question hundreds of times but my situation is different (and yes, I tried googling)

I'm upgrading to an R7 2700x soon and I only have a limited set of options when it comes to RAM.
I'm also getting an x370 MSI Gaming Plus motherboard (for a lot of reasons, one of them is it's the only cheap gaming motherboard available)

G.skill AEGIS 8GB 3000 CL16
G.skill TridentZ RGB Series 16GB (2 X 8GB) DDR4 3000
G.skill Flare X Series 16GB (2 X 8GB) 3200 CL14
Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB 3000 CL16
Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB 3000 CL15
Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB 3200 CL15

(I have no problem buying any of these despite the difference in prices.. it's only $25 difference)

1- Does it matter if I get a kit of 2x 8GB or 2 separate pieces of the same module?
2- Does the G.skill Flare X 3200 perform much better than any other RAM on the 2700x or it doesn't matter?
3- Will a 3200 RAM work well without any complications on the MSI Motherboard?

Thanks.

 

[nosirrahx]

For gaming its 70% GPU, 25% CPU and 5% RAM.

8GB (4GB X 2 sticks) is enough and 16GB (8GB X 2 sticks) is relatively future proof.

Unless you are going out of your way to really fine tune frequency and CL (which involves intentionally buying really expensive RAM) just get a 16GB 3200 dual channel kit and set your RAM in BIOS to XMP.

The 3200 CL14 option is the "fastest" but we are talking about a change in FPS of maybe 1 or 2 percent tops.

 

[Wall Street]

The major difference is that the Flare X kit uses Samsung B-die chips. Those are the chips found in all of the 4000+ Mhz RAM on the Intel side, they are the best. The GSkill 3000 Mhz stuff uses Hynix dies which are basically overclocked 2400 Mhz chips and not too great. On Ryzen, the Hynix dies usually need a lot more voltage to get to 3200 than Samsung B-dies. Also, several of the timings may have to be loosened. The crucial sticks use Micron chips which are also difficult to get running at their rated timing and don't have a lot of support because not a lot of stuff uses Micron RAM.

I am using a 3200 kit with Hynix dies, and I have to push 1.5 volts and relax the tRC timing vs. what is is supposed to hit at XMP to get them stable. Then again, I am using a first generation Ryzen (1700x) and x370 motherboard and the newer chips should be modestly better in the memory overclocking department.

If I were doing my build again, I would have paid up for the B-die Samsung RAM. Then again, in the early Ryzen days with the original BIOSes, there were boot loops, needs to reset CMOS, blue screens and freezes, all because the RAM wasn't stable at XMP settings. But most of these RAM compatibility issues are solved in the latest BIOS versions.

 

[sammiezlag]

For gaming its 70% GPU, 25% CPU and 5% RAM.

8GB (4GB X 2 sticks) is enough and 16GB (8GB X 2 sticks) is relatively future proof.

Unless you are going out of your way to really fine tune frequency and CL (which involves intentionally buying really expensive RAM) just get a 16GB 3200 dual channel kit and set your RAM in BIOS to XMP.

The 3200 CL14 option is the "fastest" but we are talking about a change in FPS of maybe 1 or 2 percent tops.

I'm really leaning towards the Flare X 3200 CL14 because it's the fastest and most compatible however I wanted to make sure because some people say with the 2700x it doesn't really matter anymore and I can use other types of RAM.

There is pretty much nothing higher than the 2700x at the moment so I can't put any more money into the CPU that's why I'm trying to get the fastest RAM within the small budget I have even if it means 2 extra fps or 1% faster rendering in video editing.

I would've gone for the 8700k but I do video editing for living and I really need those 2 extra cores for editing and multitasking while rendering as well.

 

[sammiezlag]

The major difference is that the Flare X kit uses Samsung B-die chips. Those are the chips found in all of the 4000+ Mhz RAM on the Intel side, they are the best. The GSkill 3000 Mhz stuff uses Hynix dies which are basically overclocked 2400 Mhz chips and not too great. On Ryzen, the Hynix dies usually need a lot more voltage to get to 3200 than Samsung B-dies. Also, several of the timings may have to be loosened. The crucial sticks use Micron chips which are also difficult to get running at their rated timing and don't have a lot of support because not a lot of stuff uses Micron RAM.

I am using a 3200 kit with Hynix dies, and I have to push 1.5 volts and relax the tRC timing vs. what is is supposed to hit at XMP to get them stable. Then again, I am using a first generation Ryzen (1700x) and x370 motherboard and the newer chips should be modestly better in the memory overclocking department.

If I were doing my build again, I would have paid up for the B-die Samsung RAM. Then again, in the early Ryzen days with the original BIOSes, there were boot loops, needs to reset CMOS, blue screens and freezes, all because the RAM wasn't stable at XMP settings. But most of these RAM compatibility issues are solved in the latest BIOS versions.

That's exactly the answer I was looking for because when I kept reading things about "Samsung B-Die" I was like.. "Soo is it good for Ryzen or not????"

I get it now and I think I'll go for the Flare X which is being sold for a fair price in a particular store near me but only if I buy a Motherboard + CPU bundle so yeah, I'm getting it.

Thanks heaps!