Need opinions on different DDR4 RAM (choices inside)

[cooper69]

I have four different RAM choices (listed in the poll). Will be using in a Z170/6700k system - mostly for discrete GPU gaming @ 1440p/144hz and video editing/rendering every now and then.

Currently leaning towards G.SKILL Ripjaws DDR4 3000, just because it offers the "fastest" RAM speed at $85. Is it worth the extra ~$15 for faster RAM?

 

[UsandThem]

There's more differences with RAM than just the speed it runs. Despite running at a faster speed, the TridentZ generally has the tightest timings as well, so for $15 difference I'd probably pick it up.

Are all of those kits certified to run on your motherboard either from the motherboard manufacturer's QVL or from http://www.gskill.com/en/configurator?

 

[CakeMonster]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8959/...-3200-with-gskill-corsair-adata-and-crucial/2

That's the best data I've found yet. Let me know if anyone has found any similar numbers for SL/KB (if there's reason to believe its different).

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I have four different RAM choices (listed in the poll). Will be using in a Z170/6700k system - mostly for discrete GPU gaming @ 1440p/144hz and video editing/rendering every now and then.

Currently leaning towards G.SKILL Ripjaws DDR4 3000, just because it offers the "fastest" RAM speed at $85. Is it worth the extra ~$15 for faster RAM?

My vote went for the G.SKILL TridentZ DDR4-3200s. As far as I was able to tell, the TridentZ and Ripjaws V kits should equally be fine with a board compatible with one or the other.

There is more than one TridentZ 3200 XMS kit. The kit I bought had 14-14-14 timings. Another model TridentZ 3200 is spec'd at 16-16-16 (approximately).

Either 3000 or 3200 fall in the sweet-spot range for Z170 and Skylake. I'd just buy the DDR4-3200's.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Only issue I have with the above chart is that DDR4-2800 and DDR4-3000 are basically "nonsense" speeds. Logical DDR4 progression should be 2133/2400/2666/~2920/3200/3466/3733/4000

So anything that is 2800, 3000, 3300, etc. is going to require an oddball multiplier that may or may not be supported by the mobo OEM. Since DDR4-3000 is so common, let's just regard it as DDR4-2920. Not sure what to make of the other speed standards.

Since you are looking at Z170 system and your desired memory size is 2x8GB with a budget of $85-$100, I would recommend:

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/mtp323/corsair-memory-cmk16gx4m2b3200c16r < -- Actually CAS16, NOT 15

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/zRkwrH/gskill-memory-f43000c15d16gvr

One of those two. Check the mobo QVL, and in my opinion, I'd lean more towards the Corsair memory anyway since I like the Vengeance LPX heatspreaders.

If you can find Trident Z DDR4-3200 CAS14 in your budget then great, but from what I can tell, that kit starts at $135:

http://pcpartpicker.com/products/me...02800,403000,403200&sort=d2&page=1&L=140&qq=1

 

[catboy]

I am not a RAM expert but I voted for Trident Z. However, if you like lights on your RAM then maybe you should wait a few more weeks because they are releasing a RGB LED version very soon that will make the one you listed in the OP obsolete.

Here is the video of that RGB RAM in case you want to watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPx0LNzgQm4