I have two Ryzen 1000 generation systems with B350 motherboards that I’m upgrading for Win11. I’m upgrading the CPUs (already ordered) and RAM. (See below.)
I’m trying to figure out what to get for the RAM, using the QVLs. The motherboard QVLs haven’t been updated since the motherboards were released, so I’m looking at the RAM manufacturers’ QVLs. Corsair’s QVL is the only QVL that lists a mainstream 32GB RAM kit tested with my two specific B350 motherboard models.
AMD also has a QVL, of RAM tested with Ryzen generation 3000 through 5000 CPUs; the RAM kits are cited as having been tested with all generation 3000 through 5000 CPUs in general, not with any particular generation or any particular CPU.
The RAM kit on Corsair’s QVL that’s compatible with my two motherboards isn’t also on AMD’s QVL, so I have to pick either one or the other: RAM that was tested with my specific motherboards but not necessarily with my CPUs (which will be 3700x and 5700x after the upgrade) (from Corsair's QVL); or RAM that was tested with Ryzen CPUs of generations 3000-5000 (in general) but not with my specific B350 motherboards (which are earlier than Ryzen generations 3000-5000) (from AMD's QVL).
I think it might be better to go by Corsair’s QVL (RAM compatible with my specific B350 motherboards), rather than go by AMD’s QVL (RAM compatible with Ryzen CPUs of generations 3000-5000), because it seems my Ryzen 1000 gen B350 motherboards would be more of a limiting factor than the Ryzen 3700x and 5700x CPUs? My thinking is, if the RAM works with my Ryzen 1000 gen B350 motherboards, then it should also work with the Ryzen 3700x and 5700x CPUs because the memory controllers in Ryzen 3000 and 5000 are better than the ones in Ryzen 1000? While, on the other hand, if I get RAM according to AMD’s QVL which was tested with Ryzen 3000 and 5000, my B350 motherboards from Ryzen 1000 gen might not work with the RAM? Is this thinking correct (or not)?
(People usually use motherboard QVLs to choose RAM. I get the impression that AMD’s Ryzen QVL was used only secondarily by people. Is CPU-RAM compatibility even a separate issue: is CPU-RAM compatibility implied as long as motherboard-RAM compatibility is addressed?)
I’m a little more comfortable getting the RAM recommended by Corsair’s QVL, because it happens to be the most popular DDR4 on Amazon right now, so it seems maybe broadly compatible. But would like to know what people think is best.
Many thanks for any help.
Before upgrade
System 1:
Gigabyte AB350-Gaming 3, Rev 1.0
Ryzen 1700x
Gskill Ripjaws V 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MHz
System 2:
Asus Prime B350-Plus
Ryzen 1700
Gskill Ripjaws V 8GB (2x4GB) 3200MHz
After upgrade (for Win11) (CPU choices based partly on speaking w/ mobo tech support)
System 1:
Gigabyte AB350-Gaming 3, Rev 1.0
Ryzen 3700x
Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2x16GB) 3200MHz?
System 2:
Asus Prime B350-Plus
Ryzen 5700x
Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2x16GB) 3200MHz?
I’m trying to figure out what to get for the RAM, using the QVLs. The motherboard QVLs haven’t been updated since the motherboards were released, so I’m looking at the RAM manufacturers’ QVLs. Corsair’s QVL is the only QVL that lists a mainstream 32GB RAM kit tested with my two specific B350 motherboard models.
AMD also has a QVL, of RAM tested with Ryzen generation 3000 through 5000 CPUs; the RAM kits are cited as having been tested with all generation 3000 through 5000 CPUs in general, not with any particular generation or any particular CPU.
The RAM kit on Corsair’s QVL that’s compatible with my two motherboards isn’t also on AMD’s QVL, so I have to pick either one or the other: RAM that was tested with my specific motherboards but not necessarily with my CPUs (which will be 3700x and 5700x after the upgrade) (from Corsair's QVL); or RAM that was tested with Ryzen CPUs of generations 3000-5000 (in general) but not with my specific B350 motherboards (which are earlier than Ryzen generations 3000-5000) (from AMD's QVL).
I think it might be better to go by Corsair’s QVL (RAM compatible with my specific B350 motherboards), rather than go by AMD’s QVL (RAM compatible with Ryzen CPUs of generations 3000-5000), because it seems my Ryzen 1000 gen B350 motherboards would be more of a limiting factor than the Ryzen 3700x and 5700x CPUs? My thinking is, if the RAM works with my Ryzen 1000 gen B350 motherboards, then it should also work with the Ryzen 3700x and 5700x CPUs because the memory controllers in Ryzen 3000 and 5000 are better than the ones in Ryzen 1000? While, on the other hand, if I get RAM according to AMD’s QVL which was tested with Ryzen 3000 and 5000, my B350 motherboards from Ryzen 1000 gen might not work with the RAM? Is this thinking correct (or not)?
(People usually use motherboard QVLs to choose RAM. I get the impression that AMD’s Ryzen QVL was used only secondarily by people. Is CPU-RAM compatibility even a separate issue: is CPU-RAM compatibility implied as long as motherboard-RAM compatibility is addressed?)
I’m a little more comfortable getting the RAM recommended by Corsair’s QVL, because it happens to be the most popular DDR4 on Amazon right now, so it seems maybe broadly compatible. But would like to know what people think is best.
Many thanks for any help.
Before upgrade
System 1:
Gigabyte AB350-Gaming 3, Rev 1.0
Ryzen 1700x
Gskill Ripjaws V 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MHz
System 2:
Asus Prime B350-Plus
Ryzen 1700
Gskill Ripjaws V 8GB (2x4GB) 3200MHz
After upgrade (for Win11) (CPU choices based partly on speaking w/ mobo tech support)
System 1:
Gigabyte AB350-Gaming 3, Rev 1.0
Ryzen 3700x
Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2x16GB) 3200MHz?
System 2:
Asus Prime B350-Plus
Ryzen 5700x
Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2x16GB) 3200MHz?
Last edited:
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