ASUS Maximus VI GENE

[bellatore86]

I just purchased the ASUS Maximus VI GENE motherboard and I'm trying to pick out RAM. I want the fastest possible to make this computer last at least 5 years to keep up with games and such without having to be replaced.

The two RAM kits I am looking at are:

• ■CORSAIR Vengeance Pro 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2933 Desktop Memory Model CMY16GX3M4B2933C12R
  ■CORSAIR Dominator Platinum 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2800 (PC3 22400) Desktop Memory Model CMD16GX3M4A2800C12

Or should I go for 32GB and max out the capacity of the motherboard and go with a lower frequency kit?

My last build was a AMD Phenom II X4 940 running Corsair Dominator DDR2 4GB Kit @ 1066MHz. I came to the realization a year or two ago that I could not have more than 4GB of RAM @ 1066MHz. "Due to CPU limitation only 2 DIMS supported at 1066MHz". This has me a bit worried for my next build.

I have tried to research as much as possible before my purchase, but I broke down and bought my the motherboard and a Corsair Obsidian 350D case. The QVL says both of the kits that I mentioned are compatible. So with this build I'd like to make sure before I buy a quad channel kit that all my DIMMs will be running at the specified speeds (2933MHz or 2800MHz). I understand the difference between dual channel and quad channel. I'm just not sure about the speeds staying the at what they are rated when more than 2 dims are installed (ie: channel A1 and B1). I'm probably overthinking it because of the situation with AMD, but I'd still like to bounce it off of you guys.

Components I've yet to buy:

• ■ i7-4770k
  ■ ASUS GTX 780 x (2)
  ■ Corsair H100i Hydro Series cooler
  ■ SSD (Looking at the Corsair 240GB GTX)
  ■ Power Supply

Very Respectfully,
Bellatore86

 

[lp231]

These two rams are way over priced
Also your board only supports dual channel.
Quad channel is reserved for socket 2011 like the Asus Rampage IV Gene
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233542

 

[bellatore86]

I understand that the board is dual channel.

My question is though will all 4 dimms run at the rated frequency of 2933MHz or 2800MHz?

I know they are ridiculously over priced. What would you suggest i do?

If i had gone the 2011 socket route I would have ended up spending alot more than I wanted to in the end on my build.

According the the QVL:
4 DIMM Slots
• 1 DIMM: Supports one module inserted in any slot as Single-channel memory configuration
• 2 DIMM: Supports one pair of modules inserted into eithor the red slots or the black slots as one pair of Dual-channel memory configuration
• 4 DIMM: Supports 4 modules inserted into both the red and black slots as two pairs of Dual-channel memory configuration

So this means it would take the Quad channel kit and make it into two pairs of dual channel dimms. Right?

 

[lp231]

The memory will run at the maximum according to what the manual says. But Core i7 4770K, maximum ram support is DDR3 1600.
To go beyond 1600, it requires some bios tweaking or enable of XMP profiles so the bios will know the correct speed that's on the ram.
Not all ram supports it so check if it has XMP, before buying
Going with 2011 won't cost twice as much, if you spend your money wisely on the build.
Also spend that much on ram does not make your machine last long.
I suggest spending less on the memory.

 

[bellatore86]

I know both of the kits i listed supported XMP. I had to change the frequency in the bios of my friends computer when I was helping him build his. He had corsair vengeance ram that was rated at 1866MHz. The first bios post listed it as 1600MHz - we changed that to 1866MHz and it works great. However he only had 2 dimms of this ram. A actual Dual channel kit.

So if i were to buy a quad channel kit. All i would have to do is change the frequency in the bios to say 2933MHz? And all 4 dimms will run at that speed?

My order still says Packaging on newegg i think i can still cancel it. The 2011 board is $60 more and the 2011 i7-4820k is about the same price as the i7-4770k.

But i noticed that the max supported speed on the 2011 board version is 2400MHz...

 

[bellatore86]

So you think i should just go with that 2133MHz 16GB dual channel kit that you posted?

And keep my current order?

I was battling with the idea of a 2011 socket build for months before I decided on the 1150 socket.

 

[lp231]

Yes, if the ram have XMP support then all it need to do is to enable XMP and change to 2933 and all ram should run at that speed.
The board you got runs at dual channel, so if you got 2 stick of ram is dual channel, have 4 sticks it's still dual channel as in, 2 sets of dual channel ram.
Just stick with the platform you bought as socket 2011 may EOL once Haswell-E arrives with a new socket 2011

 

[bellatore86]

So it should work then, Thanks! I just wont receive extra bandwidth from the quad channel setup(~50GB) as I already expected. It will remain around ~25GB bandwidth.

The speed increase of 2933MHz though would be beneficial over the 2133MHz kit you mentioned? Aside from FPS increase in games. I am building this to play Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO and possibly other newer games.

I've been reading that article you linked to me. Very informative. I have been building computers for a while and i really never thought too far into RAM.

 

[lp231]

Ram speed doesn't really speed up FPS in games.

 

[Tradesman1]

The 4770K can generally always carry up to 32GB of 2666 some will carry 2800 and possibly higher, you will prob have to OC the CPU some to run at the full freq, I went to 4.2 for my 32GB of 2666....I'd go with the GSkill Tridents in either 16GB (2x8GB) or 32GB (4x8GB)....I've run the 16GB 2800 and 32GB of 2666 on a Genie w/ a 4770K so should be fine.

 

[bellatore86]

Close the thread please. Corsair just got back to me and they are hooking me up with CMT8GX3M2B2133C9. I sent my old computer's TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF G x (2) in for RMA. They don't make that anymore and offered to give me DDR3. So my problem is null and void. Thanks for all your help and input everyone!

 

[Tradesman1]

Glad to hear all is well and Corsair came through

 

[bellatore86]

They always take care of me