Does it matter or is it all the same?

[rigosant]

I was wondering is any ram brand (model) better then another? Like for example is a Kingston 16gb 2666 MHZ better than a Crucial 16gb 2666 MHz even though they have the same specs?
I'm not sure if they have a crucial ram stick with those stats.Im jus making an example if any of the brands are better then the other even though having the same specs?

 

[Darkbreeze]

I've been buying and installing memory for about 30+ years. While some of these brands haven't been around that entire time, it's easy to say that it's not really the brand, but what SERIES of module you buy from each brand that matters. Much like the rest of the hardware industry the majority of these manufacturers have both poor and good quality products.

Typically, in order of preference, I like G.Skill, Corsair, Mushkin, Kingston (Also known as HyperX these days) and some of the Team (Dark, Night hawk, Elite plus, etc.) modules for enthusiast memory.

For basic memory modules on mainstream systems and business machines I like, in order of preference, Mushkin, Crucial (Micron), Kingston and SK Hynix.

What matters is the model, part number or series of the module. Different models use different quality levels of ICs, known as memory chips, and other components used to build the memory module.

There is a significant amount you can learn to get you started, here:

https://www.tomshardware.co.uk/ddr3-dram-faq,review-33220.html#p1

Here:

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr-dram-myths,4155.html#p1

And here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/55024-30-memory-please-read-posting

 

[CountMike]

Stick to RAM with Samsung b-die and can go no wrong.

 

[Darkbreeze]

B-die modules are, of course, the best out there. Kits using modules with B-die ICs ARE however generally 50-100% more expensive than other kits. If you are not using a Zen based platform and are wanting very high speeds or with four or more modules, or are planning to overclock on any platform and seriously want very tight timings or have a platform other than Ryzen that doesn't seem to want to operate at high frequencies with four or more slots populated, then it's probably not worth the expense unless you have money to burn.

Yes, they are the best, but not everybody needs "the best" when that means doubling your investment on something that probably will work just as well using a module that has Samsung D or E dies, or Hynix M dies. Among others.

If this isn't an enthusiast platform you probably don't even NEED or care about very fast modules with integrated heatsinks either. I'd still recommend them, for the simple fact that less heat is always better and everything runs more stable when it's cooler, to a point anyhow.

 

[volkgren]

Where can I find a list of Samsung B-Die DDR4 memory modules/kits? I've done some light searching before and couldn't find much. or how do I find what type of memory a given kit uses?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Practically all DDR4 modules that are 3000mhz or higher and have a CAS 14 latency use Samsung B-dies. This list also outlines a good many modules that are B-die ICs and others that are not, but have been user verified to work on Ryzen platforms.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/649ay8/ram_collection_thread_please_post_your_ram/

That list is mirrored on other sites such as overclockers, but the Reddit list is kept more frequently up to date.

 

[CountMike]

When you compare 2 sticks of seemingly same RAM and same frequency, other things can influence it's true speed. That's when latency and even architecture matters and influence it's final performance. For DDR4 most start frequency is 2133MHz and all will work at that frequency but some can hit much higher than that which reflects in its SPD and Jedec and XMP presets. Looking at those gives better view of their capabilities.
Also depends on platform they will be applied on, some have practically no bearing on whole system performance while on others much more (within reason of course).
So to really compare two similar RAM all those details have to be taken into account.

 

[CountMike]

Some of it is in here too but not a definite one: https://forums.overclockers.ru/viewtopic.php?p=14779442#p14779442
I know for sure my Kingston is.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Must be something nefarious at that link, my browser won't show it. Neither in Chrome or FF.

 

[CountMike]

It's a secure site, I have it open in FF, Edge and Vivaldi.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Well, my browsers don't seem to think it is. So, whatever.

 

[CountMike]

There must be some other lists, maybe from Samsung.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Probably, somewhere. The only list I've ever found that definitively identifies ANY modules as being Samsung B-die equipped is the one I linked to earlier and it's mirrors.

As I said earlier though, it's pretty easy to identify them. If it is DDR4, is 3000mhz or higher and has a CAS latency of 14, it is almost certainly a Samsung B-die module.

Obviousy at higher speeds, even a B-die equipped module is going to have a higher latency than that. CAS 16 on a 3600mhz module probably stands a good chance of being B-die. For most people though, anything over 3200mhz is going to have an extremely diminished return on their investment and probably doesn't make much sense.

 

[CountMike]

I was even surprised when I found that this Kingston of mine was b-die, wasn't in any lists or specs marked as such. Only found out by using Thaiphoon Burner. http://www.softnology.biz/ It's Kingston HyperX KHX3600C17D4/8GX