Higher RAM mhz than recommended on CPU

[talackostepan]

So I am thinking of building a new PC with an i7 8700k inside of it and I saw on the intel page that the supported is DDR4-2666
and my question is would it matter if I got a RAM with higher speed?

my specs would be:
GPU: MSI GTX 1070 8GB
CPU: i7-8700k
MOBO: MSI Z370 GAMING PLUS
RAM: 2x8 HyperX DDR4 3200MHz CL16 Predator Series
SSD: 120GB
SSD: 240GB
HDD: 1TB
PSU: Corsair RM650x
CPU Cooling: NZXT Kraken x62
Case: NZXT S340

 

[DRagor]

For gaming it mostly does not matter, for other uses it might matter. In the end, most people buy 2666 or faster, depending on price - if 3200 is only few $ more then 2666 then why not go for it.

 

[delaro]

Actually it does matter, 3200mhz is the sweet spot for Price/Performance on both Intel and RYZEN.


Core i7-8700K (PurePC)

BF1 (min FPS)
DDR4 2133 CL14: 158
DDR4 3200 CL14: 192

Crysis 3 (min FPS)
DDR4 2133 CL14: 112
DDR4 3200 CL14: 119

Dishonored 2 (min FPS)
DDR4 2133 CL14: 86
DDR4 3200 CL14: 103

Deus Ex (min FPS)
DDR4 2133 CL14: 77
DDR4 3200 CL14: 99

Fallout 4 (min FPS)
DDR4 2133 CL14: 62
DDR4 3200 CL14: 72

Core i7-8700K (DF)

Far Cry Primal, Ultra
DDR4 2133: 133.1 FPS
DDR4 3000: 141 FPS

Rise of the Tomb Raider DX12, Very High
DDR4 2133: 133.2 FPS
DDR4 3000: 140 FPS

The Witcher 3, Ultra, No Hairworks
DDR4 2133: 142.8 FPS
DDR4 3000: 170 FPS

Core i5-8400 (PurePC)

BF1 (min FPS)
DDR4 2133 CL4: 147 FPS
DDR4 3200 CL14: 175 FPS

Crysis 3 (min FPS)
DDR4 2133 CL14: 64
DDR4 3200 CL14: 67

Dishonored 2 (min FPS)
DDR4 2133 CL14: 73
DDR4 3200 CL14: 87

Deus Ex (min FPS)
DDR4 2133 CL14: 71
DDR4 3200 CL14: 94

Fallout 4 (min FPS)
DDR4 2133 CL14: 49
DDR4 3200 CL14: 58

Core i3-8100 (Techspot)

F1 2017 (avg FPS)
DDR4 2400: 151
DDR4 3200: 166

BF1 (avg FPS)
DDR4 2400: 124
DDR4 3200: 137

AotS (min FPS)
DDR4 2400: 73
DDR4 3200: 81


The benefits are not as great as Ryzen but you do see a difference.

Sources
www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-intel-coffee-lake-core-i7-8700k-review
https://www.purepc.pl/procesory/test_procesora_intel_core_i7_8700k_premiera_coffee_lake
https://www.purepc.pl/procesory/test_intel_core_i5_8400_vs_amd_ryzen_5_1600_wojna_szesciu_rdzeni
https://www.techspot.com/review/1499-intel-core-i3-8100-i3-8350K/page3.html

 

[talackostepan]

For gaming it mostly does not matter, for other uses it might matter. In the end, most people buy 2666 or faster, depending on price - if 3200 is only few $ more then 2666 then why not go for it.

So it won't cause any issues such as overheating or not working properly with my specs? I am a newbie so sorry if im asking obvious questions

 

[delaro]

For gaming it mostly does not matter, for other uses it might matter. In the end, most people buy 2666 or faster, depending on price - if 3200 is only few $ more then 2666 then why not go for it.

So it won't cause any issues such as overheating or not working properly with my specs? I am a newbie so sorry if im asking obvious questions

No not at all as long as it is a series that is on the QVL and supported. Current Intel chips have a much wider range or RAM options over Ryzen generally everything works. When you initially turn the system on it will read what is Nominal for the CPU, you will have to go into the BIOS and turn on XMP for the system to read the true speed.

 

[DRagor]

For gaming it mostly does not matter, for other uses it might matter. In the end, most people buy 2666 or faster, depending on price - if 3200 is only few $ more then 2666 then why not go for it.

So it won't cause any issues such as overheating or not working properly with my specs? I am a newbie so sorry if im asking obvious questions

When running RAM at OC speeds - and for this CPU anything over 2666 is considered OC - there is always chance for some problems. They don't happen too often, but they can happen. Although RAM overheating is not one of them.