MB and RAM compatibility

[TheGeth]

Hello, is this memory G.SKILL 16 GB KIT DDR4 3000 MHz CL16 Gaming series compatible with this MB MSI A320M - PRO VD/S? Ryzen 7 1700x on the board. This is on the MB website about memory: 1866/2133/2400/2667/2933(OC)/3200(OC) Mhz but there is no 3000Mhz and I dont know what "OC" means here. Heard that it is both possible to OC on this board an that its not.

 

[SchizTech]

The MSI site provides a compatibility list (as do all major motherboard manufacturers). If a particular set isn't listed it's not necessarily the case that it's incompatible, just that it hasn't been verified by the manufacturer.

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/A320M-PRO-VD-S#support-mem-11

As to the OC matter, it's important to distinguish which component is subject to the OC. Much mainstream talk is of CPUs, though memory and graphics cards can also be overclocked. In this case a BIOS setting would need to be set to enable memory speeds of 3000 MHz or above.

If you want to be certain of compatibility the QVL (qualified vendor list) linked above is there to assure compatibility with the specified sets: pick a set on the list.

 

[maestro0428]

Memory on AMD runs at 2933 vs. 3000mhz. 2666 is the stock clock speed (or lower). If you plan on OC'ing your cpu, you may want a board with higher VRM count, quality.

 

[TheGeth]

I plan to get a better board eventually and OC but right now Im trying to get the cheapest 16GB memory I can find. I just wanted to know what would happen if I put these things together. The ram will just change its speed or is there a possibility of it not working at all?

 

[SchizTech]

Generally when you install high speed RAM it will simply run at the maximum default speed of the chipset/CPU unless overclocked. It's usually not a case where it won't run at all.

 

[TheGeth]

Well I hope it will work then. Thanks for replies.

 

[maestro0428]

Your memory may load in the bios at 2400, so you may need to adjust the clockspeed of it in the bios/uefi. Sorry, haven't built an AMD rig in a while...

 

[avatar_of_tenebrae]

usually at the pc store you can just do this:

(0) make sure they are the same "general type" (ie, DDR2 for pc or DDR2 for laptop, DDR3 for which, etc). there are some exceptions to this but they can't all be answered here (i know MSI has a support diagram for it and that it's not complete)

(1) make sure they are voltage is compatible

(2) make sure the speed your board with run the memory is a speed that's equal or below what the memory can do and make SURE you know how to set bios to insure that (easiest way: get memory that is faster than the MB is)

(3) these days, you may need to install 2 banks not 1 to get the speed you deserve out of your 16GB purchase

the latency rating matters some, but not as much as if you get 1 bank instead of 2 banks (a pair)

 

[TheGeth]

I found a little cheaper 16GB DDR4-2400MHz ADATA XPG GAMMIX D10 RGB CL16, 2x8GB which is on the QVL AX4U240038G16-DBG (except the DBG part). On some store pages it says "Fast speeds up to 3000MHz" but I dont know whether it means that there are faster models available or that this model can be OCd to 3000Mhz. I guess Im going with this model.