[SOLVED] QVL for RAM (DDR4) - does it Matter?

[Dylan Beckett]

Hello

I’m putting together a 12th gen 12700K build and having trouble getting RAM (DDR4) at a decent price (or even in stock at all) to appease the QVL for my mobo….

And my question is… just how much does it really matter for your RAM to be on the list?

For context - my build is primarily for Music Production and to a slightly lesser extent – gaming with an RTX 3070 Ti.

This is not just about one specific brand or model of RAM – it’s a broader issue.


I will get at least 32gb of RAM (3600) but I may also double it (for music production; otherwise it’d be a waste of course). I don’t do video editing or rendering.

I’m leaning towards 2x sticks to allow for doubling it later… but may go 4x sticks – not sure?


Please note I'm not interested in switching to another Gen CPU or AMD... full stop.


I might want to try overclocking the RAM – but I might not bother at all?
I definitely don’t want to spend a huge amount more just to overclock…

Yet even if I decided right now not to overclock – I’d still have to pay a fair bit more just to get RAM on the QVL list. But does it really matter that much - with or without Overclocking?


So what do you think? Should I just pony up a little more coin to satisfy the QVL?


Thank you for your help

 

[Lafong]

You'll never know for sure.

All the list means is that those sticks have been tested and are known to work.

Plenty of choices not on that list will work. You can't know which for sure.

The list doesn't mean the QVL RAM is a "high performer" in some way.

You can make a reasonably educated guess as to what non-QVL RAM will work. And that guess could be wrong.

Go to Crucial.com and use their configurator. It will spit out the compatible Crucial RAM for your motherboard. It may be moderately priced. The configurator is quite reliable if not perfect.

If you want 64, I'd do it to begin with rather than 32 now and 32 later.

I wouldn't expect a noticeable benefit from RAM overclocking, but some do it just because they can and enjoy tweaking.

 

[Ralston18]

This:

"just how much does it really matter for your RAM to be on the list ".

It matters a lot.

Not only the amount of RAM but the hardware specs required by the host motherboard along with the physical RAM installation itself, and the corresponding RAM configuration settings.

May simply not work at all or work with many errors and issues. Or only 1/2 of RAM will function..... Varies.

Overclocking may or may not gain any noticeable system performance.

The purpose of build (music, games, photo editing, spreadsheets, etc.) is moot. While some apps may demand more with respect to system performance and available memory any given app will only use the memory that it requires. Most apps maybe 16GB.

Adding memory may be unnecessary and gain nothing. Check the music app specs. Likely some listing of minimal, recommended, and best with regards to RAM requirements. Beyond best - no value added.

QVL is key.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

 

[geofelt]

The QVL list names ram kits that have been tested on that particular motherboard.
Not all ram will be on that list, and it may not get updated.
If you have an interest in other ram, go to the vendor's web site and access their ram selection app.
Enter your motherboard and you will get a list of supported kits.
Intel is quite tolerant of ram.

But, do not plan on adding ram later. Buy what you need up front.
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
The internal workings are designed for the capacity of the kit.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards, can be very sensitive to this.
This is more difficult when more sticks are involved.
Ram must be matched for proper operation.

Do not expect to gain from ram overclocking.
ram is binned and the better chips are used in higher speed kits that sell for more.
You could get lucky, but do not count on it.
If you need faster ram, buy higher speed ram in the first place.
And... Intel ram controllers are very good. Real app performance is not much impacted.

 

[Dylan Beckett]

Hey guys

Thanks for your information you provided...

You tipped me over the edge - in the end I took back the RAM I had bought and ended up with something a bit faster but also cost a bit more too which stung just to satisfy the qvl!

It was a nightmare - took forever to actually find 'anything at all' that was in stock as so few low profile ram models were on the qvl!

Just went with Corsair LPX 3600 in the end.

Thanks again - I think this ended up being a much wiser choice.


cheers