[SOLVED] Selecting RAM for my 5600X/A520M combo . . what numbers mean what, exactly? Am I taking a gamble here?

[King_V]

So, I gave in to a whim that was fueled by a heavy discount, and as described in this thread, bought an R5 5600X with a Gigabyte A520M DS3H motherboard. Came to $245 total... and I basically got a 5600X for sightly under i5-12400 MSRP, which made me happy.

RAM . . I thought I had this figured out. Went to the QVL pdf file for that motherboard, and figured, great, Crucial/Ballistix BLM2K16G40C18U4B (last letter is just heatsink color, B=Black, W=White, R=Red), basically 2x16GB kit, DDR4-4000, timings 18-19-19-39, and Crucial's site lists it for only $3 more than the DDR4-3600 equivalent.

Oof, nowhere to be had. The Ballistix 3600MHz 2x16GB RAM kit, with 16-18-18-38 timings, part# BL2K16G36C16U4R, at least appears to be available, albeit not from Crucial.

What about other RAM, where the CL is the same, but the subtimings are different? ie: if I can get 4000MHz RAM, but the timings are 18-22-22-42, vs, say 19-21-21-41, or 19-23-23 (doesn't list 4th number). How much of an effect does that have? Does it make it worthwhile to drop down to 3600MHz with 16-18-18-38?

Finally - how fussy ARE motherboards, and Ryzen 5000 memory controllers? I did find a set of G.Skill DDR4-4000, but with the 18-22-22-42 timings, in a 2x16 kit (model# F4-4000C18D-32GVK). Unfortunately, the QVL only a few 4000MHz G.Skill models, and only 8GB sticks, so that model is not on the list. How likely is it to work vs be a problem?

 

[logainofhades]

I run this ram, in my Aorus I Pro Wifi x570. Only issue I have had with it, is with gigabyte's terrible RGB software.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/33...b-2-x-16-gb-ddr4-3600-memory-bl2k16g36c16u4bl


If you were to run that 4000 ram, at its rated speed, you would lose performance, as there would be a latency penalty, due to the Infinity fabric being forced to run at a 2:1 ratio.

 

[tennis2]

QVL lists are about as close to pointless as you can get for non-OEM boards (IMO). Granted, I only build....1 system every 1.5 years, so my sample size is somewhat limited compared to a commercial builder.

Things to look for:

• 3200-3600MHz is generally the cheapest and most frequently on sale.
• 3600MHz will afford a 1:1 infinity fabric ratio and is pretty universally achievable on Ryzen 5000.
  • >3600MHz may not be achievable even with < 1:1 fabric ratio
• Tighter timings are better (within the same MHz rating) obviously, but price difference needs to be weighed against performance gains.

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/memory/#U=4&S=3200,4400&Z=32768002&sort=price&page=1

TL;DR - I'd recommend just getting a 3600MHz CAS16 kit and calling it a day. 3600 CAS 18 if it significantly* cheaper.

 

[King_V]

Thanks for the pointers/advice, and, yeah, the money for the mobo vs RAM is a fair point. I was really thinking along the lines of a 5600G, which was $199.99, but, when I wound up with a 5600X for $10 less, I couldn't resist.

I only even considered going with the 4000MHz RAM because, when I was looking at Crucial, it was only $3 more than the 3600MHz RAM. And, given what I'd read in this article... what particularly struck me was:

DDR4-3200 is still the officially supported memory frequency on Ryzen 5000. Looking back, Ryzen 3000's FCLK typically hits a wall at 1,800 MHz, which means you can run the memory at DDR4-3600 and remain in 1:1:1 mode. There have been rare exceptions where some really extraordinary Ryzen 3000 samples could run stably with a 1,900 MHz FCLK (DDR4-3800).

However, Ryzen 5000's FCLK is a lot more forgiving, paving the way for a 2,000 MHz FCLK (DDR4-4000). AMD doesn't guarantee that every single Ryzen 5000 processor will achieve the feat, but the majority will. Let's see how that impacts performance.

If I'm being honest, I am assuming it won't hit that speed with the 1:1 ratio. If I get 3733 or 3800, I'll count it a win.

Also, that specific G.Skill kit I mentioned above, F4-4000C18D-32GVK, is, $30 less than the 3600 kit I was looking for with Crucial.

That said . . the equivalent G.Skill, but stepped down to 3600 (still CL18 though), knocks it down yet another $23. And I realize, belatedly, that chasing faster RAM speeds is spending extra money for, maybe, in some workloads, another 3% gain, most often, maybe a percent or two, for 4000MHz over 3600.


Thanks for the wake-up call/reality-check! This is, after all, and as I have to remind myself, still a budget system. I can leave that last, at-best 5% or less, of performance on the table.

EDIT: except Neo Forza . . still too new and sounding too much like someone trying to capitalize on a racing game name for RAM, SSDs, etc., for my comfort.

 

[tennis2]

Sale prices are likely to make the decision on whether you go with DDR4-3600 or DDR4-4000. If a 4000MHz kit is on sale for less than [regular priced] 3600MHz alternatives, then yeah, it wouldn't make sense to buy the slower kit.

I too was trying to wait for AM5, but delay delay delay, DDR5 pricing/availability, etc etc. I found a 5600G for $150 on FB marketplace so I snagged the rest of the stuff in my signature (mobo, RAM, SSD) for $275+tax during Black Friday. Splurged a bit on the $150 mobo, but I needed a mITX board and that was basically the cheapest option at the time that wasn't sold out. Because it's mITX and has an IGP, it's destined to replace my HTPC system so I don't need/want it to last 10+ years like my last main/gaming system.

 

[King_V]

Sale prices are likely to make the decision on whether you go with DDR4-3600 or DDR4-4000. If a 4000MHz kit is on sale for less than [regular priced] 3600MHz alternatives, then yeah, it wouldn't make sense to buy the slower kit.

I too was trying to wait for AM5, but delay delay delay, DDR5 pricing/availability, etc etc. I found a 5600G for $150 on FB marketplace so I snagged the rest of the stuff in my signature for $275+tax during Black Friday. Splurged a bit on the $150 mobo, but I needed a mITX board and that was basically the cheapest option at the time that wasn't sold out. Because it's mITX and has an IGP, it's destined to replace my HTPC system so I don't need/want it to last 10+ years like my last main/gaming system.

Welp, I went with a Team Group 2x16GB kit, 3600, CL18, for $109.99. It was also, interestingly, on the QVL for what it's worth.

I hear you - it wasn't so much the delay, at least for me, as I was thinking AM5 for me would be near the end of 2022, even if it came out earlier, for Black Friday sales and (hopefully) waiting out initial kinks, etc.

DDR5 pricing definitely has me spooked. Plus, more rumors of potential supply issues, international tensions, and so forth, so I figured snag an economy system now, and get my AM5 if things are "normal" near the end of the year.

 

[alan520]

Welp, I went with a Team Group 2x16GB kit, 3600, CL18, for $109.99. It was also, interestingly, on the QVL for what it's worth.

I hear you - it wasn't so much the delay, at least for me, as I was thinking AM5 for me would be near the end of 2022, even if it came out earlier, for Black Friday sales and (hopefully) waiting out initial kinks, etc.

DDR5 pricing definitely has me spooked. Plus, more rumors of potential supply issues, international tensions, and so forth, so I figured snag an economy system now, and get my AM5 if things are "normal" near the end of the year.

Hello!
Could you tell me what the infinity fabric option is called in the bios of that Gigabyte A520M DS3H?