Trident 3200mhz only detects 2133

[iAmAdrian]

Hi guys,

I'm not sure what's up, if my mobo might be defective, or if the RAM is.

I built my own PC and everything is working completely okay, it's just that this G.skill Trident Z RGB 2x8gb 3200mhz RAM is only showing 2133mhz. I'm not bothered by it actually, I just don't want to know that I spent a few more dollars thinking it is a 3200mhz when it's only 2133mhz.

So my mobo is the Strix Z370-E paired with the 8700k.

Do you think I was scammed by the seller? It's in a sealed(based on how it looks, it's a legit seal from G.skill) box too.

Or do I have to manually set it to 3200mhz since by default these RAMs only run at 2133mhz?
I don't want to damage my mobo or anything, I just wanted to verify this first.

Thanks guys.

 

[FD2Raptor]

Yes you do have to manually enable the 3200Mhz setting in the UEFI.

By default, and for compatibility reason, DDR4 memory will automatically configure itself to the JEDEC standard of 2133 CL15.

Just go into UEFI and enable XMP to get your 3200Mhz.

 

[yyk71200]

When motherboards boot the first time, they always default to the lowest common denominator, 2133 mhz for ddr4 to ensure the maximum boot reliability. You need to enable XMP (extreme memory profile) in BIOS if you want it to run with the advertised speed.

 

[iAmAdrian]

I gotta say, what a relief guys. Thank you so much.

Last question: Wouldn't it be considered OVERCLOCKING when I adjust it to the advertised speed?

I know I have the K version proc and the Z board but I've never done any OC's in my life. I don't want to damage anything.
If I run the RAM at 3200mhz, will there be any possible damages if not done correctly? Maybe overheating?

 

[FD2Raptor]

When you enable XMP, the UEFI may prompt you about enabling Multiple Core Enhancement for improved performance, and both of these are a form of overclocking.

The XMP isn't too much of a concern since Intel memory controller should have no issue at 3200Mhz and so does your TridentZ (above 3200 is where you start playing lottery with a CPU that can do a good job of OCing itself and/or its memory controller as well).

MCE, on the other hand, is more important to note because you do have an unlocked K CPU; when MCE is enabled, your CPU is effectively and automatically OCed to its max Turbo Boost clock (in this case, 4.7Ghz) which may prove to be problematic if you hadn't paired it with a decent cooler to start with (doesn't have to be an expensive one, even a budget $25-35 air tower would have done the job).

 

[iAmAdrian]

I do have an H100i v2 cooler, but I'm only using the pre-applied thermal paste. I didn't get a new and reliable one like the arctic MX4. Should I be concerned?

Alrighty, so basically, I just need to clock the RAM at 3200mhz and don't have to do anything else? Or is it always a MUST to enable MCE when I enable XMP?

I read a review somewhere that on some games like PUBG or CSGO that running the RAM at a minimum of 3k mhz is the optimum spot for higher FPS. Not much of a difference, maybe 2-4FPS more, but ideally, that should be the goal.

Now, I'm stuck in this dilemma, should I really risk it to gain maybe a maximum of 5FPS more?

 

[FD2Raptor]

No you should not. The Corsair H100i v2 is plenty powerful for your application, that is running the CPU at stock speed, and it should even handle a 4.7Ghz OC just fine.

Better thermal paste like Arctic MX4, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, etc can certainly help bring temps down by a few more degrees but they're not essential to normal and non extreme OC user (which would be when you push that 8700k into 5Ghz and beyond).

You do not have to enable MCE when you enable XMP.

And I'll refer you to Hardware Unboxed for your benchmarking needs:
https://youtu.be/XOsYOASddeo

On some titles the RAM speed matters little (i.e. Mass Effect Andromedea: 2-3fps between all CPU+MBs combo since the title's performance is limited by the GPU, even if it's a 1080Ti), while on others it could means some 20-30% of the performance (i.e. Deus EX: Mankind Divided: 7700k@2133 = 96fps avg vs 7700k@3200 = 120fps avg with a 1080ti).

And then on BF1, while the 7700k stock 4Ghz with 2133Mhz DDR4 can achieve 149fps avg vs 164fps of the 3200Mhz DDR4 config, the 2133Mhz DDR4 config can dip as low as 84fps for its 0.1% low while the 3200Mhz config stays above 100fps mark at all time (i.e. ~20% improvement to minimum framerates with a 1080Ti).

 

[iAmAdrian]

I guess I should leave this as is and just experiment on how things are gonna go.

Hey thanks a lot man, this helped a lot.

 

[FD2Raptor]

You're welcome.

 

[madmatt30]

I guess I should leave this as is and just experiment on how things are gonna go.

Hey thanks a lot man, this helped a lot.

Honestly just drop in bios ,goto dram settings & enable xmp - there is absolutely no reason not to.
Id be fairly gutted spending upto $100 extra on faster ram then running it at the slowest speed possible - it doesnt make any sense to do that.