[SOLVED] Very basic questions about RAM and SSD

[zhlerotko]

Hi there,

I got some advice on this Board about upgrading a desktop and was going to head to Microcenter to get some RAM (I currently have 16 gb and would like to increase it) and SSDs? Apart from the total gbs, are there different types of RAM? It seems fairly plug and play, but I wanted to check. Also, are there differences among SATA SSDs? They seem to be basically all the same.

Thanks!

 

[General Kenobi]

Hi there,

I got some advice on this Board about upgrading a desktop and was going to head to Microcenter to get some RAM (I currently have 16 gb and would like to increase it) and SSDs? Apart from the total gbs, are there different types of RAM? It seems fairly plug and play, but I wanted to check. Also, are there differences among SATA SSDs? They seem to be basically all the same.

Thanks!

Hello there!!
Do you know which type of ram you are using?? Like DDR3/DDR4. If not can you tell us your mobo and processor?

 

[MeanMachine41]

Hi there,

I got some advice on this Board about upgrading a desktop and was going to head to Microcenter to get some RAM (I currently have 16 gb and would like to increase it) and SSDs? Apart from the total gbs, are there different types of RAM? It seems fairly plug and play, but I wanted to check. Also, are there differences among SATA SSDs? They seem to be basically all the same.

Thanks!

If your going to upgrade then don't mix what you have. Get a kit (2x16) 32GB that are tested and listed on the MB QVL. Keep the others for spares.
RAM are definitely NOT Plug and Play. OC RAM very often require Bios changes to DRAM Timing control to get them to work at their rated frequency.

SATA SSDs are not all the same. There are several connector types that SSDs use to interface with a computer including SATA, PCIe, M.2, U.2, mSATA, and SATA Express,
A 2.5 internal SSD, an M.2 Board mounted and PCIe mounted SSD are the most common.

 

[zhlerotko]

Sorry - I had some work stuff last night. Here are my computer specs:

CPU is Core i5-8400
Motherboard - B360-a pro
PSU is Masterwatt Lite 600
GPU is GTX-1060 (6 gb)
SSD - Intel Optane Crucial MX500 (256 gb) (boot drive)
HDD - 932GBHHD (storage drive)

What is the MB QVL? Is that a kind of accepted list for motherboards?

As for the SSD issue, but understanding after reading the motherboard instructions is that I have room for a SATA plug in.

 

[zhlerotko]

Sorry - I had some work stuff last night. Here are my computer specs:

CPU is Core i5-8400
Motherboard - B360-a pro
PSU is Masterwatt Lite 600
GPU is GTX-1060 (6 gb)
SSD - Intel Optane Crucial MX500 (256 gb) (boot drive)
HDD - 932GBHHD (storage drive)

What is the MB QVL? Is that a kind of accepted list for motherboards?

As for the SSD issue, but understanding after reading the motherboard instructions is that I have room for a SATA plug in.

Just checked with QVL means. It looks like for RAM it's DDR4 memory (2666/ 2400/ 2133 MHz) based on what the manufacturer reports. I don't see a specific listing of acceptable manufacturers, though.

As for the SSD, the motherboard accepts SATA 6Gb/s connectors. It does have an M.2 slot, but that's taken up by the Optane boot drive.

 

[MeanMachine41]

Just checked with QVL means. It looks like for RAM it's DDR4 memory (2666/ 2400/ 2133 MHz) based on what the manufacturer reports. I don't see a specific listing of acceptable manufacturers, though.

As for the SSD, the motherboard accepts SATA 6Gb/s connectors. It does have an M.2 slot, but that's taken up by the Optane boot drive.

Just checked with QVL means. It looks like for RAM it's DDR4 memory (2666/ 2400/ 2133 MHz) based on what the manufacturer reports. I don't see a specific listing of acceptable manufacturers, though.

As for the SSD, the motherboard accepts SATA 6Gb/s connectors. It does have an M.2 slot, but that's taken up by the Optane boot drive.

Here is the Memory QVL for B360-A-Pro: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/B360-A-PRO#support-mem-3

RAM kit's are tested by the MB manufacturer to ensure compatibility. It is from this list you should choose your RAM.
There are as you will see higher frequencies tested up to 4000MHz however they are OC RAM.
If you have no experience in Bios DRAM Timing control then choose a kit at 2666MHz as OC RAM require manual Bios input for the SPD (Serial Presence Detect)

With OC RAM there is no guarantee you will reach their rated frequency and you pay more if they are low CAS LATENCY.
It is advisable to update your Bios and chipset should you choose OC RAM.

If confused I can recommend a kit to suit your system that are tested and known to work.
Same for an SSD, just determine what type and size.

 

[zhlerotko]

Here is the Memory QVL for B360-A-Pro: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/B360-A-PRO#support-mem-3

RAM kit's are tested by the MB manufacturer to ensure compatibility. It is from this list you should choose your RAM.
There are as you will see higher frequencies tested up to 4000MHz however they are OC RAM.
If you have no experience in Bios DRAM Timing control then choose a kit at 2666MHz as OC RAM require manual Bios input for the SPD (Serial Presence Detect)

With OC RAM there is no guarantee you will reach their rated frequency and you pay more if they are low CAS LATENCY.
It is advisable to update your Bios and chipset should you choose OC RAM.

If confused I can recommend a kit to suit your system that are tested and know to work.
Same for an SSD, just determine what type and size.

First, thank you very much for your helpful response! I don't have any experience with selecting RAM at all. I was just going to buy some compatible ones and then plug them in. That appears to be a big error, so any advice you have would be much appreciated. I don't think I am comfortable with overclocking because I am so new to this. I think that I'll likely take baby steps over time and learn bit by bit.

As for the SSD, I purchased the Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB SATA III along with a mounting bracket to be safe. It seemed highly reviewed and appears to be fully compatible.

Again, thanks very much for your advice.

 

[punkncat]

I am going to be that guy that gives advice you didn't ask for.

Being close to Microcenter I would personally cruise in with the $200 and pick up an i7 9700K, update BIOS, and add that to your system, along with a EVO 212 Air cooler (if it will fit) or similar.

😉

 

[zhlerotko]

I am going to be that guy that gives advice you didn't ask for.

Being close to Microcenter I would personally cruise in with the $200 and pick up an i7 9700K, update BIOS, and add that to your system, along with a EVO 212 Air cooler (if it will fit) or similar.

😉

I appreciate any and all advice! Thank you. My big worry is that those seem hard to add. Updating the BIOS, at least to a newbie, sounds like programing an aircraft carrier and I have no idea what to do with an air cooler. Is there a video I could watch?

 

[MeanMachine41]

First, thank you very much for your helpful response! I don't have any experience with selecting RAM at all. I was just going to buy some compatible ones and then plug them in. That appears to be a big error, so any advice you have would be much appreciated. I don't think I am comfortable with overclocking because I am so new to this. I think that I'll likely take baby steps over time and learn bit by bit.

As for the SSD, I purchased the Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB SATA III along with a mounting bracket to be safe. It seemed highly reviewed and appears to be fully compatible.

Again, thanks very much for your advice.

Corsair have a kit that are (2x8) 16GB at 2666MHz P/N: "CMK16GX4M2A2666C16". from newegg $67
G.Skill have a Ripjaws kit that are (2x8) 16GB at 2666MHz P/N: "F4-2666C15D-16GVR" from newegg $70

If not already done so it is advisable to update Bios and chipset.