What DDR3 brand and model for 2500K /Asus Z68 and OCing ?

[Mfusick]

Hey guys

I have decided on the Asus Z68 LGA1155 and the 2500K Sandy. My mobo with be either the MAXIMUS or the DELUXE both Gen3.

What DDR3 should I get? I want to OC the hell of of this little chip. I will upgrade the cooler, and the case is going to be a COSMO II. Right now I have a Thermaltake Armor 10 bay full tower till the COSMOS II is released.

What speed DDR3 should I get? WHat brand? What model?

I want 16GB I think. 4x4GB probably.

My budget is $200 or less.

I saw some RIPJAWZ and G.SKILL models for about $129 that seemed to fit the bill. Worth it over CORSAIR or MUSHKIN ?

 

[rolli59]

I would go with 1600MHz and brand is not as important as selecting ram with 1.5 volts, all the brand names you mention are good and on comparable specs none is better than the other.

 

[Mfusick]

I would go with 1600MHz and brand is not as important as selecting ram with 1.5 volts, all the brand names you mention are good and on comparable specs none is better than the other.

I was looking at the faster speeds than 1600mhz (DDR12800)

More like DDR17000 and 2133mhz...

Any reason I should bother getting DDR3 faster than 1600mhz?

What OC speed does going from the stock 1333 to 1600 give? 1600 just seems very moderate. Perhaps I am wrong.

I am coming from a LGA775 so I have a small learning curve with the new LGA1155. My CPU and Board come in a couple days from NewEgg so I need to order some ram fast.


Thanks for the help

 

[rolli59]

Overclocking 2500K is done on the multiplier so it does not affect the ram speed. 1600MHz is the min speed I would buy and for the price the best buy.

 

[signor]

Depends on what cpu cooler your using, imo I would get the corsair dominator or vengeance (vengeance for larger cpu coolers such as the phantek).
both 1600mhz, though most dominator ram is CL8 with the vengeance being CL9.

 

[deadjon]

These days CAS latency means pretty much nothing. Your better getting more bandwidth out of the RAM such as 1866Mhz, games benefit more from this.

 

[inanition02]

I would say go for the G.Skill Ripjaws X series. It's Intel XMP certified. I have 8gb of Ripjaws X in my media PC - Asus Maximus Gene-Z board and an i3 - and it runs beautifully.

As for the speed, they make 1866 and 1600, but I haven't seen many benchmarks where the 1866 makes noticeable gains (i.e., it may get you 1-2 FPS). Here's the kit I would get - and it's <$50.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

 

[Mfusick]

if I got a faster ram - and did not need it- does that mean the faster spec ram is better and I could go harder or tighten the timing easier than if I got the ordinary stuff ?

 

[EDVINASM]

Judging it's Z68 and 2500k you are going to use your PC for games. I would go for Kingston Grey series. Paid €40 for 2x4GB. Performance that of kits for €100. Save your money or invest into something that will pay off, such as better case for decent cooling. Just an opinion.

 

[Mfusick]

+1

none of the brands mentioned actually make RAM. They all buy it from a handful of suppliers and stick a heat spreader on them that do a better job for marketing then actually improving performance. so when you see fanboys arguing over brand X being better then brand Y even though the RAM is the same spec, there is a very good chance they are actually arguing over the exact same RAM.

who makes G.SKILL?

Who makes corsair ?

 

[Mfusick]

ok- thanks.

But still there has to be a generally reccomended brand for both performance and value ?

Yes?

 

[jsanthara]

I would say go for the G.Skill Ripjaws X series.

+1

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

I would go with 1600MHz and brand is not as important as selecting ram with 1.5 volts, all the brand names you mention are good and on comparable specs none is better than the other.

+1 This is the best answer since really doesn't make much of a difference with memory over 1600 for the Intel® Core™ i5-2500K and as long as you keep the voltage at 1.5v ±5% you are good to go.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team