Question Which voltage should I choose when buying new RAM: 1.2V or 1.35V?

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Dolixe

Dolixe

Jan 3, 2025
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In my previous post, I was still trying to troubleshoot my 2x4GB RAM because it’s stuck at 2400MHz. The RAM is listed as 1.35V, and I think that might be the cause. When I tried my friend's 1.2V RAM, it was able to run at 2933MHz.

If I buy new 2x16GB RAM, should I look for 1.2V as well? I don’t want to end up stuck at 2400MHz like my current RAM.

Thanks in advance

Specs:
Motherboard: Asrock B450 Steel Legend
CPU : Ryzen 5 2600
GPU : RX 570
RAM : 2 x 4GB VGEN 3200Mhz 1.35v 16-18-18-36 (current)
PSU : Lux Aerocool 550 W bronze
 
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Dolixe said:
In my previous post, I was still trying to troubleshoot my 2x4GB RAM because it’s stuck at 2400MHz. The RAM is listed as 1.35V, and I think that might be the cause. When I tried my friend's 1.2V RAM, it was able to run at 2933MHz.

If I buy new 2x16GB RAM, should I look for 1.2V as well? I don’t want to end up stuck at 2400MHz like my current RAM.

Thanks in advance

Specs:
Motherboard: Asrock B450 Steel Legend
CPU : Ryzen 5 2600
GPU : RX 570
RAM : 2 x 4GB VGEN 3200Mhz 1.35v 16-18-18-36 (current)
PSU : Lux Aerocool 550 W bronze
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It doesn't matter, either one can run up to 1,6v without extra cooling. In case of trouble, raising voltage by 0-01 - 0.02v can help. Never heard about that VGEN ram, your BIOS possibly can't recognize it's XMP properly.
 
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CountMike said:
It doesn't matter, either one can run up to 1,6v without extra cooling. In case of trouble, raising voltage by 0-01 - 0.02v can help. Never heard about that VGEN ram, your BIOS possibly can't recognize it's XMP properly.
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so if it doesn't matter, and i buy the 2x16gb 1.2V i won't face any disadvantage right?
 
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There are some ram that can run at 2933 at 1.2v but also often 2933 is xmp territory which means 1.35v. You'd have to see memory specifications what voltage whichever frequency it runs at. Typically in memory specs you'd see only xmp speeds, depending what you get. If ram is 2933 or above, 3200 etc, it'll be xmp at 1.35v.

Not sure why you had issues in the first place. Maybe wrong slots? For xmp to work you need to only populate 2nd and 4th slot from cpu known as A2 B2. A1 B1 (1st & 3rd) will work but not with xmp, so im thinking if your friend's 2933 ram was indeed a jedec profile, as in not needing xmp, then that might be why they worked and yours didn't.

Look at Gskill memory compatibility list for your board and pick something from list. 3200 CL 16 is good for your processor. Also keep to two sticks as four sticks just adds more dramas.
 
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boju said:
There are some ram that can run at 2933 at 1.2v but also often 2933 is xmp territory which means 1.35v. You'd have to see memory specifications what voltage whichever frequency it runs at. Typically in memory specs you'd see only xmp speeds, depending what you get. If ram is 2933 or above, 3200 etc, it'll be xmp at 1.35v.

Not sure why you had issues in the first place. Maybe wrong slots? For xmp to work you need to only populate 2nd and 4th slot from cpu known as A2 B2. A1 B1 (1st & 3rd) will work but not with xmp, so im thinking if your friend's 2933 ram was indeed a jedec profile, as in not needing xmp, then that might be why they worked and yours didn't.

Look at Gskill memory compatibility list for your board and pick something from list. 3200 CL 16 is good for your processor. Also keep to two sticks as four sticks just adds more dramas.
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I’m still troubleshooting my current RAM issues. You can refer to my first post—the discussion in the forum is still ongoing (which means it hasn’t been resolved yet).

I also forgot to mention that my friend’s RAM doesn’t have XMP profile settings. So, I manually set it to 2933MHz with 1.34V.

Since you mentioned G.Skill memory, I’m curious—what’s the difference between cheap and expensive RAM? The one I’m considering is about $60, while G.Skill 2x16GB costs around $133 here.
 
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boju said:
so im thinking if your friend's 2933 ram was indeed a jedec profile, as in not needing xmp, then that might be why they worked and yours didn't.
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Oh, I definitely didn’t read this carefully.

If that’s the case, how can I check the JEDEC profile of my new RAM? If the JEDEC profile of the new RAM is 2400MHz, does that mean I’ll be stuck at 2400MHz again?
 
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Dolixe said:
Oh, I definitely didn’t read this carefully.

If that’s the case, how can I check the JEDEC profile of my new RAM? If the JEDEC profile of the new RAM is 2400MHz, does that mean I’ll be stuck at 2400MHz again?
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Cpuz will show you columns of supported jedec and xmp profiles under the spd tab.

Samsung Bdie is the go to chips on memory pcb for Ryzen, especially early Ryzen 1st and 2nd gen and still remained for 3rd gen really. Gskill CL 14 & 16 would usually use Samsung IC chips, definitely CL 14 would always consist of Samsung IC's, though CL16 was most of the time. Other times memory manufacturers would use SK Hynix IC / Micron chips; Corsair, Crucial, Gskill, TeamG, all use different IC chips for different performance and pricing categories. Ryzen just prefered Samsung's IC chips no matter what though but wasn't a definite thing, just the usual whomever had Samsung Bdie memory for Ryzen had pretty much no memory issues.

To know if memory has Bdie chips? That's impossible for us to know before buying but a clue would be the lower CL is the better in which ever speed class (frequency), CL 14 and 16. Anything above that for say 3200 is using something else.
 
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boju said:
Samsung Bdie is the go to chips on memory pcb for Ryzen, especially early Ryzen 1st and 2nd gen and still remained for 3rd gen really.

To know if memory has Bdie chips? That's impossible for us to know before buying.
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Okay, so is CL14 always Bdie? If yes, I’ll try to look into it. And if not, does that mean buying memory is like a gamble, hoping to get Bdie?

By the way, just in case I can’t find it or it’s out of my budget, is it better to go with 2x8GB with Bdie? Or is it okay to use a random manufacturer with CL14++ but 2x16GB instead?
 
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