Will this memory configuation work in dual channel?

[dude98]

I have 12GB of RAM and I need to know if it will work in dual channel mode with my 4790K.

It is Samsung RAM running at 1333MHz. I have two 2GB sticks and two 4GB sticks. If I put the 4GB sticks in slot A1 and B1, and the 2GB sticks in slot A2 and B2, will it work in dual channel?

 

[jitpublisher]

Yes, as long as there is a matched set in each bank. The banks do not have to each be the same size.

 

[Tradesman1]

If you have them, give them a try, if they work, yes it should be in dual channel - if they don't want to play together, and good chance they won't, give a shout and we can try some minor voltage and timing adjustments

 

[dude98]

If you have them, give them a try, if they work, yes it should be in dual channel - if they don't want to play together, and good chance they won't, give a shout and we can try some minor voltage and timing adjustments

I'm thinking of buying new RAM, but I already have some Corsair Vengeance (CMZ16GX3M2A1600C10). I was just wondering if the Samsung RAM would work.

I've been looking at the G.Skill Trident X (Model F3-1600C7D-16GTX), and G.Skill Ripjaw Z (Model F3-1866C9D-16GZH) but it doesn't really seem worth buying for a small increase (better timings or faster with the latter). Not sure either would work with my board (Asus Z97 A) as they aren't isn't listed as compatible, but I think that list is just what Asus tested anyway.

Faster than 1600MHz or 1866MHz doesn't seem worth the extra cost and volts, as it only provides a small benefit.

Suggestions?

I would post links, but I can't for some reason.

 

[Tradesman1]

Give what you have a shot, as mentioned if they don't play nice they can often be 'helped' with minor adjustments

 

[dude98]

Give what you have a shot, as mentioned if they don't play nice they can often be 'helped' with minor adjustments

I think I am just going to buy new RAM. I like Corsair Vengeance, but some people don't for some reason. Some say it's worse for OC, which is a legit reason, while some just act like fanboys.

I tend not to OC my memory. The gains between 1600MHz and 2400MHz are minimal (for gaming), so as long as it runs at 1600MHz (or higher), I usually just leave it at that.

That said, which do you recommend out of the listed ones? The Vengeance I can get at Best Buy (I know, it's Best Buy, but they price match now) today, or I can order the G.Skill from Newegg.

 

[Tradesman1]

I'd go the GSkill, stronger sticks, but know the feeling the urge to get going 😉 , the Corsair sticks will work fine, from 1600 to 2400 might add 10 or a little more FPS prob at most on that count...As far as gaming goes, you'll prob be happy with either 😉

 

[dude98]

I'd go the GSkill, stronger sticks, but know the feeling the urge to get going 😉 , the Corsair sticks will work fine, from 1600 to 2400 might add 10 or a little more FPS prob at most on that count...As far as gaming goes, you'll prob be happy with either 😉

Well, I was looking to go with the G.Skill F3-1600C7D-16GTX but Newegg has now sold out. Figures. 🙁

Not sure what to get now. I'll have to look around or just go with the Vengeance.

 

[Tradesman1]

The tridents also come in 1866 and up

 

[dude98]

The tridents also come in 1866 and up

Yes, but at the cost of more volts and a higher price.

How is the G.Skill Z series F3-1866C9D-16GZH compared to the Tridents (I mean how is the Z series compared to the Trident series)?

 

[Tradesman1]

The Z s are good also, they are an offshoot of the RJ X series which came out for 1155, the Z's are primarily aimed at 2011 originally and extended out towards the 1150 socket. With the Z97-A I lean towards the Tridents followed by the GSkill Snipers then the Ripjaws (either X or Z)

 

[dude98]

The Z s are good also, they are an offshoot of the RJ X series which came out for 1155, the Z's are primarily aimed at 2011 originally and extended out towards the 1150 socket. With the Z97-A I lean towards the Tridents followed by the GSkill Snipers then the Ripjaws (either X or Z)

Is there any reason you favor one over the other with the Z97-A?

I've been looking at these. Should be good with a stock 4790K, right? Haven't OC'ed yet.

There is also these or the Z series at 9-9-9-24.

May wait for the 1600MHz Tridents. The CAS 7 is nice. But the Corsair Vengeance also still looks nice.

 

[Tradesman1]

That particular set is 2133/11, a 2133/9 set would be better performance wise, they will work fine, don't get me wrong, but prices on DRAM right now are very close across a range of freqs so I always look for high performance. Over the years I've built and seen a ton of rigs, (I have a systems consultancy) so whenever I build, upgrade or have a rig in for repairs, I try and play with different DRAM, GPUs, things like that to see how they work together. Doing that you sort of develop 'favorites', i.e. on 1150 I favor Tridents and Snipers, on AMD rigs I look to SNipers and RJ X, on 2011 RJ Z and RJ X, etc

 

[dude98]

That particular set is 2133/11, a 2133/9 set would be better performance wise, they will work fine, don't get me wrong, but prices on DRAM right now are very close across a range of freqs so I always look for high performance. Over the years I've built and seen a ton of rigs, (I have a systems consultancy) so whenever I build, upgrade or have a rig in for repairs, I try and play with different DRAM, GPUs, things like that to see how they work together. Doing that you sort of develop 'favorites', i.e. on 1150 I favor Tridents and Snipers, on AMD rigs I look to SNipers and RJ X, on 2011 RJ Z and RJ X, etc

I see.

I'm not really sure what to get. G.Skill has so many options. Corsair has some Vengeance Pro at CAS 9 2133MHz that is looking good, but I'm still not sure what to get. The RJ X's look good, too. I'm trying to keep it at 1.5V.

 

[Tradesman1]

If going under 2133, best to stick w/ 1.5 unless going high performance sticks like the Tri's, 2133 and up are typically all 1.6-1.65 which is perfectly safe (at 1600/1866 with loose CLs needing 1.6-1.65 can be indicative of poorly binned or weak memory chips). The higher bandwidth will help overrcome a looser CL, but it's really a combo of the two that is the determining factor performance wise

 

[dude98]

If going under 2133, best to stick w/ 1.5 unless going high performance sticks like the Tri's, 2133 and up are typically all 1.6-1.65 which is perfectly safe (at 1600/1866 with loose CLs needing 1.6-1.65 can be indicative of poorly binned or weak memory chips). The higher bandwidth will help overrcome a looser CL, but it's really a combo of the two that is the determining factor performance wise

Well, I've narrowed it down if I go 2133. Either Corsair Vengeance Cas 10, Corsair Vengeance Pro Cas 11, Trident X Cas 9 1.6V, or Ripjaw X's CAS 9 1.6V.

The Trident's look like the best choice. Now, is 1.6V perfectly fine with the 4790K (and Asus Z97-A)? I've read posts saying anything over 1.5V will slowly kill the memory controller, but I don't think that is true. Isn't up to 1.65 perfectly safe and stable for now and the long term?

Also, with any of these, I should be able to pop them in and run them perfectly fine by enabling XMP on the Asus Z97-A, right? Or maybe the EZ-XMP switch?

Thanks for all of the help. It is appreciated.

 

[Tradesman1]

Yes 1.65 is perfectly safe, the 1.5 recommendation is aimed at 'native' sicks i.e. 1600, Intel even certifies sticks at high freqs (think they are up to 3000 sticks, (haven't looked in awhile and the bulk of the sticks are in fact 1.65, which is largely because of this myth about 1.65 being dangerous

 

[dude98]

Yes 1.65 is perfectly safe, the 1.5 recommendation is aimed at 'native' sicks i.e. 1600, Intel even certifies sticks at high freqs (think they are up to 3000 sticks, (haven't looked in awhile and the bulk of the sticks are in fact 1.65, which is largely because of this myth about 1.65 being dangerous

If that is the case, I may just go with the G.SKILL Trident X 2400MHz set. Looks like a good set and it is $10 cheaper than the 2133MHz Tridents.

 

[Tradesman1]

Great sticks, I have the 32GB set in my IB build 😉

 

[dude98]

Great sticks, I have the 32GB set in my IB build 😉

I ordered those sticks and they just arrived. I installed them and everything seems ok. The package was slightly cracked (the plastic holder), though. They default to 1333MHz until XMP is enabled.

I have two XMP profiles. XMP 1 is 2401MHz and XMP 2 is 2399MHz, which one should I use? Those are the only differences I can see. Both are using the same timings (10-12-12-31) and 1.65V. CPU-Z is showing the sticks running at 3999.8MHz (CR 2T).

I am using XMP 1 currently, but not sure if there is a difference?

 

[Tradesman1]

Can try both, Profile 1 is the stock timings - Profile 2 is normally a little more enthusiast oriented, i.e. it may set for the CR at 1T instead of the semi-standard 2T (slightly higher performance)

 

[dude98]

Can try both, Profile 1 is the stock timings - Profile 2 is normally a little more enthusiast oriented, i.e. it may set for the CR at 1T instead of the semi-standard 2T (slightly higher performance)

It didn't change anything that I can see.

Thanks for all of the help.

 

[Tradesman1]

Can take a look in CPU-Z - in the memory tab - may have changed the CR to 1T

 

[dude98]

Can take a look in CPU-Z - in the memory tab - may have changed the CR to 1T

I had checked that, but it didn't change.

Anyway, the BIOS reports the RAM as running at 1.674V. Is this safe and normal? Shouldn't it be running at 1.65V as the XMP profile states? The BIOS has the freq. in yellow at 1.65000 and I can edit it, but it still shows it running at 1.674V and I've seen it jump to 1.677V.

 

[Tradesman1]

There will be fluctuations in what the voltage is from whatever is specified, you are close to 1.65 and perfectly safe