RAM Upgrade to 32GB from 16GB? Recommendations

[itakey]

I've been running my rig now for a solid few years and was considering upgrading the ram. 16GB usually does it for me, but occasionally when running virtual machines I reach the RAM limit.

Here are the specs:
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68
CPU: Intel i7-2700K
Current RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800)
Hard Drive: SSD

I looked at the RAM support list on the motherboard and it doesn't list any 8GB modules, but I'm guessing its only because they were so uncommon years back.

I keep seeing deals on 2X8GB sets, so it looks like it will cost me about $160 to buy 2 sets and do the upgrade. Is that money well spent?

Is it ideal to run ram that isn't on their list? Do people usually just buy a ram and do some stress testing to make sure it doesn't fail? Or is a motherboard upgrade also needed to make sure the ram is compatible? Come to think of it I don't think the 4X4GB I have right now is even on the support list, and I think I just ran 24 hours of stress testing and was happy after that and all these years.

Any RAM recommendations that might run well in this configuration?

 

[Insert_Nickname]

I looked at the RAM support list on the motherboard and it doesn't list any 8GB modules, but I'm guessing its only because they were so uncommon years back.

That's likely the explanation. Gigabyte may not have bothered retesting once 8GB DIMMs were available. It happens.

The memory controller itself on SB is good for 32GB. So there shouldn't be any problems. You can't use anything bigger then 8GB DIMMs (4x8GB) however, and I'd stick to 1.5V 1600MHz rated DIMMs, when you use all 4 slots.

 

[tweakboy]

Stay @ 16GB unless you do video Editing, autocad, Adobe Premiere , Sony Vegas , cakewalk Sonar

I went north lol 64GB cuz I use,, Sonar Platinum or X3e . I have used about 31GB on a project I recently did.

 

[Bearmann]

The MB manufacturers are not good about updating their QVL. I would go to the RAM manufacturers websites and use their RAM configurator, e.g. Crucial, G. Skill, etc.
Don't buy two pair of 16GB- even the same RAM may not work together. Instead buy a matched (factory tested for compatibility) set of 4 sticks.

 

[Z15CAM]

Samsung MV-3V4G3D-US_DDR3 - Good LUCK finding it as it will run between 1866 to 2200MHz @ 9-9-9-24/ 1T below 1.5 Mv's.

PS: They only come in 4GB sticks and expect to pay for it.

Big plus is that they are Low Profile with No Heat Sinks and a collectors enthusiast DDR3 Stick.

 

[itakey]

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'm planning on buying a 8GBX4 set so they are matched. Any real world difference between 9-9-9-24 and 10-10-10-30? Seeing a few sets in the $150-$180 range that a few configurations listed.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Any real world difference between 9-9-9-24 and 10-10-10-30?

Depends on which speed you intend to run it. At 1600MHz there'll be a small difference, but nothing earth shattering. Lower timings are always preferable of course, but not at excessive cost.

This old article about Sandy Bridge memory scaling is worth referencing.

 

[itakey]

Depends on which speed you intend to run it. At 1600MHz there'll be a small difference, but nothing earth shattering. Lower timings are always preferable of course, but not at excessive cost.

This old article about Sandy Bridge memory scaling is worth referencing.

Thanks for that link, basically shows 1600MHz is plenty.

What are thoughts on the same Corsair I have but in 8GB sticks at $169.99 for 32GB? They are rated at 10-10-10-24 vs some of the others that are slightly quicker. I just checked and the last chip needs to definitely be low profile or else it will hit my CPU cooler, so I require a low profile set.

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/vengea...al-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cml32gx3m4a1600c10
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088JQ2Z2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233304

 

[spacejamz]

I just ordered two of this G.Skill kits from Newegg at $70/kit ($140 for 32GB)...kinda weird that the 32GB of the exact same memory was $160 IIRC...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231755

DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000)
Timing 11-13-13-31
Cas Latency 11
Voltage 1.5V

I had two 8GB PC1600 sticks and bought some two 8GB patriot PC 1500 1866mhz last week for 32GB...running on Haswell system (4790k on a Asrock Z97 Extreme 6 board)...
I am going to return the patriot sticks...The memory from Newegg should be here tomorrow...

These are low profiles sticks as well and will easily fit under my Noctua D14 cooler...

 

[mxnerd]

You definitely want 32GB when running VMs.

G.Skill has pretty good price and quality, no issues at all.

 

[itakey]

I just ordered two of this G.Skill kits from Newegg at $70/kit ($140 for 32GB)...kinda weird that the 32GB of the exact same memory was $160 IIRC...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231755

DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000)
Timing 11-13-13-31
Cas Latency 11
Voltage 1.5V

I had two 8GB PC1600 sticks and bought some two 8GB patriot PC 1500 1866mhz last week for 32GB...running on Haswell system (4790k on a Asrock Z97 Extreme 6 board)...
I am going to return the patriot sticks...The memory from Newegg should be here tomorrow...

These are low profiles sticks as well and will easily fit under my Noctua D14 cooler...

Thanks for the info. I think they sometimes charge a premium for the 4 stick back because they are a matched pair. A lot of people seem to think it matters and that matched ram should be used, but I've mixed in the past and haven't had issues. Anyone here know from experience if a match of 4 sticks is worth the premium?

Is the memory you shared worth getting over the Corsair 1600MHz you think? I've always had good luck with Corsair so i'm leaning towards the same model chip but in the 8GB size.

Worth the extra speed and a few bucks saved?

 

[spacejamz]

Thanks for the info. I think they sometimes charge a premium for the 4 stick back because they are a matched pair. A lot of people seem to think it matters and that matched ram should be used, but I've mixed in the past and haven't had issues. Anyone here know from experience if a match of 4 sticks is worth the premium?

Is the memory you shared worth getting over the Corsair 1600MHz you think? I've always had good luck with Corsair so i'm leaning towards the same model chip but in the 8GB size.

Worth the extra speed and a few bucks saved?

I am pretty sure the extra speed won't be noticeable over 1600mhz speeds but the $20 makes it sweeter....just going from 16GB to 32GB makes my system 'feel' more responsive.

I have great luck with g skill in the past but definitely go with what makes you comfortable...

 

[mxnerd]

Corsair vs G.Skill

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/321745-30-corsair-skill

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Thanks for the info. I think they sometimes charge a premium for the 4 stick back because they are a matched pair. A lot of people seem to think it matters and that matched ram should be used, but I've mixed in the past and haven't had issues. Anyone here know from experience if a match of 4 sticks is worth the premium?

What you're paying for is the guarantee that the DIMMs are tested to work together. The "problem" with buying multiple kits or individual DIMMs are you might be getting DIMMs from different production batch with differing characteristics (f.x. different sub-timings), even though they share the same model number.

No ones saying (at least I hope... ) that it will not work, but you don't have the guarantee, and some tweaking may be required.

Is the memory you shared worth getting over the Corsair 1600MHz you think? I've always had good luck with Corsair so i'm leaning towards the same model chip but in the 8GB size.

Worth the extra speed and a few bucks saved?

I am pretty sure the extra speed won't be noticeable over 1600mhz speeds but the $20 makes it sweeter....just going from 16GB to 32GB makes my system 'feel' more responsive.

Be aware that not all Sandy Bridge CPUs like 2133MHz memory. If it means you can it run at slower speed and tighter timings, then buying more expensive memory can be worthwhile however.