Best RAM Options to go with a GA-Z87X-UD4H and I7-4700K

[cap2587]

I just purchased a GA-Z87X-UD4H Motherboard and an Intel I7-4700K CPU. I am wanting some advice on what would be some good RAM options to go with this set up. I am wanting to start with 16GB, 2x8GB sticks.

Below are some options that other people have used. Appreciate some help. Thanks

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-2133C9D-16GXH

Corsair CMZ16GX3M2A1600C9 Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 Mhz CL9

G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (2x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop

G.SKILL Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200) Desktop

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-1866C9D-16GXM

CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M2A1866C10

 

[Adrian B]

I just purchased a GA-Z87X-UD4H Motherboard and an Intel I7-4700K CPU. I am wanting some advice on what would be some good RAM options to go with this set up. I am wanting to start with 16GB, 2x8GB sticks.

Below are some options that other people have used. Appreciate some help. Thanks

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-2133C9D-16GXH

Corsair CMZ16GX3M2A1600C9 Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 Mhz CL9

G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (2x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop

G.SKILL Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200) Desktop

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-1866C9D-16GXM

CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M2A1866C10

It does not matter. You want to use RAM at 1600MHz or above, CL9 or CL10 and check that you are happy with the height of the RAM sticks if you plan on using an upgraded air cooler on the CPU. Faster speeds of RAM are unlikely to give a significant increase in performance - don't spend more than 10% extra over 1600MHz speed RAM without having a very good reason.


Adrian B

 

[cap2587]

Just curious as to why no performance increase is seen in RAM running faster than 1600Mhz?

The CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M2A1866C10 seems to be very popular amongst forum users. Would you choose this over the G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-2133C9D-16GXH

Are all of the RAM's listed in my post likely to offer the same speed benefits or do some perform better than others. Thanks for the helpful tips and reply.

 

[Adrian B]

Just curious as to why no performance increase is seen in RAM running faster than 1600Mhz?

The CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M2A1866C10 seems to be very popular amongst forum users. Would you choose this over the G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-2133C9D-16GXH

Are all of the RAM's listed in my post likely to offer the same speed benefits or do some perform better than others. Thanks for the helpful tips and reply.

It is better to use an increased amount of RAM for high memory applications rather than just slightly faster RAM. It is better explained in this link here:
http://www.imagescience.com.au/kb/q...+Photoshop+and+other+imaging+applications#RAM


Adrian B

 

[fttx]

I also don't understand it. I'm going to buy 32GB RAM for my Asus P9X79 Pro. I really need exactly 32gb at least (for video editing). What is better to use 32GB Corsair which are 2133MHz or G.Skill RipjawsZ which are 2400MHz? They are both kit of 4 (4x8gb). Which is better to use in this case?

Is the Corsair better to use for Hackintosh than the G.Skill RipjawsZ?

don't spend more than 10% extra over 1600MHz speed RAM without having a very good reason.

but what's the good reason for using high speed RAM? For example, 2400MHz.

 

[Misscomp]

Dear Adrian,

I am getting ready to install Mavericks on a Gigabyte B85M motherboard. I have a question regarding memory. I have read in previous posts that the Hackintosh systems have crashed when people mix memory of different timings.

I have two sticks of Gskill ripjaws 1600 with timings of 9 9 9 24. 4 gigs total. Can I mix this with two sticks of Adata memory runninga t 1600 (8 gigs total) with the same timing of 9 9 9 24? Or should I buy the exact same Ripjaws model to increase my memory capacity? I would then have 12 gigs total in my 4 slots.

thanks.

 

[apple_hack_geek]

Dear Adrian,

I am getting ready to install Mavericks on a Gigabyte B85M motherboard. I have a question regarding memory. I have read in previous posts that the Hackintosh systems have crashed when people mix memory of different timings.

I have two sticks of Gskill ripjaws 1600 with timings of 9 9 9 24. 4 gigs total. Can I mix this with two sticks of Adata memory runninga t 1600 (8 gigs total) with the same timing of 9 9 9 24? Or should I buy the exact same Ripjaws model to increase my memory capacity? I would then have 12 gigs total in my 4 slots.

thanks.

Can you mix ram of different timings? I'm pretty sure the answer is yes. I'm running 2X4GB and 2X8GB in my box, no issues. Just make sure they are paired up correctly!

Now, as for RAM speed questions:
In short: the answer is don't pay more for anything faster than 1600MHZ ram.

The long answer:
There are several factors here: A. In a multithreaded system especially, but really in most modern setups, where other threads can be worked on while the CPU waits for RAM, tiny increases in RAM performace don't really matter anywhere near as much as the total amount of RAM. Ever RAM it's self is becoming less important with the really fast pci-e flash, which is only a few factors slower than ram. But, you might point out that new RAM is up to 3GHZ, wouldn't that be nearly twice as fast as 1.6Ghz ram??? Well not quite. The latancy, which is the amount of time it takes to get a piece of data from the RAM, is still around the same. How? The RAM "clock speed" is say 1600 mhz. hz means cycles / second, which is deceptive. S-RAM does allow for 1'600'000'000 reads/sec. All modern RAM though, does not deliver data instantly? why? because S-RAM is way too expensive and slower/cost. There is some, in the form of registers and L1, L2, L3, and L4 caches on the cpu. So, RAM can be made much cheaper by making it slower, and using ~1/6 as many transistors, the catch is it takes multiple cycles to get data out. the Cas Lat is one measure of how many clock cycles it takes to get data out of the RAM. So although the clock speed is faster on faster speed ram, they have longer latencies , but don't lead to better performance.

In short: the answer is don't pay more for anything faster than 1600MHZ ram.

 

[Misscomp]

Dear apple hack geek,

Thanks very much for your reply. I was wondering when you said that make sure the different sticks are paired up correctly what you meant by that.

Can I pair up 2 x 2 gb sticks of Gskill ripjaws ram with 2x4 gb sticks of Adata ram running at exactly the same timings and latencies? they are both rated at 1600? Or should I stick with all Ripjaws memory sticks? I want to avoid any lockups or freezes that may be attributable to RAM.

Thanks again.

 

[apple_hack_geek]

Dear apple hack geek,

Thanks very much for your reply. I was wondering when you said that make sure the different sticks are paired up correctly what you meant by that.

Can I pair up 2 x 2 gb sticks of Gskill ripjaws ram with 2x4 gb sticks of Adata ram running at exactly the same timings and latencies? they are both rated at 1600? Or should I stick with all Ripjaws memory sticks? I want to avoid any lockups or freezes that may be attributable to RAM.

Thanks again.

on your motherboard, https://www.google.com/search?q=ga-...WR0QHA3IGoBw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1300&bih=819

you'll notice that 2 of the slots are gray, and 2 of them are black. one matched set should go in the gray slots, the other in the black. That's All I meant.

As far as avoiding lockups, I think you can always turn down the latency of faster RAM, so if this is an issue you run into, you could probably solve it that way

Best of luck

 

[DrEskimo]

Hello,

In the process of building my Hackintosh and the only component I am unsure of is the RAM.

Ive read a few comments recently that Corsair RAM is causing some freezing in some systems and should be avoided if possible, especially in a 4 stick configuration.

My problem is the Crucial memory listed in the buyers guide is not on the GA-UD4H recommended memory list.

What would people recommend I do? Go for Corsair (2 X 8gb) since it is on the recommended memory support of the motherboard, stick to Crucial since it is more Hackintosh 'friendly', or possibly look at another brand which is better for Hackintosh's and is recommended by the motherboard?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!