Best RAM for Zen 3?
Best RAM for Zen 3?
I currently have 16GB of Vengeance 2133Mhz RAM at 3200MHZ. I'm learning about RAM and its connection to Zen, especially since I plan to upgrade to Zen 3. I'm wondering if my X570 can be overclocked beyond 4000Mhz—should I try to upgrade my existing RAM or should I get new AMD-optimized options? Also, what kind of RAM works best for Ryzen processors? Any advice would be helpful. My current setup supports up to 6700K for reference.
We don't know if Zen 3 offers an optimal memory configuration yet. AMD describes it as a new back-to-front design, so predictions are premature. The tests today ran at around 3600 MT/s, roughly what we expect. Your existing RAM should still function with it, according to current understanding. Note: Updated info suggests Vermeer CPUs share the same IO die as Matisse, which may influence memory choices. Speculate on Matisse recommendations next. Edited October 8, 2020 by svmlegacy
You can technically push the speed further, but we're unsure how much more you can go in terms of frequency and timing. Is the 2133 kit actually rated for 3200, or is it just using XMP/DOCP to boost it? Frequency isn't the only factor—imc matters too. Zen 3 shares the same imc as Zen 2, so 3200 CL34/CL16 or 3600 CL16 should work.
Is this memory designed for a 3200Mhz rating (model number included)? It seems unlikely you can boost it to 4000Mhz, even if it supports that speed. We don't know the optimal choice for Zen 3 yet, as it hasn't been released. For Zen 2, 3600Mhz CL14 or CL16 models were likely the best, with CL14 offering lower latency. You don't necessarily need AMD-specific optimized RAM, but ensure compatibility; check your motherboard's QVL. Personally, I've found most G.Skill products (like TridentZ NEO and Flare X) to work well, especially those tailored for AMD. Some Crucial and Kingston items have also performed reliably, though a few Corsair models—especially with Gigabyte or Aorus boards—have caused issues.
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