Combine the 3466mhz CL16 with the 3200 mhz CL15 for optimal performance.
Combine the 3466mhz CL16 with the 3200 mhz CL15 for optimal performance.
Hello everyone, I currently have two 8GB DDR4 Kingston HyperX Fury units running at 3466 MHz with timings 16-18-18-36-80. Both XMP profiles are set to 3466 MHz CL16. Everything worked smoothly until... Hogwarts Legacy was released. Now my RAM usage exceeds 97% and the system stutters significantly. I’m thinking about upgrading, but I can’t locate the same kit at a good price. It seems Kingston discontinued HyperX in the meantime. The closest option I found is a 2x8GB Fury Renegade kit running at 3200 MHz CL16-18-18 or 15-17-17 (per its specs). My question: Would pairing this with my Kingston HyperX (which supports XMP profiles at 3466 MHz CL16-18-18) allow me to run both at 3200 MHz CL16—or maybe 3200 MHz CL15? Thanks for your help.
It's uncertain whether the two kits will function well together. If they do, performance will be limited to the lowest specification of either kit, which is 3200mhz. Even if purchased separately, compatibility issues could arise due to changes in the ICs. My advice is to purchase a new 2x16GB drive instead, or consider selling, donating, or keeping the old one as a backup.
It depends on the specific RAM setup. If you don’t have four identical sticks from the same package that match the CPU and motherboard requirements, there’s no guarantee. It might function at 3200 MHz, but performance could vary. XMP settings may not work at all, requiring you to adjust timings manually. Alternatively, a newer kit could offer good overclocking potential, letting you run them smoothly at 3466 without problems.
Your current RAM works at 3200 CL15, which is acceptable. You can verify this in your BIOS settings, where you can select the supported modes listed by the RAM. If 3200 CL15 or CL16 appears, it’s safe to proceed.
You could simply obtain the 16 GB 3200mhz CL16 and if it doesn't work, purchase another one (the 32 GB version is about twice as expensive, so you won't lose much). It seems straightforward to manually adjust the timings—just set them to 16-18-18-36-8 with a frequency of 3200mhz. I’m not sure how to verify it, but I noticed two XMP profiles: one at 3000mhz CL15 and another at 3466mhz CL16. Since the 3200mhz CL16 isn’t listed, I’m worried it might not function properly. I’d probably look into the seller’s return policy or opt for the larger 32 GB unit. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
The main settings are straightforward. Head over to your motherboard’s DRAM overclocking area, enter the values, and give it a try. I think tRFC is included in the XMP profile as well. I’m not aware of any other secondary timings being part of it. Your board should also store profiles so you can experiment with different settings.
As discussed, purchasing the same items separately could lead to compatibility issues. Therefore, I suggested buying two 2x16s and trading in an older unit to help offset expenses.