Looking for guidance on selecting RAM?
Looking for guidance on selecting RAM?
Hey everyone, I'm considering buying a Ryzen 5 3600 and an MSI B450 Gaming plus MAX board because of the built-in support for Ryzen 3000 chips. I'll be swapping in my E3-1231V3 with 16GB DDR3 at 1600MHz. I don’t really enjoy overclocking, but I might try it later. Right now I don’t think I’ll need more than 16GB of RAM, though I could use more in the future for things like deep learning and 3D modeling. I’m planning to have four DIMM slots, with two already taken. I’m mostly stuck between a 3000MHz kit that works well and supports four slots, or going for 3200MHz which would add about 15-20 euros if it fits the four-slot setup on this board. Should I really pay that extra for faster RAM?
Don't stress about the QVL if you're after affordable RAM with solid overclock potential. I recommend checking out Crucial Ballistix Sport kits—3200mhz models are great for enthusiasts. My 3200mhz Cl16 is already boosted to 3200mhz CL14, and you typically need to spend about $120 for a top-tier kit that performs well right out of the box. Don't worry about the QVL either; manufacturers don’t test every RAM to guarantee their advertised speeds. If needed, adjust timings and speeds manually on your motherboard.
Note: The Crucial kit must include AES in its SKU to qualify as Micron-E. There are also CES SKUs that might be Samsung C-Dies—some users report strong overclock results on Reddit, possibly outperforming standard Micron-E options.