Top DDR4 memory options available today.
Top DDR4 memory options available today.
Review the thaiphoon burner for iCores, most configurations handle at least 3200MHz. RAM speed is usually fine unless you push heavy workloads with top-tier cores. You’ll likely need dual processors—either dual-sided 8Gb or single-sided 16Gb models. Good approaches include brute force and precise timing. For the 16Gb model, both methods work well. Speed comes from high clock rates; aim for over 4800MHz C18/17 at around 1.6-1.7V to beat FCLK sync penalties. Tight timing means matching the clock precisely, but dual CPUs usually run slower due to lower FCLK speeds. You might hit a point where going beyond 3800MHz isn’t feasible without sacrificing performance too much. A voltage drop to about 1.6V could give you better timing and stability, keeping your system cooler and more reliable. For CPUs that can’t reach at least 1900MHz, chasing higher speeds won’t pay off—prioritize stability over marginal gains.
The setup with two 16GB configurations and XMP support at 3600MHz CL14 ensures dual-rank operation, no matter the brand—G.Skill, Corsair, TeamGroup, Patriot, Adata, OLOy, etc. Each unit operates at a stable 1.45V, maintaining safety across the board. These kits consistently deliver the same voltage, making them reliable for performance tuning. While Samsung B die memory ICs power all these units, they’re chosen for their voltage tolerance and reliability. Differences in PCB design among manufacturers mainly impact overclocking flexibility, but with XMP enabled, those variations become less critical. Variants like 3600MHz CL14 are widely available, fitting most systems without issues. The tRCD values at this frequency are 15 and 16, with minimal performance gap. Other timing parameters matter more for real-world gains, but they’re not typically disclosed by manufacturers. Ryzen 3000 chips can reach speeds between 3600MHz and 3800MHz depending on the model, so an XMP profile in that sweet spot is ideal. There are 3733MHz and 3800MHz CL14 options, but they’re rare—mostly found in 2x8GB bundles. 3600MHz CL14 kits are common enough to be safe for everyday use. If someone wants to push performance further, manual overclocking on the existing RAM is a viable path, though it won’t surpass the benefits of using an XMP-enabled kit.
The ram speed isn't that important; the OC is mainly for testing how far you can push your rams. Honestly, I think that's the only enjoyable part of OC since CPUs just rely on voltage and frequency, while GPUs use similar settings. With RAMs, you need to adjust each chip individually because they vary a lot. Some are top-notch like Samsung 8GB or Micron 8GB/16GB, while others are really bad and barely reach 3200MHz. My knowledge is limited to DDR2 and DDR3, but I was lucky—I found a record on hwbot for an extreme dark board and managed to get it up to 1520 MHz. For my DDR3, I used 2GBRAM with specific timing settings and ended up at 2200MHz. Later, I improved it to 2200MHz at 8GB with a 24V power supply. It's impressive how some CPUs haven't degraded at all!
"I know a little too much about RAM. " Ok you went there.... sorry - Single rank - Enough said Dual Channel is not dual rank. They aren't the only sticks either, by a long stretch.
That is a 2x8GB kit. I said 2x16GB kits are the ones guaranteed to be dual rank. There is no physical way to make a consumer kit of RAM with safe voltages at 2x16GB 3600MHz CL14-15-15 and not be using B die, so it will be have to be dual rank. I have seen him. I do a lot of memory overclocking (mainly on Ryzen), and have dealt with 4 different kits of B die of varying quality. The 8GB DIMMs are single rank, and the 16GB DIMMs are dual rank.
Without hurting Robo and without any prior requests, why would you choose a 32GB setup with a 3600? I understand the high-end motherboard, but we haven’t discussed the intended purpose or future upgrade possibilities. I mistakenly assumed it’s meant for gaming, but those points need clarification. Better to ask about the actual needs and possible future plans. Also, he’d be much better off with two 2x 16GB dual-channel kits instead of one 1x 32GB dual-channel unit. In my view.
He probably meant 3900X with 32GB RAM instead of 1x32GB. I don’t understand your point. Are you suggesting 4x16GB is preferable over 1x32GB? Absolutely, that’s true. You seem to be asking if 2x32GB is better than 1x32GB. If so, no—2x32GB is the way to go. On the X570 Taichi, I own that board and have done a lot of memory testing. Slots A1 and B2 are available for more RAM support than they actually offer. Keeping only A2 and B2 filled gives the best performance. Speed will be similar between 4x16GB and 2x32GB, but the latter is more likely to reach its rated speeds reliably.