Top RAM options for an i7-8700 include DDR4 3200MHz modules.
Top RAM options for an i7-8700 include DDR4 3200MHz modules.
I received payment from a client using a PC with an i7-8700. The Task Manager shows 2133MHz, while the HWinfo reports a maximum supported clock of 1333.3MHz. I considered replacing the RAM but found the motherboard (ASUS Prime Z370-A, BIOS 3004) supports up to 32GB with G.Skill F4-3200 C16-16G modules. It seems there might be a tuning or compatibility issue rather than a faulty kit. Would be good to try some diagnostics or adjustments first. Thanks! Edited September 2, 2022 by fixultra
Max supported value isn't up to date. Notice HWinfo indicates the current clock is 1069.8 MHz, which translates to roughly 2133 MHz in DDR terms. The accurate description would be 2133 MT/s (DDR → Dual Data Rate, capable of two transactions per clock cycle, appearing effectively double). Marketing often omits this detail, so a real-world speed might be listed as 1333 MHz. For speeds up to 3200 MT/s, enabling XMP in BIOS is necessary. It's likely the RAM only recognizes 2133 MT/s as its JEDEC rate, not the higher 2666 MT/s claimed.
Generally, a solid frequency around 3600MHz for DDR4 works well. 16GB is acceptable, but 32GB offers more flexibility in the future since pushing another 16GB to match those speeds isn't always reliable due to memory overclocking limitations.