Upgrading RAM for a 7-year-old Z170 i5-6600K. Is it possible to use 3200/3600MHz memory? Should we worry about QVL?
Upgrading RAM for a 7-year-old Z170 i5-6600K. Is it possible to use 3200/3600MHz memory? Should we worry about QVL?
I own an MSI Z170A PC MATE motherboard. The BIOS version you mentioned is E7971IMS.AF0. You're using a 6600K with a 4.5GHz overclock on all cores and also have a 3060Ti. You're considering upgrading to either a 3200MHz or 3600MHz RAM kit. The pricing for these options is quite close, so you're leaning toward the 3600MHz models. I'm curious if they'll work with your system. You need around 32GB of memory and are looking for stability. The kits you listed include various configurations like FURY Renegade, VENGEANCE RGB, Trident Z Neo, and others. Since none of them explicitly list the Z170 in their supported platforms, you're trying to fit it in. Running these high-speed kits at 3600MHz could stress your system, especially with a mismatch issue. Your current setup has a 3-way mismatch, and while it works most of the time at CL16 2666Mhz, the occasional hiccup is noticeable. You mentioned you'd like to keep things running smoothly. It's worth checking if these kits are compatible with your motherboard's BIOS and power delivery. If you're serious about stability, consider confirming compatibility before purchasing.
Most 6th generation processors won’t support RAM speeds above 3000+ MHz with XMP profiles. I’m using an i7-7700 on a 6th gen chipset for an emulation setup, which has 3200-CL16 memory. The system caps at around 2400 speeds. Still, I’ve adjusted the settings to reach 2400-11-13-13-13, and it’s performing well among the fastest 2400 MHz RAM available.
It really depends on whether the CPU is compatible. Even with a motherboard that supports 3600MHz and XMP, the processor might not accept it. The 3600MHz feature could be limited to only the top-tier chips, such as the 7700K. The best way to confirm is by testing it. I haven’t tried running anything faster than 3000MHz in a system from before the 7th generation, so I can’t confirm if it will work. My estimate is that 3600MHz likely won’t fit your setup.
Because the full platform upgrade is too expensive and I don’t have space for my current 6600k System. I really don’t want to move it or sell it to someone unfamiliar with it, as it’s been part of me since childhood. Yes, it’s slowing things down a lot when playing certain games. Still, the GPU cost paid off—getting better performance by switching from a GTX960 2GB to an 8GB 3060Ti instead of buying a new CPU.
Comparing performance on a gaming system versus maximizing your GPU's potential is similar to using outdated tires on a newer vehicle and swapping them onto an older car. If possible, consider replacing your CPU and motherboard with a newer model (12th/13th gen) and check if your existing RAM can fit. These platforms still support DDR4 and don’t lose much efficiency. It doesn’t seem like spending heavily on an old CPU and board offers much value, especially given the significant gap between recent generations.
Alternative options exist for upgrading your system—consider purchasing a 5600 or opting for B450/B550 boards instead of buying new RAM. Simply using your existing DDR4 in those boards could be sufficient. A fresh RAM kit for the 6600k is unlikely to significantly boost performance and may even affect stability. The 6600k was a mid-tier CPU at launch, so its memory controllers likely struggle with 2666 MHz. The 2080ti offers performance similar to an RTX 3060ti, meaning any differences in this test should be modest. Not to mention the constraints of a 4C/4T CPU in 2023. You're free to follow your own advice, but modern DDR4 kits can usually be optimized for higher speeds—though reaching 3200 MHz seems unlikely. Intel’s specs suggest 2666 is a reasonable cap, so unless you fine-tune timings, XMP disabled at 2133 should be the safest choice.
I've worked with several 6600K units and they handled 3200 smoothly without issues. I didn't test 3600 on those before selling them, but the 7700K delivers 3866MT/s under moderate conditions—especially when paired with a solid Samsung B die and a Z170 OC Formula. XMP stability is achievable here. Running dual-rank memory caps performance on that chip at 3200, so it's best to stick with single-rank sticks if you aim for XMP speeds. Motherboard compatibility plays a big role. My OC Formula manages these settings effortlessly, whereas the Gigabyte Z170 DS3H board I used previously would likely struggle unless finely tuned. Since your board is a lower-end model similar to mine, it probably won't reach those speeds, though exact limits depend on many variables. It seems mismatched components are the main reason for slower results.