Top of the line ram for 9900k / 2080ti / MSI godlike?

[OG_Mega]

Hey everyone, 

 

Looking to get some input on what RAM might be worth putting into the new machine I'm building. Have been reading a decent amount across the forums, reddit, etc. but still unsure what I should pull the trigger on. Going to post my current specs below, but some are saying to get the best (DDR4 4000+ at CL17), others saying get DDR4 3200 at CL16, etc. etc. 

 

Hoping I can finalize this bad girl and get a move on – thanks so much in advance!!

 

Specs: 

Case: Phanteks Enthoo Evolv X ATX

CPU: Intel i9-9900k

CPU Block: Heatkiller IV Pro Copper Ni 18001

Motherboard: MSI MEG Z390 Godlike LGA 1151

Storage: Samsung 970 EVO 2TB m.2

GPU: EVGA GeForce RTX 2080Ti FTW3 Ultra Gaming

GPU Block: EVGA Hydro Copper Waterblock for EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti FTW3

PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1200

RAM: TBD

Cooling: Custom loop (99% Bitspower) 

[Princess Luna]

Well the best value favoring performance are 3200mhz CL14 Samsung B-Die modules... from there you barely get anything different outside extremely specific user cases and even then the performance difference is meh.

[nick name]

Or you can land in the middle with some 3600CL15 b-die kit.  They are down close to $200 last I checked.  

[mortino]

DDR4 4000 CL17 is 15% faster on paper than DDR3200 CL16, in real life you probably will see no difference unless you have a very specific use case that benefits highly from faster ram cycles.

[.Apex.]

Just now, mortino said:

DDR4 3200 CL16 is 15% faster on paper than DDR4000 CL17

That's not true, what?

[mortino]

2 minutes ago, _Syn_ said:

That's not true, what?

The math suggests so, 4,25ns compared to 5ns. That is 15%.

[Firewrath9]

2x8 anything b-die can get 4600mhz on a good mem OC board (aka boards w/ 2 dimms)

I'd do 4x8 DDR4-3600 CL16/3200CL14

[Firewrath9]

Just now, mortino said:

The math suggests so, 4,25ns compared to 5ns. That is 15%.

what?

1s/3200mhz*16 = 0.005

1s/4000mhz*17 =0.0045

do you know how to calculate latency?

[Turtle Rig]

The sweet spot is 3200Mhz.  Giving her a 14 or 15 CL would suffice.

[mortino]

1 minute ago, Firewrath9 said:

what?

1s/3200mhz*16 = 0.005

1s/4000mhz*17 =0.0045

do you know how to calculate latency?

1s/4000mhz*17cl=0.00425

[.Apex.]

Just now, mortino said:

The math suggests so, 4,25ns compared to 5ns. That is 15%.

Yeah but 4.25ns is the 4000Mhz CL17 kit... also even if the 3200Mhz kit has lower latency, you still gain a huge amount of bandwidth from the 4000Mhz kit.

[mortino]

Just now, _Syn_ said:

Yeah but 4.25ns is the 4000Mhz CL17 kit... also even if the 3200Mhz kit has lower latency, you still gain a huge amount of bandwidth from the 4000Mhz kit.

O shit my bad I wrote that down backwards.

[.Apex.]

1 minute ago, mortino said:

O shit my bad I wrote that down backwards.

Either way, you shouldn't compare RAM solely based on latency alone, that's misinformative

[nick name]

17 minutes ago, mortino said:

The math suggests so, 4,25ns compared to 5ns. That is 15%.

I think you fixed your mistake after he found it and quoted it.  Lol.  

[mortino]

Just now, nick name said:

I think you fixed your mistake after he found it and quoted it.  Lol.  

I fixed my original post and put in an edited note to say so after _syn_ pointed out I had them backwards.

[nick name]

I think something is missing in all of this and that's whether cost matters.  Also, if OP plans on overclocking.  If cost doesn't matter then I would aim for the highest speed with lowest matched timings and lowest XMP voltage.  At higher speeds some kits run at 1.4V with XMP, but if you're gonna overclock then finding something that runs fast and tight at 1.35V may give you more headroom.  

[OG_Mega]

4 hours ago, nick name said:

I think something is missing in all of this and that's whether cost matters.  Also, if OP plans on overclocking.  If cost doesn't matter then I would aim for the highest speed with lowest matched timings and lowest XMP voltage.  At higher speeds some kits run at 1.4V with XMP, but if you're gonna overclock then finding something that runs fast and tight at 1.35V may give you more headroom.  

Hey thanks ! 

 

I do plan on overclocking – Honestly I feel that if I didn't on this build I'd be doing it a massive injustice. I will disclaimer though that I'm not an overclocking expert by any means, but do plan to bring the CPU to at least 5ghz stable, and overclock the GPU (because that's what it's for, right?). 

 

Cost is something I somewhat want to take into consideration. I'd be willing to spend around $400 for 32gb, but if I can spend $200 and get RAM that's only marginally slower, I'd rather save the $200 option. 

 

With that in mind, any suggestions? 

[nick name]

12 minutes ago, OG_Mega said:

Hey thanks ! 

 

I do plan on overclocking – Honestly I feel that if I didn't on this build I'd be doing it a massive injustice. I will disclaimer though that I'm not an overclocking expert by any means, but do plan to bring the CPU to at least 5ghz stable, and overclock the GPU (because that's what it's for, right?). 

 

Cost is something I somewhat want to take into consideration. I'd be willing to spend around $400 for 32gb, but if I can spend $200 and get RAM that's only marginally slower, I'd rather save the $200 option. 

 

With that in mind, any suggestions? 

Honestly, I'd just get 16GB unless you need more.  It will be cheaper so you can buy better RAM and 16GB is easier to overclock than 32GB.  

 

 

32GB kits:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/GnPzK8/gskill-trident-z-rgb-32gb-2-x-16gb-ddr4-3866-memory-f4-3866c18d-32gtzr

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/memory/#Z=32768002&L=0,140&sort=price&s=403200&page=1

[OG_Mega]

9 minutes ago, nick name said:

Honestly, I'd just get 16GB unless you need more.  It will be cheaper so you can buy better RAM and 16GB is easier to overclock than 32GB.  

 

 

32GB kits:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/GnPzK8/gskill-trident-z-rgb-32gb-2-x-16gb-ddr4-3866-memory-f4-3866c18d-32gtzr

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/memory/#Z=32768002&L=0,140&sort=price&s=403200&page=1

If I go 16gb (for now) – would I be best off with these? https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232497 

 

They're also Samsung B-die.

 

Edit: PS: I also have 16gb of these on hand: G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C16Q-16GVKB However, they're only 4gb Samsung B-die chips

[TahoeDust]

Just a heads up.  When really fast ram is concerned, unless it is on your motherboards compatability list, getting it to run it's XMP profile is not a guarantee.  You can probably get the sticks to run the advertised speed, but it may not be "plug and play".

[OG_Mega]

3 minutes ago, TahoeDust said:

Just a heads up.  When really fast ram is concerned, unless it is on your motherboards compatability list, getting it to run it's XMP profile is not a guarantee.  You can probably get the sticks to run the advertised speed, but it may not be "plug and play".

From what I can see, it should be supported? 

 

[ch3w2oy]

7 minutes ago, OG_Mega said:

If I go 16gb (for now) – would I be best off with these? https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232497 

 

They're also Samsung B-die.

 

Edit: PS: I also have 16gb of these on hand: G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C16Q-16GVKB

$290?

 

Save $100 and get 3600 c16 https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232491

 

I just bought this pair myself. Should overclock well.

[OG_Mega]

1 minute ago, ch3w2oy said:

$290?

 

Save $100 and get 3600 c16 https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232491

 

I just bought this pair myself. Should overclock well.

In terms of performance for that $100 though, how significant do you think it is? 5%, 10%, greater? 

[TahoeDust]

1 minute ago, OG_Mega said:

From what I can see, it should be supported? 

 

Not the same as being 

 

4 minutes ago, OG_Mega said:

From what I can see, it should be supported? 

 

Not the same as "Supported Memory"...

 

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/MEG-Z390-ACE#support-mem-3

[ch3w2oy]

1 minute ago, OG_Mega said:

In terms of performance for that $100 though, how significant do you think it is? 5%, 10%, greater? 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.. 

 

You posted 4266mhz with c19 timing. 

19/4266*1000 = 4.454ms

16/3600*1000 = 4.444ms

 

Looks like the 3600mhz set is faster..

 

There's other factors involved and latency isn't always the most important thing.. and I could be wrong with calculating, but I can tell you with certainty, I wouldn't spend an extra hundred on the other set.. 

 

@nick name??