(Please help!) G.Skill Trident Z Neo price difference for my kids first build

[Mtmuledeer]

I'm sorta new to this stuff but I'm ordering components for my kids to build a PC. They want to play games but also edit videos so I figured I'd get them 64 GB or ram just so I know it is good. They like to leave a lot open all the time so that is part of it also. It's a bit overkill but then I don't have to worry about adding more down the road for a longer time.

 

Anyway, what's the difference between the 32GB (16x2) G.Skill ram kits at Newegg besides the obvious timing numbers? Are those really important or is the 16 latency the important thing? Is it something to do with b-die or something and is that really important. Is it worth the extra $ to get the more expensive one. Why is it more expensive? I do know they are interesting in overclocking and messing with the timings so maybe that's important.

 

The two G.SKILL Trident Z Neo kits:

Kit 1: $280

Model F4-3600C16D-32GTZN

Timing 16-16-16-36

 

Kit 2: $160

F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC

Timing 16-19-19-39

 

They offer the 16-19-19-39 Ram in a 4 dimm set, is that important to buy it as a set like that. I've read on forums yes and no but that info was from a good many years ago.

 

If I get the 4 dimm set will there be any major trade offs or issues?

 

This will be going on a GB Master x570 board with a 3800X.

 

I appreciate the help everyone. I just want to get the right stuff ordered so it's easy for them.

 

 

[Brooksie359]

Yeah I would get the cheaper kit. Technically the more expensive kit has slightly better timings but not worth the extra cost. 

[Statik]

One thing I've noticed from Newegg which is really disappointing is they mark certain items up tenfold then put them on sale to make the price look good. Early November Newegg.ca put a MSI 2080 Super Trio on for $2,100, then marked it down 50% to $1,050. Its a shame such a good company does stuff so scuzzy. 

 

Get the cheaper kit.

[Tristerin]

2 minutes ago, Statik said:

One thing I've noticed from Newegg which is really disappointing is they mark certain items up tenfold then put them on sale to make the price look good. Early November Newegg.ca put a MSI 2080 Super Trio on for $2,100, then marked it down 50% to $1,050. Its a shame such a good company does stuff so scuzzy. 

 

Get the cheaper kit.

Did you see if this was Sold and Shipped by Newegg or a third party vendor (who does these things to have their sales show up at large percentages) I use Newegg a ton and don't recall "them" doing it, but vendors yes all the time.

[Mtmuledeer]

Thanks, seems there would be a reason they’re listed at twice the price and as soon as they get them in stock they sell out quickly. 
 

The one kit is on the b-die list and the other one isn’t. Does that make a big difference?

[boggy77]

4 minutes ago, Mtmuledeer said:

Thanks, seems there would be a reason they’re listed at twice the price and as soon as they get them in stock they sell out quickly. 
 

The one kit is on the b-die list and the other one isn’t. Does that make a big difference?

I wouldn't go more than 32gb ram. Even 16gb is enough for gaming for the foreseeable future. In terms of timings, as others said, it's not worth the difference. And if your kids are into overclocking, getting them a slightly slower system and letting them make it better will be so much more rewarding for them.

[boggy77]

30 minutes ago, Mtmuledeer said:

Is it something to do with b-die or something and is that really important

B-die was important for 2000 series ryzen, as it was more compatible and more likely to overclock nicely. I assume you're getting a 3700x or something, so getting a b-die isn't that important anymore

[Mtmuledeer]

38 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

Did you see if this was Sold and Shipped by Newegg or a third party vendor (who does these things to have their sales show up at large percentages) I use Newegg a ton and don't recall "them" doing it, but vendors yes all the time.

Both kits are sold and shipped by newegg. I did notice that the part number for the $$ ram matches what you see a lot of the online reviewers specify what RAM to buy for the new Ryzen chips. Seems that the more expensive ones are what they supplied for reviews.

 

Did they have to change suppliers or change the process or something. I'm not getting anything out of G.Skill.

[Mtmuledeer]

48 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

Did you see if this was Sold and Shipped by Newegg or a third party vendor (who does these things to have their sales show up at large percentages) I use Newegg a ton and don't recall "them" doing it, but vendors yes all the time.

Both kits are sold and shipped by newegg. I did notice that the part number for the $$ ram matches what you see a lot of the online reviewers specify what RAM to buy for the new Ryzen chips. Seems that the more expensive ones are what they supplied for reviews.

 

Did they have to change suppliers or change the process or something. I'm not getting anything out of G.Skill.

 

Well the kits just went a bunch so it doesn't matter. Seems Newegg sold out and the second hand guys are selling it now for a few hundred more.

[Tristerin]

@Mtmuledeer was talking to another on the post about price hikes - at this point there is no real "Ryzen memory" this is a thing that starts at the launch of a new product and was actually a thing with DDR2 I think but hasn't been "for real" since.

 

Don't focus on brand.  They buy the memory from Samsung, Micron, or Hynix.  Buy affordable memory that's on your motherboards QVL for RAM and matches the CPU memory controller - my 2 cents.  But if you are looking to maximize go with highest Frequency and lowest timings.  Ive only tested first gen ryzen, and with them Frequency matters a TON, but timings mean nothing in comparison.

[Otto_iii]

4 hours ago, Mtmuledeer said:

The one kit is on the b-die list and the other one isn’t. Does that make a big difference?

B-Die makes a difference mainly if you want to overclock the ram, tighten the timings easily using the DRAM Calculator as a guide (Samsung B-Die has great support there, most RAM kits don't) rather then spending hours doing that manually, but since both are 3600 C16 it won't make a big difference, and im guessing you aren't likely worried about overclocking the ram for maybe 5ish% performance improvement, probably just want a stable system.  Feel free to just get cheaper kit.  Tightening timings has a bigger benefit on lower speed ram with ryzen 3000, but at 3600 speed, unless it was some insanely high stock CAS latency i wouldn't worry about it, especially if you just want to build a stable system and gift it to somebody. 

Oh also, likewise if you somehow were going to overclock ram you'd probably only want to be running 2x sticks for best results, so ya this really shouldn't be a concern given what you are trying to do with the system, what you are building it for. 

[Mtmuledeer]

1 hour ago, Otto_iii said:

B-Die makes a difference mainly if you want to overclock the ram, tighten the timings easily using the DRAM Calculator as a guide (Samsung B-Die has great support there, most RAM kits don't) rather then spending hours doing that manually, but since both are 3600 C16 it won't make a big difference, and im guessing you aren't likely worried about overclocking the ram for maybe 5ish% performance improvement, probably just want a stable system.  Feel free to just get cheaper kit.  Tightening timings has a bigger benefit on lower speed ram with ryzen 3000, but at 3600 speed, unless it was some insanely high stock CAS latency i wouldn't worry about it, especially if you just want to build a stable system and gift it to somebody. 

Oh also, likewise if you somehow were going to overclock ram you'd probably only want to be running 2x sticks for best results, so ya this really shouldn't be a concern given what you are trying to do with the system, what you are building it for. 

Thanks! Are there any issue typically these days with buying two 2x kits instead of one 4x kit? It's a lot easier finding them in pairs but I've have been told years ago that can be a big issue.

[Otto_iii]

41 minutes ago, Mtmuledeer said:

Thanks! Are there any issue typically these days with buying two 2x kits instead of one 4x kit? It's a lot easier finding them in pairs but I've have been told years ago that can be a big issue.

There shouldn't be, but it can be worthwhile to check the motherboards QVL sometimes, if you can't find ram kit you intend to use (ideally its on list, but with Ryzen 3000 will often work even if its not), then atleast check around and see if it has issues supporting all 4 dimms at higher speed with a bunch of kits listed, as occasionally the 1st and 3rd slot that become occupied with a 4x installation can be much weaker then 2nd and 4th that one would usually use with a 2x installation.  If its only a handful of kits that lack support for all 4 dimms according to the QVL its probably not a problem, but if like 1/2 the list is only supported while running 2x configuration then it may be a concern in your case.

What type of board were you going to get?

[crotach]

18 hours ago, Mtmuledeer said:

Kit 2: $160

F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC

Timing 16-19-19-39

I got this kit for my build and it's working perfectly. 16 is the important timing. It wasn't worth twice the price for me to have slightly better sub-timings.

 

The main difference is that the cheaper kit uses newer Hynix memory and the more expensive kit uses older Samsung B-die memory that is highly sought after and no longer manufactured. Most people will say that it's the best memory for Ryzen, but 100% more money for 0.01% more performance didn't make sense to me

[xg32]

12 hours ago, Mtmuledeer said:

.

the price difference is almost enough to go from a 3800x to a 3900x, so i'd go with the cheaper kit unless the build is with a 3900x or 3950x.