final build check on ram: i9-10900k + MSI MEG Z490 Unify motherboard + gskill tridentz 8x4 32gb?

markm75

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I have finally decided on going forward with a new build to replace my 8700k cpu (5ghz on all cores), so i can move that build into my living room htpc instead. Ill gain the advantage of the extra cores for rendering demands and should maintain close to 5-5.2ghz on at least some cores.

I seem to recall recently someone suggesting it was better to actually have 4 ram chips rather than 2 for overclocking, contrary to my past understanding (i have dual 16gb chips in my rig now at 3200mhz).
I'm leaning towards gskill tridents of some variety (4000mhz?) x 4 or x2 depending (or samsung b-die derivatives)? (i think it was said t-topology it was better with 4, unsure what the T is)
Any suggestions on a good combo for this motherboard and cpu? The motherboard that seems to have the best bang for the buc and still able to oc a bit is this 490 msi

Some that i have found include these:
corsair 4x8gb 4000mhz (the 64gb's out there are super expensive, here $200 but c18) Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB (4x8GB) DDR4 3600 (PC4-28800) C18 Desktop Memory – Black at Amazon.com (edit i guess thats 3600, not at least 4000 by default)
Seems everything else has suddenly gone ridiculously expensive, especially 4000+mhz.

Gskills here 3600mhz with cas of 17 as well G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 32GB (4x8GB) DDR4 3600MHz DIMM F4-3600C17Q-32GTZR at Amazon.com
but $320

$328 for cas16 G.SKILL F4-3600C16Q-32GTZR 32 GB (8 GB x 4) Trident Z RGB Series DDR4 3600 MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit - Black with Full Length RGB LED Light bar at Amazon.com

**$200 for the cas16 gskills here (leaning towards thinking this one) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3600 (PC4 28800) Desktop Memory Model F4-3600C16Q-32GTZRC - Newegg.com

**$289 for cas18 and 4000mhz however with these tridentz Gskill 4000mhz

Leaning towards the last two, so faster 3600 vs slower 4000. Trying to keep it in the $200 range.

Thanks in advance
 
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If I was buying 10900K with 32GB RAM for overclocking it would be with.
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero
With two kits of
Patriot Viper Steel Series DDR4 16GB (2x8GB) 4400MHz PC4-35200 Dual Memory Kit - PVS416G440C9K

But I suspect I will end up with Ryzen 4000\5000 next month reusing two 2x8GB kits of 3200c14 at ~4000c16.
 
If I was buying 10900K with 32GB RAM for overclocking it would be with.
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero
With two kits of
Patriot Viper Steel Series DDR4 16GB (2x8GB) 4400MHz PC4-35200 Dual Memory Kit - PVS416G440C9K

But I suspect I will end up with Ryzen 4000\5000 next month reusing two 2x8GB kits of 3200c14 at ~4000c16.
Any particular reason not to choose this msi board? Many said the MSI worked just as well for less, so it seemed a good alternative (i was set on the asus at first, i always buy asus).

On the patriot's, i've seen a few using those with success, but also some comments that the quality of the ram wasnt as good as say gskills (unsure why).
 
Perhaps best to just go for the best dollar and if that ends up being cas16 3600mhz go with that and oc to 4000-4133 even at cas18? (Vs buying say 4000mhz cas18 at a higher price)

If 4x8 vs 2x16 doesnt matter even in the case of the msi board, then maybe one of these two, though slightly higher in cost than above:

Here is a 2x16gb 3600mhz cas16 kit for $249 G.SKILL Trident Z Royal Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3600 (PC4 28800) Desktop Memory Model F4-3600C16D-32GTRS - Newegg.com
vs 2x16 4000 cas 17 similar price $269 2x16 gskill
 
The Asus MB has 4x8GB kits on the QVL up to 4500 while the MSI UNIFY has no QVL and the more expensive ACE only goes up to 4266 with 4x8GB.
Also G.Skill has no Z490 MSI or GB MB on the QVL for 4x8GB 4000c15.

I have always found MSI BIOS to be a pain when overclocking Intel systems although they seem good for AMD but maybe some of the latest MB have improved.

The best value RAM kit for overclocking would be G.SKILL Flare X Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C14D-32GFX $185
Should be a similar bin to a 3600 16-16-16 kit which would also allow you to use a cheaper MB a dual dimm board like ITX for example would be best.

You may be giving up some frequency\bandwidth by going 2x16GB but you should still be able to get nice low latency.
 
The Asus MB has 4x8GB kits on the QVL up to 4500 while the MSI UNIFY has no QVL and the more expensive ACE only goes up to 4266 with 4x8GB.
Also G.Skill has no Z490 MSI or GB MB on the QVL for 4x8GB 4000c15.

I have always found MSI BIOS to be a pain when overclocking Intel systems although they seem good for AMD but maybe some of the latest MB have improved.

The best value RAM kit for overclocking would be G.SKILL Flare X Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C14D-32GFX $185
Should be a similar bin to a 3600 16-16-16 kit which would also allow you to use a cheaper MB a dual dimm board like ITX for example would be best.

You may be giving up some frequency\bandwidth by going 2x16GB but you should still be able to get nice low latency.

Interesting ok, maybe worth the extra $100 for the vrms on the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero perhaps. I think it also has 3 nvme ability on the motherboard, if so i guess the better bet, or maybe i try the msi, i wont be doing crazy cpu overclocking this time, if i can hit 5.2 on several cores i'd be happy with that (for simming/gaming).

I still kinda was leaning towards 2x16gb cas17 4000 gskill i linked above, i would think it would be easier to hit the 4000 mark with 4000 ram, or maybe not (regardless of which mb)?
 
I think any decent kit of b die will do 4000c17 ok weather it be 3200c14 or 4000c17 but the lower bin may need higher vdimm ~1.45v vs ~1.4v so less headroom to push higher.
At least that is the case with 8GB sticks not so sure about 16GB.

If the CPU\MB are your limit I don't think it will matter which kit you get but that 4000c17 kit is a decent price for what it is.
If you want to go 2x16GB I would go with The Z490 Apex or a ITX MB.

The last few hundred MHZ from the CPU will use a heap more power and thus create a lot more heat for minimal gains while squeezing that little bit extra RAM speed gets you similar performance but without the power use\heat.
 
I think any decent kit of b die will do 4000c17 ok weather it be 3200c14 or 4000c17 but the lower bin may need higher vdimm ~1.45v vs ~1.4v so less headroom to push higher.
At least that is the case with 8GB sticks not so sure about 16GB.

If the CPU\MB are your limit I don't think it will matter which kit you get but that 4000c17 kit is a decent price for what it is.
If you want to go 2x16GB I would go with The Z490 Apex or a ITX MB.

The last few hundred MHZ from the CPU will use a heap more power and thus create a lot more heat for minimal gains while squeezing that little bit extra RAM speed gets you similar performance but without the power use\heat.
Thanks,
Looks like the apex is harder on stock. Would the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII HERO also still be viable for 2x16? I do see many overclocking reviews with the unify saying they had trouble hitting even 5 or 5.1 on all cores ( i guess out of box 5.3 is on two cores), but maybe that was just bad lottery on the cpu?

I could also just get the unify and if i run into issues go back to asus (i like the easier to access nvme's on the board of the unify, though 5gbit ethernet is nice on asus, but you can get a $100 10gbe easy too)

I guess even the $269 cas16 gskills are rgb/led, only way to shut off would be via OpenRGB on windows start up, dont seem to see a non rgb/led variant that is cas17/4000
 
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