What Ram Memory for Z170 Extreme7+ ???

msvuze wrote: Hello everyone,  First, I would like to thank all of you for being here and helping out ppl like me :) I was looking to buy the ASRock Z170 Extreme7+ LGA 1151 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157627&Tpk=N82E16813157627  I would like to max it out with some good DDR4 ram memory, any advice what is best to buy ? (I'm not looking to OC just want a good, stable, and fast system) I was looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231974 I want to get 2 sets so a total of 64GBs. On ASRock ram memory compatibility site (http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z170%20Extreme7+/?cat=Memory) it says that it's compatible with this motherboard but I just want to make sure that someone is already using it or if there is a better option ? For example I wanted to get something like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233895 because it has the fan to keep things cooler but it looks like its for the x99 and so it's not compatible with the motherboard that I want to get. THANKS FOR ANY HELP :)

You are "... not looking to OC..."? Any memory speed above 2133 is considered an OC, because of the Intel memory speed specification for Skylake processors. The i7-6700K for example:

http://ark.intel.com/products/88195/Intel-Core-i7-6700K-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-4_20-GHz

Fortunately the Intel memory speed spec is conservative, and it does include voltages up to 1.35V.

One thing to be careful about, is the XMP profile of DDR4 3000+ speed memory might change the BCLK well beyond its 100MHz standard value, to 120 - 160MHz. Please notice I said MIGHT change it, not that it will change it. Memory speeds above 3000 have a greater chance of changing the BCLK, as the memory speed increases.

Since that BCLK is also used by the CPU cores, it will cause an OC of the CPU that may not be stable with default or conservative CPU voltage settings.

For example, with the BCLK at 140MHz, and the standard i7-6700K base clock multiplier of 40 (normally 100MHz x 40 = 4.0GHz), we would get an OC of 5.6GHz which would never boot. Even at 120MHz we would be at 4.8GHz, an OC that would take some tweaking to get stable, if possible.

Of course, all that needs to be done is reduce the core multiplier to compensate for the increased BCLK. That must be done manually, and if someone is not comfortable with that, they might have trouble.

My lazy 2400 speed DDR4 at 1.25V is using between 0.5 and 1.0 Watts of power. That is for two 4GB DIMMs combined. The fan contraption on that Corsair memory is just an accessory that does nothing but justify the price in the eyes of the buyer, and makes it cool... but not in temperature. It also causes CPU cooler clearance issues that we don't need. I cannot imagine someone compromising their CPU cooler to accommodate those silly memory coolers, but I suppose it happens.

On the positive side of things, that memory is said to be compatible with Intel 100 series chipsets, like a Z170. Just click on the 2 x 8GB or 2 x 4GB set buttons on the page you posted above, to see the message I'm talking about.

Personally, I bought Crucial DDR4 memory, because it is... made in the USA!?!?!?

wardog wrote: If you're going for 64GB, definitely buy one of the 4x16 kits on there. No brainer there.That guarantees all four sticks are matched. Versus two 2x16GB kits that may be different and cause problems when all 4 are slotted in. < id="kpm_plugin" ="application/x-KPMPlugin">

Thanks that page helped me alot! :)

I may come across as a G.Skill shill, but believe me when I say it's been the least problematic memory I've used since the old DDR days.

http://www.gskill.com/en/configurator?manu=52&chip=2484&model=2512

That link above is what G.Skill certifies they have tested themselves on your motherboard.

Do a search on that page for 32 and you'll be shown three 32GB(2x16GB) kits from which to max out that board of yours.