Confusion between specs and QVL & fans questions

The specifications for the X99X Killer/3.1 list support memory of 3200 mhz.
The QVL lists only up to 3000 mhz
Which is correct?

I have F4-3200C16Q-64GTZKW kit
I also have a F4-3200C16Q-32GTZB kit, but I really want to install my 64gb kit.

I'm really looking for an ASRock motherboard with 4x4pin fan headers. Looks like ASRock does not make such a motherboard. 1x4pin a 2x3pin looks like the standard offering.

Do the 3pin headers support smart speed control? Can they be set to spin @ less than 50%?

So assuming the memory is compatible, I'd then have to use fan splitters.

I do not use case or third party fan controllers. I rely solely on motherboard headers.

My cooler is a Kraken x61, so I don't need to use the CPU_FAN header. So could I use that for say my rear fan?

I have an internal 120mm fan, a 200mm side, 200mm front, 140mm bottom and 140mm rear fan (hence the need for so many headers).

I also need 2x USB 2 internal headers and 2x USB3.0 headers, and at least one M.2 x4 slot for my Samsung 950 Pro NVMe drive.


Edited by tanyac - 22 Sep 2016 at 8:54pm

Thanks for your reply re the RAM.

G.Skill only shows support to 2800Mhz kits.

I noticed that too. That is why I looked at the 3.1 version. It seems they did more than just provide an add-in card. Memory compatibility seems to have been increased a little.

Interestingly, my current motherboard, an X99A XPower AC, the F4-3200C16Q-32GTZB works on XMP @ 3200 without any tweaks whatsoever. Even with my CPU @ stock speed of 3.20ghz I have no problem. I'm currently running that CPU @ 4.00 ghz though, and it works perfectly.

Perhaps the take away is that if my brand and model RAM is not specifically listed in the QVL then it's a (as you say), "Crap shoot"?

So... The letters at the end are not just for the color. They also determine if the memory is Z170 or X99?

For example, GTZKW is black and white, KO is black and orange (and are both X99), a GTZB is black and red (Z170 - And it works on my X99A XPower AC X99 board)

Gosh.... what a mine field!

I guess the lesson here is that you can't trust the motherboard vendor QVL, only the RAM vendor QVL?

Well, if you look at the link you provided the X99 OC Formula says the F4-3200C16Q-64GTZKW is compatible, yet if you look here on the same website, it doesn't list any ASRock boards at all...

So what on earth is trustworthy?


I think I posted this message in the wrong motherboard forum. My apologies.


Edited by tanyac - 23 Sep 2016 at 9:04am

tanyac wrote: Thanks for your reply re the RAM. G.Skill only shows support to 2800Mhz kits. I noticed that too. That is why I looked at the 3.1 version. It seems they did more than just provide an add-in card. Memory compatibility seems to have been increased a little. Interestingly, my current motherboard, an X99A XPower AC, the F4-3200C16Q-32GTZB works on XMP @ 3200 without any tweaks whatsoever. Even with my CPU @ stock speed of 3.20ghz I have no problem. I'm currently running that CPU @ 4.00 ghz though, and it works perfectly. Perhaps the take away is that if my brand and model RAM is not specifically listed in the QVL then it's a (as you say), "Crap shoot"? So... The letters at the end are not just for the color. They also determine if the memory is Z170 or X99? For example, GTZKW is black and white, KO is black and orange (and are both X99), a GTZB is black and red (Z170 - And it works on my X99A XPower AC X99 board) Gosh.... what a mine field! I guess the lesson here is that you can't trust the motherboard vendor QVL, only the RAM vendor QVL? Well, if you look at the link you provided the X99 OC Formula says the F4-3200C16Q-64GTZKW is compatible, yet if you look here on the same website, it doesn't list any ASRock boards at all... So what on earth is trustworthy? I think I posted this message in the wrong motherboard forum. My apologies.

G.SKILL does not apparently have any codes in their memory model numbers to connect them with any particular platform or chipset. Scroll down in the G.SKILL FAQ for a description of their model numbering scheme:

http://www.gskill.com/en/faq/DRAM_Memory

The memory controllers in Skylake processors (used with Z170 boards) tend to need higher VCCIO and VCCSA voltages than Haswell-E and Broadwell-E processors (for X99 boards.)

So memory said to be compatible with Z170 systems will likely be fine on X99 systems. But early DDR4 models intended for use on X99 systems (which existed before Z170/Skylake) will be less likely to work with Z170/Skylake systems.

I would trust both the mother board's memory list, and the memory manufactures.

The exclusion of a memory model by the mother board manufacture, or the exclusion of a board by the memory manufacture, simply means they did not test it themselves. I don't see every ASRock X99 board in G.SKILL's mother board list. G.SKILL states in their FAQ section that they bring out new models constantly, which are not automatically tested by mother board manufactures.

If either manufacture states a board and memory model pair works together, how can that be wrong?

Do we expect to find a list of memory that does not work with a board?

A DDR4 memory model that is not listed as compatible with a board by either manufacture, is indeed a crap shoot.

Regarding the highest memory speed compatible with a "mother board", don't forget X99 can use two generations of processors, Haswell-E and Broadwell-E. The memory controller is part of the CPU, not the board. Broadwell-E is listed by Intel for memory up to 2400, Haswell-E is listed up to 2133. Broadwell-E's memory controller is known to OC somewhat better than Haswell-E, although the only guaranteed memory speed is the Intel spec.

Just like a core OC, memory OC is affected by the Silicon Lottery, or crap shoot of the quality of the CPU you happen to get. Manufactures don't bother having separate memory listings for different processor generations in a board.