Which RAM for overclocking on GA-Z87X-D3H?

[Frankenfurter]

I think this should be in RAM rather than anywhere else...

Anyway, that's my board and I was looking at various RAM options, but noticed that my board doesn't like stuff over 1.5V (according to PC Part Picker, I really had no idea).

The thing that worries me is that doesn't overclocking increase the voltage to any overclocked component? so if I get 1.5V RAM and OC it, will it mess up?

If that's the case should I a) stay the hell away from overclocking my RAM or b) get a lower voltage RAM like the white vengeance LPs?

Also, does the RAM voltage make a difference in general use (ie. not overclocking) or is it really meant for laptops?

Thanks a lot,
Frankie

[Bonebreaker777]

If you would like to see the range of voltages supported (thus "liked") by your motherboard, the manufacturers manual should offer you insight. GA-Z87X-D3H English Manual. The set of voltages can be set in your BIOS under [3D Power Control] > [DRAM Voltage Control].

And no overclocking (unless it the component does have some set automatic function) does not increase the voltage of an component. Its the user usually who increases the voltage to achieve higher overclocking performance and/or system stability. Some new, modern CPUs have they memory controller integrated into the CPU so it is not advised to increase the voltage of the memory subsystem beyond 1.65V (at least not long term).

You can overclock your RAM but the overall benefit from a overclocked memory beyond 1600Mhz is negotiable. Unless you have a APU where the IGP performance stronly depends on the memory bandwidth. Low/lower voltage memory modules are available all around (Crucial Ballistix Sport 1600Mhz 9-9-9-24 @ 1.35V or Crucial Ballistix 1600Mhz 8-8-8-24 @ 1.35V, also Kingston LoVo).

If not overclocking (higher frequency or lower timings), higher voltage beyond the manufacturers specifications doesn't do anything, beside heating and consuming more. But if you experiencing instability, your memory settings are manually set and you are certain that your modules are the source of the system instability, further voltage increase may increase stability.

[Frankenfurter]

Ah ok, cheers Bonebreaker

So just to clarify I've followed all that:
- No my MOBO wont like 1.65v RAM as per instruction booklet (cheers for that link btw, assumed instructions just came in box)
- RAM voltage (if compatible) makes no difference to performance unless the RAM is otherwise unstable at high OC
- However lower voltage RAM will be running cooler and slightly cheaper so it's still worthwhile if the price is good
- There's little to no point overclocking RAM

Is that all correct?

Also seeing as how "4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory" is the only mention of RAM voltage in the entire thing (other than instructions for BIOS settings), does that mean it supports only 1.5v or up to 1.5v?

ie. would 1.35 RAM work properly and would there be any advantage over 1.5v RAM or would it basically just be being used as 1.5v RAM?

Thanks a lot for helping!
Cheers,
Frankie

[Bonebreaker777]

- No my MOBO wont like 1.65v RAM as per instruction booklet (cheers for that link btw, assumed instructions just came in box)

Not long term for sure, unless you would be ready for a material fatigued chip in 1-2 years.

- RAM voltage (if compatible) makes no difference to performance unless the RAM is otherwise unstable at high OC

Correct.

- However lower voltage RAM will be running cooler and slightly cheaper so it's still worthwhile if the price is good

The electricity cost difference is literally zero (or approaching zero) and the thermal output is close to negotiable as well, however material fatigue and keeping your modules healthier for longer does shows. No need to buy modules with voltage rating above 1.5V, but 1.35V will make it better (specially if you can have 8-8-8-24 timed 1600Mhz clocked memory modules running @ 1.35V, like my modules).

- There's little to no point overclocking RAM

Little point, unless you have APU. If you don't, real world benefits are little to none. Don't bother if you don't want to. But you always can to see how much you can squeeze out of your modules (like I played with my RAM so see how much I can increase the performance while staying at 1.35V and without compromising the stability. All I gained is 1.5% performance in synthetic benchmarks).

Also seeing as how "4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory" is the only mention of RAM voltage in the entire thing (other than instructions for BIOS settings), does that mean it supports only 1.5v or up to 1.5v?

I would assume that the mentioned 1.5V is the standard DDR3 DIMM memory module voltage, so that's why it is mentioned. If you are interested in the highest memory voltage rating, head to the BIOS.

would 1.35 RAM work properly and would there be any advantage over 1.5v RAM or would it basically just be being used as 1.5v RAM

Would work properly at the stated settings by the manufacturer, but usually the low voltage memory modules are functioning perfectly, just like they normal voltage counterparts, but they can function at lower voltages too with the same performance OR perform better at 1.5V, what would be considered overclocking for them.

I would say it is personal preference. I always wanted low voltage modules and if I could I would under-voltage my CPU too (but my MoBo doesn't supports under-voltage).

[Frankenfurter]

Ah brilliant thanks for clearing all that up then

(and I enjoyed the little brag in the middle haha)

I think I'm going to go with the 1.35v then as I'm being offered them for the same price. It's 9-9-9-24 rather than 8s, but it's the same on both and I'd heard the latency doesn't make all that much difference so should be all good.

Thanks again, Bonebreaker

[Bonebreaker777]

You are most welcome!

By the way for comparison: improving timings on my modules for the 1.5% synthetic benchmark performance gain costed me over 25-30h of testing time, excluding over night stability testing with memTest86.

Unless you can improve the latency massively, frequency increase always yields higher performance gain. And memory modules can be overclocked pretty easily by 266-533Mhz without increasing voltage and changing timings only slightly within JEDEC specifications. Your call.

[Frankenfurter]

Yikes! I think I'll be leaving it for now to be honest, especially if it's that troublesome.

In a few years though, when the system is getting tired, I do want the option to OC it slightly so I can push it out for an extra year or so.

[Bonebreaker777]

Yikes! I think I'll be leaving it for now to be honest, especially if it's that troublesome.

Maybe not troublesome but time consuming for sure.

[Shivy011]

Don't go for Crucial memory, I've read reports of bad compatibility between Gigabyte Boards and Crucial Ballistix

[Frankenfurter]

I think I'll leave it for now anyway Bonebreaker, but one day.

Ooh, cheers for the heads up on that Shivy!
One of them kits I was looking at was in fact a Ballistix. Of course it might be sorted if they're not recent reports?
I'll have to ask Gigabyte.

Thanks!

[kalniel]

Don't go for Crucial memory, I've read reports of bad compatibility between Gigabyte Boards and Crucial Ballistix

Should be fine. Which board exactly and which ballistix models?

[Shivy011]

I believe the Ballistix sport, and most Gigabyte boards

[kalniel]

I believe the Ballistix sport, and most Gigabyte boards

That doesn't make any sense at all - gigabyte boards cover a vast range of BIOSes, chipsets, softwares and CPUs with different memory controllers. There isn't anything common to most Gigabyte boards that could cause compatibility issues with a particular model of RAM.

[Bonebreaker777]

I would say also, even if I still have to build a system yet based on an Gigabyte board.

So far Crucial modules haven't caused any issues for me even in old DDR2 systems.

And as Kal says, Gigabyte would not allow a widely available manufacturer's modules incompatible with his boards. I think.

[kalniel]

I would say also, even if I still have to build a system yet based on an Gigabyte board.

And I have been using Gigabyte boards for years with crucial and other makes of ram without problem - but I've not tried this ballistix sport in question so don't feel I can counter that argument.

[Bonebreaker777]

And I have been using Gigabyte boards for years with crucial and other makes of ram without problem - but I've not tried this ballistix sport in question so don't feel I can counter that argument.

I did try those Crucial Ballistix Sport modules (really-really short memory modules) and didn't had problems any problems in either AsRock, Asus or MSI boards, both on the AMD or the Intel platform (altogether 4x different boards with different chipsets and CPUs). Same for other Crucials I had, never the slightest problem.