RAM - So very confusing! Advice needed.

[Sacred]

So I'm still in process of designing and putting together a new build (previous one had to be put on hold due to needing to replace the boiler) and I'm finally in the position to seriously look at it again. While I realise theirs a lot of DDR4 talk on the horizon its going to be far too expensive and I'm looking at z97 boards which wont support it.

Anyway, I've been looking over countless websites at different sets of RAM and their speeds and timings and all its done is confuse me more! I intend on using my PC for photo/video editing, gaming, web browsing and the occasional light office work. I've compiled a list of various different sets of RAM and their prices below. But all thats done is make it all the more confusing as the prices are all over the place.

Kingston Hyper-X Beast = £121
G.Skill Ares = £133
G.Skill TridentX = £137
Corsair Dominator Platinum = £206
Corsair Vengeance Pro = £143
TeamGroup Xtreeme LV = £119
Averix Blitz = £157
AData XPG V2 = £131
Patriot Viper = £189
GeIL EVO Potenza = £125
GeIL Leggera = £130
TeamGroup Vulcan = £133


So after flicking through so many different types of RAM I think I've just confused myself even more to the point where I don't really know what I'm looking for! Any advice would be welcome

[KeyboardDemon]

Are you planning on extreme overclocking?

If yes then consider something with the lowest possible latency figures and highest possible speeds, if the answer is no then get something more affordable.

[Stubo]

Look for something that is 1.5v rated, which is what Intel recommend - however you can run 1.65v

Patriot Viper 3 is probably the best value right now at £99.96 + P&P

However it's a 2x4gb kit, so you'd be filling all 4 slots if you wanted 16gb.

Speeds over 1600/1833 are largely unnoticeable unless you're benchmarking or using an AMD APU.

Kingston Fury is the best choice if you want to colour coordinate your build without spending lots.

Edit: Oh, and consider if the heat spreaders are going to conflict with the CPU heatsink you currently have installed.

[Sacred]

I'll be looking at running it on a z97 board with the devils canyon haswell refresh so some mild oc on the RAM would be nice, as for cpu heatsink it will be water cooled so the ram shouldn't get in the way (although I am considering a push/pull 240mm rad in the top of a 540 air, that may cause issues depending how far down it comes into the case)

[Bonebreaker777]

As mentioned above, performance differences above 1600Mhz @ 9-9-9-24 are only noticeable in very-very few real time applications and benchmarks mostly. Of course if you can achieve memory OC with same stability and with minimum amount of work, why not.

2 x 4GB memory should do even for video editing (I do it on mine and barely use above 6GB).

As a Crucial fan, I would suggest Crucial Ballistix VLP or Crucial Tactical Tracer. They can work with 1.5V @ 2133Mhz for Tactical or 2400Mhz for Ballistix with standard timings. At 1.35V @ 1600Mhz can work with below 9-9-9-24 timings (at least the Ballistix can reach that never tested the Tactical for this).
The Tactical comes with a app to change settings on-fly in the system plus with changeable LEDs on top (nice if you have a window).

For not-so-crazy OC (around 2133-2400Mhz) I would suggest some low powered modules (with increasing the voltage they will manage to reach the speeds above while remaining stable) plus they will not be an eye sore. And watch the prices.

EDIT: Those Viper modules seems to be a really good value plus no eye sore due to they standard height.

http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/...urce=skinflint

If I were you I wouldn't waste money on memory sets guaranteed for higher speeds.
Go with lower rated modules and see how far you can overclock them.