9800X3D RAM buying guide by Buildzoid

MoridinUK · 28 Jan 2025 at 22:06

Very newbie question here.

I can see clearly that we don't want 4 sticks. BUT I read a post way back in the thread that said we wanted ram in single stacks, so do we now want them in different channels? Mainboards have 4 ram slots, 2 in each channel, so if I get a set of two 16gb sticks, do I put them in the same channel on the mainboard or not? Used to be we needed to do that.

And I'm struggling to find 6000 cl30 ram that is expo rather than xmp.

SO do I want the expo one or this one that looks faster?

1 x Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C30 6000MHz Dual Channel (SKU: MEM-CRS-01125) = £119.99
1 x Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C36 6000MHz Dual Channel (SKU: MEM-CRS-02788) = £89.98

JollyJamma · 28 Jan 2025 at 22:23

MoridinUK said:
Very newbie question here.

I can see clearly that we don't want 4 sticks. BUT I read a post way back in the thread that said we wanted ram in single stacks, so do we now want them in different channels? Mainboards have 4 ram slots, 2 in each channel, so if I get a set of two 16gb sticks, do I put them in the same channel on the mainboard or not? Used to be we needed to do that.

I don’t entirely know what you’re asking but I’ll see if I can answer the question with my understanding of it.

You do put them in the same channel, typically channel 2 and 4 (the 2nd and last slot going away from your motherboard but consult your manual).

MoridinUK · 28 Jan 2025 at 22:24

JollyJamma said:
I don’t entirely know what you’re asking but I’ll see if I can answer the question with my understanding of it.

You do put them in the same channel, typically channel 2 and 4 (the 2nd and last slot going away from your motherboard but consult your manual).

Yeah so my mainboard has 4 slots, two black two grey and they aren't next to each other, and so I assumed my pair of sticks went in either grey or black, not one in each.

JollyJamma · 28 Jan 2025 at 22:51

MoridinUK said:
Yeah so my mainboard has 4 slots, two black two grey and they aren't next to each other, and so I assumed my pair of sticks went in either grey or black, not one in each.

Read the manual.

Tetras · 28 Jan 2025 at 23:00

MoridinUK said:
Very newbie question here.

I can see clearly that we don't want 4 sticks. BUT I read a post way back in the thread that said we wanted ram in single stacks, so do we now want them in different channels? Mainboards have 4 ram slots, 2 in each channel, so if I get a set of two 16gb sticks, do I put them in the same channel on the mainboard or not? Used to be we needed to do that.

And I'm struggling to find 6000 cl30 ram that is expo rather than xmp.

SO do I want the expo one or this one that looks faster?

1 x Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C30 6000MHz Dual Channel (SKU: MEM-CRS-01125) = £119.99

1 x Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C36 6000MHz Dual Channel (SKU: MEM-CRS-02788) = £89.98

MoridinUK said:
Yeah so my mainboard has 4 slots, two black two grey and they aren't next to each other, and so I assumed my pair of sticks went in either grey or black, not one in each.

Most consumer motherboards have two memory channels which they name channel: A and channel B.

The slots which are next to each other (regardless of colour) are usually ONE channel, which is why you typically use slot 2 and 4 for a 2 stick configuration.

If your 2x RAM sticks are together in the board, then you're almost certainly doing it wrong, since there should be an empty slot between them.

The reason we call it dual channel is because you can put 1x stick in channel A and 1x stick in channel B and then get both channels operating together (dual channel).

The use four slots is still dual channel, you're just using a 2 dimm per channel config (known as 2DPC), which is usually best avoided due to added load on the CPU's memory controller.

MoridinUK · 28 Jan 2025 at 23:03

JollyJamma said:
Read the manual.

Thank you so much..
My confusion came from the use of language earlier in the thread.

I've always known ram to be installed in pairs in slots that are grouped by channel but the post refered to rank and one guy saying single rank i'm unsure why my head decided this may be suggesting something to do with slot configuration rather than different types on dimm.

I thought installed in single rank was one dimm in each channel hence single rank rather than 2 dimms to the channel: dual rank. But yes I should have read closer.)

MoridinUK · 28 Jan 2025 at 23:06

Tetras said:
Most consumer motherboards have two memory channels which they name channel: A and channel B.

The slots which are next to each other (regardless of colour) are usually ONE channel, which is why you typically use slot 2 and 4 for a 2 stick configuration.

If your 2x RAM sticks are together in the board, then you're almost certainly doing it wrong, since there should be an empty slot between them.

The reason we call it dual channel is because you can put 1x stick in channel A and 1x stick in channel B and then get both channels operating together (dual channel).

The use four slots is still dual channel, you're just using a 2 dimm per channel config (known as 2DPC), which is usually best avoided due to added load on the CPU's memory controller.

Thank you! So I was right, we want one stick in each channel, so the board runs in dual rank (ie uses both channels and the bandwidth isn't shared with a second dimm in each channel?)

I get it. So yes, my main board has slot 1 and 3 one colour and slot 2 and 4 another colour while slot 1 and 2 are labelled channel A and 3 and 4 channel B. My memory is in the slot 2 and 4 grey slots. So I'm good. thanks

MoridinUK · 28 Jan 2025 at 23:08

But any advice on those two different dimms I suggested? I was trying to find some 6000 cl30 but the corsair memory (my prefered go to for ram) didn't have a 6000 cl30 that is marked as EXPO.

Parple · 28 Jan 2025 at 23:16

MoridinUK said:
But any advice on those two different dimms I suggested? I was trying to find some 6000 cl30 but the corsair memory (my prefered go to for ram) didn't have a 6000 cl30 that is marked as EXPO.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cors...00c30-6000mhz-dual-channel-mem-crs-02786.html

These are 6000 cl30 EXPO

Tetras · 28 Jan 2025 at 23:30

MoridinUK said:
Thank you! So I was right, we want one stick in each channel, so the board runs in dual rank (ie uses both channels and the bandwidth isn't shared with a second dimm in each channel?)

Yeah, that's right.

Though, dual channel is the correct term for this, since ranks are usually on the RAM sticks themselves.

Physically, dual rank is usually seen in a stick that has memory chips on both sides, while single rank sticks have memory chips only on one side.

MoridinUK · 29 Jan 2025 at 13:30

Tetras said:
Yeah, that's right.

Though, dual channel is the correct term for this, since ranks are usually on the RAM sticks themselves.

Physically, dual rank is usually seen in a stick that has memory chips on both sides, while single rank sticks have memory chips only on one side.

Oh yes, ok this is why I got so confused. Thanks

henson0115 · 29 Jan 2025 at 13:42

should probably add that if someone does buy a 6400 kit, it will likely in the bios default to asynchronous mode instead of synchronous mode and not be 1:1 and be slower than 6000 anyway. this can be manually changed but for those not familiar with ddr5 and am5 it might be something thats missed

geko95gek · 31 Jan 2025 at 15:22

Aikon359 said:
Glad i saw this thread before ordering.. nearly went for a set of 8000mhz cl40 thinking that would be better, but would have proper shot myself in the foot!. grabbed 6000mhz cl30 instead. thanks for the advice peeps!

You will be happy with those!!

Is it a Corsair kit like mine?

6000Mhz CL30 is perfect for 1:1 mode.

dipsta · 31 Jan 2025 at 20:02

Hey guys,
Been out of the game for such a long time. I’m hoping for a few pointers.

I recently decided to treat myself to a new gaming pc.

I have a 9800x3d sp111 :0( seems weak
Asus Crosshair x870e Hero
Lian Li hydroshift360

I recently got some
GSkill 6400 cl30 for the states.

I had some 6000cl30 same brand worked fine expo1 - didnt tinker with timings

The 6400 wont run properly at all, even on stock expo

1:1
Vsoc 1.3
FCLK 2133
MEM VDD 1.45

Even on stock timings it wont have it. Bsod, crashes with nothing changed.

Context restore off
Quick boot off

I even turned it down to
FCLK 2067
And 6200 with the set timings of the 6400 and still it’s pants.

Not sure if this is to do with my settings or, its the cpu itself.

Any pointers… ive looked everywhere tried buildzoid and can’t get close.

Thinking i’ll just stick the 6000back in and live with it.

Thanks in advance

JollyJamma · 1 Feb 2025 at 09:35

dipsta said:
I recently got some
GSkill 6400 cl30 for the states.

I had some 6000cl30 same brand worked fine expo1 - didnt tinker with timings

The 6400 wont run properly at all, even on stock expo

Not sure if this is to do with my settings or, its the cpu itself.

Any pointers… ive looked everywhere tried buildzoid and can’t get close.

Sounds like you’ve done everything correctly and it’s probably either your motherboard or CPU that can’t run 6400 and that doesn’t surprise me.

Buildzoid himself states that the IMC of Ryzen AM5 CPUs is very weak.

Just run 6000CL30 or try manually lower the timings to CL28.

dipsta · 1 Feb 2025 at 11:57

hi there, yes, my thoughts entirely. Hopefully, it isn’t the motherboard because that cost me a small fortune.

I was hoping on reviews that this was one of the better ones.

Really thanks for the info

JollyJamma · 1 Feb 2025 at 12:02

dipsta said:
hi there, yes, my thoughts entirely. Hopefully, it isn’t the motherboard because that cost me a small fortune.

I was hoping on reviews that this was one of the better ones.

Really thanks for the info

Yeah Buildzoid said that he has only 1 CPU that has a good memory controller (IMC) and that was given to him by AMD.

All of his retail purchased chips have poor quality IMC and can’t do anything special.

It’s why I tell people not to buy insane speed RAM - it’s almost always not worth it.

Dem2k · 3 Feb 2025 at 17:03

dipsta said:
Hey guys,
Been out of the game for such a long time. I’m hoping for a few pointers.

I recently decided to treat myself to a new gaming pc.

I have a 9800x3d sp111 :0( seems weak
Asus Crosshair x870e Hero
Lian Li hydroshift360

I recently got some
GSkill 6400 cl30 for the states.

I had some 6000cl30 same brand worked fine expo1 - didnt tinker with timings

The 6400 wont run properly at all, even on stock expo

1:1
Vsoc 1.3
FCLK 2133
MEM VDD 1.45

Even on stock timings it wont have it. Bsod, crashes with nothing changed.

Context restore off
Quick boot off

I even turned it down to
FCLK 2067
And 6200 with the set timings of the 6400 and still it’s pants.

Not sure if this is to do with my settings or, its the cpu itself.

Any pointers… ive looked everywhere tried buildzoid and can’t get close.

Thinking i’ll just stick the 6000back in and live with it.

Thanks in advance
is stable at 6400 though my SP rating is 115 I guess I lucked out with the silicon and IMC I also OC it to 5600mhz /w UCLK = MEMCLK etc. Have it set to ASYNC 105.50 BLCK2 and + 200 boost clock PBO with a tweaked curve shape.

I have the same motherboard as you and a 6400 32gbkit coming this weekend although my SP rating is 115. Is this your memory kit SKU? 6400J3039G16GX2 ?

I hope to be able to run it @ 6400 1:1, I think I've lucked out and got a slightly better silicon lottery I can clock it to 5600mhz with a BLCK2 of 105.50 /w a fairly sizeable negative vcore offset, so hoping it will just edge it but who knows maybe further AGESA updates will expand the range later on. I do trust Buildzoid, but i hope for my case he is wrong, i guess I can always sell it at a loss if not.

dipsta · 5 Feb 2025 at 23:34

Dem2k said:
I have the same motherboard as you and a 6400 32gbkit coming this weekend although my SP rating is 115. Is this your memory kit SKU? 6400J3039G16GX2 ?

I hope to be able to run it @ 6400 1:1, I think I've lucked out and got a slightly better silicon lottery I can clock it to 5600mhz with a BLCK2 of 105.50 /w a fairly sizeable negative vcore offset, so hoping it will just edge it but who knows maybe further AGESA updates will expand the range later on. I do trust Buildzoid, but i hope for my case he is wrong, i guess I can always sell it at a loss if not.

Thats the kit mate yes amazon us
So i got another 9800x3d sp110
And it works 1:1 on the 6400 with tighter timings 1.45v mem 1.3 soc +200 neg curve -35

The 111 was worse, by a considerable margin , and i thought that sp was quality or the pre conception that a higher sp would overclock better
I havent tried to overclock the Cpu any further, but i reckon shes got more in her.

Dem2k · 6 Feb 2025 at 13:20

dipsta said:
Thats the kit mate yes amazon us
So i got another 9800x3d sp110
And it works 1:1 on the 6400 with tighter timings 1.45v mem 1.3 soc +200 neg curve -35

The 111 was worse, by a considerable margin , and i thought that sp was quality or the pre conception that a higher sp would overclock better
I havent tried to overclock the Cpu any further, but i reckon shes got more in her.

I guess the silicon quality predictor has no bearing on the IMC paired with the chip itself. So another RNG game yay. Oh well I will see fingers crossed.