Deviating from the QVL by just two letters!

Piter De Vries · Saturday at 03:43

I'm trying to plan a gaming system (1440p but I want to try VR in the future) I will build a few months from now using an MSI X670E Gaming Plus WiFi motherboard and 7800X3D CPU and a mid-tier 16 GB GPU.

My question pertains to the RAM. I would like to use two 24 GB DIMMS which I hope to run at 6000 MHz (1:1:1) but the QVL doesn't give many CL30 options for 24 GB modules. There is CMP48GX5M2B6000C30 but it would have to be imported and it's a little expensive. The closest product I can find on Overclockers.co.uk is CMK48GX5M2B6000Z30 and I think it's the same 30-39-39-76 timings for both. The QVL one is meant to be specifically ver5.53.13 which has Hynix M-die chips but I don't think I have any way to know what version I'd get until I get it and scrutinise the label.

One thing I think is weird is that the QVL one (CMP48GX5M2B6000C30) is intended for Intel systems and has XMP profiles while the cheaper one which I'm interested in (CMK48GX5M2B6000Z30) is intended for AMD and has EXPO profiles. I'm not sure how much that matters but thought it was strange that the QVL (for an AMD motherboard) has the Intel but not AMD one.

Do you know whether it would be acceptable to order the CMK48GX5M2B6000Z30, test the system at 6000 MHz and return the RAM if it doesn't seem to be compatible?

Alternatively there's CTCWD548G6400HC32ADC01 which is about the same price as the CMK48GX5M2B6000Z30 but is less optimal (6400MHz CL32-39-39-84).

Disco_P · Saturday at 10:58

Go for the ocuk one, it'll probably be fine

AMDPower · Saturday at 14:23

its hard for anyone to say 100% without actually trying those and that is exactly what you will have to do. The thing I have noticed with RAM and QVL is that there is quite some flexibility in what works and does not, I agree with Disco you will be fine with the OCUK one. I think you really just have bite the bullet on this, you can always return if it does not work.

mickyflinn · Saturday at 14:38

Most ram work regardless wether it in the qvl list for the motherboard, plus they don't test every varient made.

Just make sure it's expo .

Tetras · Saturday at 14:47

Piter De Vries said:
One thing I think is weird is that the QVL one (CMP48GX5M2B6000C30) is intended for Intel systems and has XMP profiles while the cheaper one which I'm interested in (CMK48GX5M2B6000Z30) is intended for AMD and has EXPO profiles. I'm not sure how much that matters but thought it was strange that the QVL (for an AMD motherboard) has the Intel but not AMD one.

Not uncommon

Piter De Vries · Saturday at 15:24

Thanks for your advice everyone. I will try this RAM as my first choice then.

pastymuncher · Saturday at 19:58

QVL lists are rarely, if ever, updated and as already said they don't test every kit on the market as they would be testing forever. My memory kit isn't even on my motherboards QVL list and all profiles work perfectly.

gupsterg · Saturday at 20:16

Piter De Vries said:
Thanks for your advice everyone. I will try this RAM as my first choice then.

This image is screenshot of SPD information of a kit I use, the EXPO/XMP profile has nothing different. The board will use the XMP profiles if you set it in BIOS, again no different then having to set it to use EXPO.

In regard to QVL see below quote, you may not know the poster, but he is a great source of info.

QVL is, always has been and always will be mostly useless, for several reasons.

It is not like the modules on the QVL would have gone through an extensive validation. It's something more of a test, which checks that the listed modules are able to POST, and the XMP / EXPO profiles is loaded correctly.

QVL is also mostly useless due to the fact, that the memory manufacturers keep changing the DRAM ICs and PCB designs between the different batches. Outside of the specific cases where the module specifications can only be met by a single DRAM IC, the components more often than not change at least at some point. For the mainstream modules, multiple hardware versions (i.e., IC and PCB) combinations) more often than not co-exists.