What type of memory for an MSI Z68 based board?

Inaharry

Inaharry

Inaharry

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Hi, I'm just about to upgrade to an MSI Z68A-GD65-G3 along with an i5-2500K and would like to try overclocking for the first time as it's so much easier with SB based systems.

Does anyone have any recommendations for the make and particularly the speed that'll give me a stable overclock of around 4.3-4.5GHz, (or more if possible ;))?

Also, am I right in thinking that the more memory the system has, the lower the OC potential? I'd like to have 16GB, but if it affects the OC, I could drop this to 8GB.

In case it's relevant, I'm planning to put in a Radeon 7970 when they're released and upgrade the i5 to an Ivy Bridge later next year.

Depending on the memory you recommend, I'll either go for a Noctua or equivalent if it's low profile or a Corsair H100 if it's high profile memory, so that's not too much of an issue.

Thanks!! :)
 
As you'd like 16GB then here you go:

Kingston HyperX Genesis 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual/Quad Channel Kit £65.99 until Wednesday morning.

It should run at ~1.5V which is what you need for Sandy Bridge.

Filling all 4 RAM slots seems to have little impact on the overclocking potential of Sandy Bridge processors.

The Thermalright Silver Arrow is a good cooler, if you have room for it, and it's cheaper than other coolers of similar performance.
 
@Jordan97
I know, I should've done because I saw this offer, but wasn't sure at the time whether it would be the best memory to go for...

@Surveyor
Thanks for the link. I think I'll probably go for that because it's also on offer at the moment which means that I get similar memory to the Greys that were on offer for around £6 extra overall.

The other memory I've been looking at are the RipJawsZ which are a bit more expensive. They're 9-9-9-24 compared to the Kingston's 9-9-9-27. But in real world use, am I right in thinking that this won't make any difference?

Looking at the pictures, I think that the RipJaws will be too high if I end up going for air cooling like the Phanteks, Noctua or Thermalright Silver Arrow, but does anyone know if the Kingston Blues are low profile enough to fit under these coolers? I'm having second thoughts about the Corsair H100 because of the batch problem and the noisy fans I've been reading about...

Thanks again :)
 
You aren't going to notice a big difference, if at all, by going for the RipJaws. Particularly on SB, speed and timings make very little difference.

The Kingston Blue is low profile, yes.

If you do decide to go air cooling, I would go for the Silver Arrow, plainly because it performs just as well as the other two, but is the cheapest.
 
Jordan97 said:
You aren't going to notice a big difference, if at all, by going for the RipJaws. Particularly on SB, speed and timings make very little difference.

The Kingston Blue is low profile, yes.

If you do decide to go air cooling, I would go for the Silver Arrow, plainly because it performs just as well as the other two, but is the cheapest.
Click to expand...

+1 :)

The 16GB kit I linked to is a low profile and will be fine with the Silver Arrow.
 
I would rather get the corsair vengeance with tall heatsink and remove/replace the heatsink with low profile.
The 1.5v can be undervolted to 1.35v, or can be overclcoked, and overclocked even more when the voltage is set to 1.6.

I say tall heatsink because the vengeance with low profile heatinks cannot be easily overclocked, but they can be undervolted.
 
k_poh said:
I would rather get the corsair vengeance with tall heatsink and remove/replace the heatsink with low profile.
The 1.5v can be undervolted to 1.35v, or can be overclcoked, and overclocked even more when the voltage is set to 1.6.

I say tall heatsink because the vengeance with low profile heatinks cannot be easily overclocked, but they can be undervolted.
Click to expand...

There's really little point in that.

16GB of the Corsair Vengeance will cost £15.59 more.

You invalidate the warranty by removing the heat spreaders.

Overclocking the RAM, assuming it will, gives you very little extra performance.

The RAM is rated for 1.5-1.65V so you can't guarantee it'll run with 1.35V.

It's a plan, but I wouldn't say it's a good one.
 
Surveyor said:
There's really little point in that.

16GB of the Corsair Vengeance will cost £15.59 more.

You invalidate the warranty by removing the heat spreaders.

Overclocking the RAM, assuming it will, gives you very little extra performance.

The RAM is rated for 1.5-1.65V so you can't guarantee it'll run with 1.35V.

It's a plan, but I wouldn't say it's a good one.
Click to expand...

The corsair vengeance with tall heatsinks are now very cheap at £33 for 8gb if you look around. I paid 45 squid 2 months ago.

I agree with the waranty, it was a decision I took after testing the rams and making sure they work as they should in the first place but who knows after a few months... they are cheap anyways.

Mine are rated 1.5 and I have undervolted them to 1.35

You could be right with the performance issue, but I like to tinker with the settings that is why I like the vengeance.
 
On the OcUK Forum we can only discuss OcUK prices.

And I still don't see the point in voiding the warranty so you can do something which makes so little difference.
 
Surveyor said:
On the OcUK Forum we can only discuss OcUK prices.

And I still don't see the point in voiding the warranty so you can do something which makes so little difference.
Click to expand...


Sorry, I thought as long as I did not mention any competitor's name it was ok?

You are very right about the warranty, but I was only speaking for myself.
 
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