Confused by RAM Speeds

[phillpower2]

The RAM in the OPs reply #13 if it did work would cause the present 3733MHz RAM to be clocked backwards to the slower 3600MHz.

Any RAM added to the PC alongside the present RAM must match the speed, voltage, timings and CAS Latency to be 100% sure of compatibility, if the info provided regarding the present RAM is correct it would make sense to get the matching RAM from the same outlet 3733MHz RAM

[Nathw90]

Hope you don`t mind me chiming in folks

Nathw90,

The present RAM is the fastest that your PC can handle and this speed only because the HPs BIOS has been tweaked to OC both the CPU and the RAM.

In addition to the above, while the CPU is compatible with DDR5 RAM the MB in the computer is not, you can confirm both for yourself here and here

Please note that the above is based on the exact model of HP as post in your reply #12 OMEN 40L Desktop GT21-0004na Gaming PC - NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3070Ti

if you are wanting to upgrade to 32GB, I am assuming this new RAM (2x8GB) is being added to the current two sticks.
compatibility between the two makes/models would be a consideration.
chances are good, they’ll be fine, but with memory, there’s always a small black cloud.

with overclocking turned off, I see no reason why those two new 3600MHz sticks shouldn’t work.
I’m not an O.C fanboy personally, go can’t advise without being biased.

@phillpower2 - are you saying that new memory won’t work or just not at 3733MHz without OC’ing?

The RAM in the OPs reply #13 if it did work would cause the present 3733MHz RAM to be clocked backwards to the slower 3600MHz.

Any RAM added to the PC alongside the present RAM must match the speed, voltage, timings and CAS Latency to be 100% sure of compatibility, if the info provided regarding the present RAM is correct it would make sense to get the matching RAM from the same outlet 3733MHz RAM

I’d actually be replacing the current RAM entirely. So the 2x8GB HyperX sticks would be out, and I’d be getting 4x8GB of the Kingston RAM that I’ve linked previously.

What I’m still a little confused about is should I then be buying RAM that is advertised as being 3200MHz (which is the apparent max speed my PC can handle…) and that can/would then be overclocked to 3733MHz, or can/should I buy RAM that is advertised as higher than 3200MHz (such as the 3600MHz Kingston RAM I linked) because that higher advertised speed is an overclocked XMP profile anyway and my PC is already running RAM at a higher clock than that?

My current RAM was sold as and is advertised as being 3733MHz - it even has that number on the physical stickers - so I’m presuming I can buy something that is advertised as being this speed (or lower, obviously), but then I circle back to my questions above and confuse myself!

[phillpower2]

Check the HP link that I provided, it clearly states that the MB supports four sticks of the RAM that you have and which is likewise the exact same as that at the link in my reply #13, your computer to do with as you see fit but I for one would not waste money by paying for four new sticks of slower RAM when I could get two matching sticks of faster RAM for less money.

Not sure if it has been asked already but why do you feel the need to have 32GB of RAM, 16GB is plenty for high end games as long as it is working in dual channel, 32GB is a waste unless you are a programmer, work in CAD or edit videos professionally.

[Nathw90]

Check the HP link that I provided, it clearly states that the MB supports four sticks of the RAM that you have and which is likewise the exact same as that at the link in my reply #13, your computer to do with as you see fit but I for one would not waste money by paying for four new sticks of slower RAM when I could get two matching sticks of faster RAM for less money.

Not sure if it has been asked already but why do you feel the need to have 32GB of RAM, 16GB is plenty for high end games as long as it is working in dual channel, 32GB is a waste unless you are a programmer, work in CAD or edit videos professionally.

Unfortunately, it seems it’s impossible to get two “matching” sticks to what’s already in the PC. I contacted HyperX and they informed me that it’s not a product they actually sell, that it’s specifically made for HP (and it seems it’s actually made by Kingston rather than HyperX themselves) and their OMEN desktops. The serial numbers and specs differ from what you can readily buy, even if they appear similar at face value.

Also, would 3600MHz CL17 really actually be slower than RAM that is 3733MHz but CL22? That’s what the current HyperX RAM is.

In terms of why I’m considering upgrading to 32GB, it’s just for future proofing in terms of gaming. Everything I’ve read says that over the next couple of years games will need more than 16GB if you intend to run them at max settings and high resolution/frame rate, which is what I always aim for. “Returnal”, for example, is already recommending 32GB.

[phillpower2]

Save your money, DDR5 is future proof whereas DDR4 is not, apart from serious flight sims I am not aware of any pastime software that needs 32GB, circa 20GB will just be sitting there idle, see HP article here

[COLOR=rgb(44, 130, 201)]Edit to add: 3600MHz used on its own would be slower but nothing to write home about.[/COLOR]

[veeg]

Any updates?