Compatible 2133/2400 MHz RAM for ASRock Z77 Extreme4 with Intel i7-3770K

[RendCycle]

Hi there! I have an old PC and planning on upgrading its GPU to AMD Vega 64 or Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti. With that I was advised to also upgrade the Memory RAM to a faster one. Thus I am considering to replace my existing 16 GB (2 x 8GB) G.Skill Sniper DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 (F3-1600C9D-16GSR) Memory RAMs with 2400 MHz version. I would like to know what are the compatible G.Skill memory sticks. I've found some stocks of the following G.skill DDR3s in NewEgg but before I buy, I would like to confirm if they will work with my board:

- Sniper 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) F3-2400C11D-16GSR
- Sniper 32 GB (4 x 8 GB) F3-2400C11Q-32GSR
- Ares 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) F3-2400C11D-16GAB
- Ripjaws X 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) F3-2400C11D-16GXM

I checked them in your product page and referencing the QVL tab, I couldn't find one compatible with the ASRock Z77 Extreme4 motherboard. They mostly only indicate compatibility with the ASRock Z77 OC Formula motherboard. Are they really incompatible with my board? If yes, what Memory RAMs can you recommend?

If in case 2400 MHz are not compatible, can I still use 2133 Mhz but OVERCLOCK it to 2400 Mhz? I found the ff. 2133 MHz RAM:

- Sniper 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) F3-2133C10D-16GSR
- Sniper 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) F3-2133C10Q-16GSR
- Ares 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) F3-2133C10D-16GAB
- Ares 32 GB (4 x 8 GB) F3-2133C10Q-32GAB
- RIpjaws Z 32 GB (4 x 8 GB) F3-2133C10Q-32GZM
- Ripjaws X 16 GB (2 x 8GB) F3-2133C11D-16GXL = Compatible... but can this overclock to 2400 MHz?
- Ripjaws X 32 GB (4 x 8 GB) F3-2133C11Q-32GXL = Compatible... but can this overclock to 2400 MHz?

Please help. By the way, my BIOS Version/Date indicates "American Megatrends Inc. P2.90 7/11/2013" and SMBIOS Version is 2.7. Thanks!

[RendCycle]

Thanks for the support

[GSKILL TECH]

All of the models can work, but reaching DDR3-2400 is difficult which is why it is not listed. Not all motherboards and CPUs can reach 2400, so you will need to test and see what it can do. If not, 2400, you can try 2133, 1866.. etc. In any case, the RAM will go as high as the rest of the system can support

[RendCycle]

All of the models can work, but reaching DDR3-2400 is difficult which is why it is not listed. Not all motherboards and CPUs can reach 2400, so you will need to test and see what it can do. If not, 2400, you can try 2133, 1866.. etc. In any case, the RAM will go as high as the rest of the system can support

I've overclocked my existing G.Skill Sniper 1600 MHz CL9 RAM and it can only go up to 1866 MHz else my PC won't boot up. MemTest will also show error when testing higher than 1866 MHz setting. Can the reason be because it is the limitation of the current 1600 MHz G. Skill RAM or would it be because of my particular ASRock Z77 Extreme Motherboard and/or i7-3770K CPU? According to ASRock, the board supports up to these Memory RAMs:

- Dual Channel DDR3 memory technology
- 4 x DDR3 DIMM slots
- Supports DDR3 2800+(OC)/2400(OC)/2133(OC)/1866(OC)/1600/1333/1066 non-ECC, un-buffered memory
- Max. capacity of system memory: 32GB
- Supports Intel^® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) 1.3 / 1.2
- In order to maximize the system memory, please install 8GB memory module with 16 cells

Or can the reason be combination of any of the ff: Restricted by RAM, Motherboard, and/or CPU?

[GSKILL TECH]

Maybe try BIOS 3.00 since it is 2018, it may better support newer memory modules.

Can you send a screen shot of settings @ 1866? Would like to see if BIOS is AUTO configuring settings correctly.

What settings did you attempt for 2133? For that kit it should be around DDR3-2133 11-11-11-30 1.60V, then work your way down like 9-11-10-28 1.65V

[RendCycle]

Maybe try BIOS 3.00 since it is 2018, it may better support newer memory modules.

Can you send a screen shot of settings @ 1866? Would like to see if BIOS is AUTO configuring settings correctly.

What settings did you attempt for 2133? For that kit it should be around DDR3-2133 11-11-11-30 1.60V, then work your way down like 9-11-10-28 1.65V

The 3.0 BIOS seems to be still in Beta. Is that alright to use? Anyhow, attached herewith are screenshots of my BIOS related to the RAM and CPU settings. I just changed the value for the DRAM Frequency option. How do you change the timing and voltage?

[GSKILL TECH]

Beta versions are no problem at all. To change DRAM Voltage, look at the first picture, there is option for DRAM Voltage that is currently on AUTO.

Timings can be adjusted in the DRAM Configuration page. tCL (CAS Latency) - tRCD - tRP - tRAS

[RendCycle]

Beta versions are no problem at all. To change DRAM Voltage, look at the first picture, there is option for DRAM Voltage that is currently on AUTO.

Timings can be adjusted in the DRAM Configuration page. tCL (CAS Latency) - tRCD - tRP - tRAS

Ok, I've now updated my BIOS to version 3.0. Thanks for the tips! But the configuration for DDR3-2133 11-11-11-30 1.60V and 9-11-10-28 1.65V still didn't work. My PC was not able to successfully boot up with those settings. What about the timing/configuration for DDR3-2000? Would you know what they are?

[GSKILL TECH]

You can use the same specs to see if 2000 can boot up since you said it did not at 2133

[RendCycle]

You can use the same specs to see if 2000 can boot up since you said it did not at 2133

Yes, 2000 MHz using 11-11-11-30 at 1.60V passed the MemTest! Does this mean that is the maximum capacity of my motherboard with regards to Memory RAM speed? Thus I won't be able to use a different RAM with like 2133 MHz advertised speed or higher? Or is this just the limit of the Memory RAM themselves and NOT the motherboard?

[GSKILL TECH]

You will need to test to find out. You can try 2133 1.65V If nothing works at all, you can even try one stick at a time to see if it can reach 2133. Boosting VCCIO Voltage can also help the CPU memory controller improve stability

Also, just to confirm, you are using the second and fourth slots away from the CPU?

[RendCycle]

You will need to test to find out. You can try 2133 1.65V If nothing works at all, you can even try one stick at a time to see if it can reach 2133. Boosting VCCIO Voltage can also help the CPU memory controller improve stability

Also, just to confirm, you are using the second and fourth slots away from the CPU?

I can't test a 2133 MHz RAM unless I buy it online from abroad. So if it doesn't work, I'm stuck with em and would've wasted money. hmm... Anyway, I'm not sure what VCCIO Voltage is but I will check the BIOS again if I can find it there. I am initially using the 2nd and 4th slot but just transferred the RAM to the 1st and 3rd slot. Does that matter?

[GSKILL TECH]

2nd and 4th slots away from CPU are the initial slots that should be used

[RendCycle]

2nd and 4th slots away from CPU are the initial slots that should be used

Alright, will transfer them again to those slots and do another test. Thank you for your help. :-)