CL7 RAM compatible with GA-870A-UD3?

[F8L Fool]

I'm in the midst of my first computer build. I've purchased the GA-870A-UD3 motherboard, and some G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM RAM.

What I am worried about is whether or not this specific Motherboard supports CL7 RAM. Not only that, but the RAM states that it was specifically "Designed for Intel Core i5 & i7" CPU's, however works with AMD as well.

The only thing that seems to be the hang up is the CL7 and the timing, which is 7-8-7-24-2N.

Will my motherboard work with the RAM I have purchased?

[Dark Mantis]

Well I would suggest that you should check on the website for this motherboard's QVL before purchasing the memory. I can't understand why people always insist on doing it the other way round and then wonder why they have problems.
I take it that these are the modules that you have purchased: F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM (your link didn't work)
G.Skill don't even list the motherboard on their memory configurator.
The closest Gigabyte recommends is the F3-12800CL7D-4GBECO but be aware that this is NOT the same. You can check here: http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Memory/mb_memory_ga-870a-ud3.pdf

[F8L Fool]

Sorry about the link. For some strange reason Newegg "deactivated" it from their site. The name of the card aside, it's more of a general CL7 question more so than that specific set that I purchased.

Of the 150 reviews of the memory I purchased it was hit or miss with most AMD boards. However, there was an abundance of people claiming it runs fine on the Gigabyte 890, but you need to adjust the timing in the BIOS. The only mentioning of the 870 was a single review that just said "It works great on my GA-870-UD3", which is hardly a confirmation.

The main issue at hand is CL7 and the timing, although I do see two CL7 chips in that list and they both just happen to be G.Skill chips which is encouraging at the very least.

[Dark Mantis]

Well as I mentioned the F3-12800CL7D-4GBECO is CL7 and has been tested by Gigabyte and certified as compatible with this board, so the short answer is yes but not ALL CL7 RAM.

[F8L Fool]

Well as I mentioned the F3-12800CL7D-4GBECO is CL7 and has been tested by Gigabyte and certified as compatible with this board, so the short answer is yes but not ALL CL7 RAM.

So do you think that the one I purchased would work as well? Both my memory and the certified memory run on the same timing, are PC3 12800, but have different voltage (1.3 vs 1.6).

[Dark Mantis]

I would cetainly give it a try. If you already have the memory what have you got to lose? Set the BIOS memory settings to manual and then try the settings on the side of the modules. It might work fine, but then again...
Anyway please post back and let us know how you get on.

[F8L Fool]

Will do. Thanks a lot for the insight.

[p1nkb1ts]

For what's worth I have recently purchased and tried the G.Skill F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH in the GA-870A-UD3, manually entered the RAM settings in to BIOS with voltage set to 1.64v (won't let me do 1.65v).
Alas to no avail my system quickly became unstable.
Looks like I will have to see if the store can swap the RAM over for the F3-12800CL7D-4GBECO.

[p1nkb1ts]

Manage to get the G.Skill F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH changed over to F3-12800CL7D-4GBECO.
Everything seems to work fine.
Setup is:
GA-870A-UD3 Rev2.1 Firmware F2
AMD phenom II 1090T
BIOS setup
memory clock X8.00 (1600Mhz)
DRAM configuration
cas# latency 7T
ras to cas r/w delay 8T
row precharge time 7T
minimum RAS active time 24T
1T/2T command timing 2T

DRAM Voltage control
couldn't lower to 1.35v so left it at normal (1.5v)

[Dark Mantis]

Just a word of warning even though you may have got your ram runing at that speed AMD only recommends 1333 as the top speed because of the likelyhood of burning out the controller in the CPU. You can read all about it here:
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2515.0.html

[bytheway_r]

Considering that you're overvolting your RAM by 0.2v I'd overclock it. What Dark Mantis says may be a good idea. Anyway, at 1600Mhz I'd try to drop all the main timings by 1. At 1333Mhz I'd aim for -2 on all. It's kind of a waste to have the sticks running at higher voltage and stock timings. Considering they have heatspreaders they should be more than fine at 1.5v overclocked.

Generally, that's some really nice RAM. Especially if you're going to overclock it. Myself, I'd push 'em to the limit as they reach their peak ~1.6v which is still very low, voltage wise.

[KMPLAYER]

Hello,
Will be there a problem for the Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3 rev.2.0 or rev. 2.1 motherboard to run CMX4GX3M2A1600C7 (CORSAIR 2 x 2GB DDR III 1600 XMS3 CL7), because they are not in the list with supported memory ?

http://www.corsair.com/configurator/memory_results.aspx?id=1298083 On this list, i dont find GA-870A-UD3, so i suppose it will not work with CMX4GX3M2A1600C7 ?

[absic]

Hi there,

I don't see why this RAM won't work on the GA-870A-UD3 but you would  have to adjust the voltage and timings manually.

Something to consider though is that the AM3 CPU's do not really like RAM running above 1333 MHz. Check here: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2515.0.html if you haven't already done so

[KMPLAYER]

There is no 100% garantee that it will run. Gigabyte did not tested it and Corsair say its not clear it will run or not.

[absic]

This is very true. Nothing is 100% and even RAM on the QVL's doesn't always work.
But Gigabyte can't test ALL the RAM on the market and Corsair can't test all of their RAM Modules on every motherboard so they always qualify their statements to that effect.

Memory modules listed  are for reference only. Due to massive memory models on the market, we can only verify some of them.

You asked if the RAM you are looking at will work on the GA-870A-UD3 and there is no real reason why it shouldn't apart from what I stated before. The RAM will automatically be down clocked to 1333MHz running at 1.5 Volts that is what happened with my Corsair Dominator 1600MHz 1.65V RAM  it wasn't on the QVL but it still worked.