E5-2620 v4 - DDR4 2133 vs DDR4 2400

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Tim

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Nov 7, 2012
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I'm a bit confused about why HP don't recommend ddr4 2133 for the E5-2620 v4 CPU's.
The Intel E5-2620 v4 supports up to DDR4 2133, still HP recommends to use only DDR4 2400 memory.

Why's that?
And what's the better choice?

I'm considering either one of these based on your feedback.
Samsung M393A4K40BB0 which is DDR4 32GB 2133 1066MHz @ CL=15, tRCD=15, tRP=15
Samsung M393A4K40BB1 which is DDR4 32GB 2400 1200MHz @ CL=17, tRCD=17, tRP=17

Since the CPU only supports 2133, won't the 2400 "clocked down" to 2133 be slower with those higher latencies?
I'm going to use 4 DIMMs so I won't trigger the reduced ram speed that the extra cost of the HP module can prevent.

Do you think that DDR4 prices will come down in the near future or keep rising during 2017?
 

sparx

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Jul 16, 2015
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I think the recommendation from HP is just a standard one they use for all CPUs on the platform. You will be fine with buying either 2133 or 2400. As you say, the CPU will just run in the supported speed of 2133 regardless of the memory mounted. (Unless you put some old 1867 in there). Since more and more platforms start supporting DDR4 the general silicon cost will go down. And its not until some generations forward we will switch to DDR5 (DDR4E i guess it was called for a while).
 
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BenchZowner

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Nov 16, 2016
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Since the CPU supports only DDR4-2133, you won't be able to run the memory at DDR4-2400 no matter what ( haven't checked that on a X99 motherboard, but I assume it's going to be the same ), pick a DDR4-2133 kit and save some buckaroos.

Performance-wise you'll see no difference in real-life usage no matter the memory timings, only a selected few apps "depend" somehow on memory performance, but even those don't miss much from a little slower RAM ( file compression/decompression apps like WinRAR, WinZIP, 7-zip is the most common application type that benefits from higher performance RAM ).
 
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Tim

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Nov 7, 2012
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Here in Norway, these modules are up by 61% the last three months.
I read that higher demand for phones pushed the prices upwards as production was geared towards phones, not server memory modules.
I don't know if that's true or not but prices sure have skyrocketed the last months.

And yes, both is at the same price point.
I know I can't run at higher speeds than the CPU dictates.

A dumb question.
Will 2400 CAS 17 still have CAS 17 after being clocked down to 2133?
If so, I don't se any reason to buy 2400.
 

BenchZowner

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Nov 16, 2016
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It depends on the SPD profiles of the DIMMs.
Ideally, good kits have tighter timings at lower than the advertised ( "max" ) rating.

If your motherboard has memory timing settings, then you don't care :D
 
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Tim

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Nov 7, 2012
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My "motherboard" is the Proliant DL380 G9 server.
That table doesn't tell anything about ddr4-2400 in 2133 "mode".
But from the SPD pdf it seems that the 2400 supports CAS 15 as well.
So I guess I can get 2400 and let it run in 2133 with CAS 15.

Thanks