How to Overclock RAM? -still in the shopping stage

I'm helping a friend build a rig, and I've run into a new issue for me.

We're looking to get one of the following boards:

1. ASRock X79 Extreme 6/GB
2. ASRock X79 Extreme9
3. ASRock Fatal1ty X79 Professional

The first 2 state that their memory standard can go up to an overclocked 2400MHz, the last one an overclocked 2600MHz.

Does that mean that if you put 2400MHz memory in, the board can overclock up to that? Or should you buy the highest regular standard supported (1600 in this case) and overclock up to 2400?

(Exorbitant RAM needs courtesy of Maya @_@)

Miranova23,
I means that with the purchase of that mobo and going to there website for approved and tested ram you can then purchase that module and then within the bios add voltage or add a multiplier that gets the system to overclock that ram to it's rated potential. In reality it can be a little more complicated but often with ease you can easily boost the ram and get very close to those levels. Oddly the more modules you add the harder it can be to get there because of whats known as voltage droop.

I would just get 1866 or 2133 RAm, and set it to run at that speed. All RAM is different and some can not get much over what they are rated for, and others OPC quite well but you pay a premium for them. Bottom line, you better off just getting decent RAM, and not worry about OCing it. Plus, RAm is the easiest component to destrioy by overclocking, unlike a CPU that can take a good bit.

@Wishmaster:

The memory standards for the 2 most likely mobos read:
"DDR3 2400+(OC)/2133(OC)/1866(OC)/1600/1333/1066"
I'd have to go all the way down to 1600...

The RAM wouldn't even be the piece overclocking-- would it? If I put a 2133MHz stick in, and OC the board to match 2133MHz, isn't it the board that is OC'ed? Or would I have to use a 1600MHz stick and OC to 2133MHz??? That's really all I want to know...

On X79 the memory isn't bound to a CPU OC - so If you buy a 2133Mhz kit - it will run at 2133mhz, regardless of of you are Overclocking the rest of the system or not.

You don't have to OC the RAM at all. The up to 2400/2600 means the board is capable of running those kits.

But if you buy 1600mhz, you will have to Overclock the RAM and there's no guarantee you'll make 2133mhz.

It's not like older sockets where the FSB had a direct impact on RAM mhz.

To save on headaches, just grab some 2133mhz kits.

Smarteyeball explained it much better than I did.

As mentioned, the RAm will run at whatever speed you set it to run at, and is seperate from the CPU clock. So you can still OC the CPU and the RAM will not be affected.
Although with a x79 board you can use different multiplier straps, and OC the RAM. But, I wouldn't. I would just grab a decent kit at the speed you want and let it run at its native speed.

1866 RAM will run natively at 1866mhz. When the board lists the RAM as 1866 (OC) for example, it doesn't really mean you need to OC the RAM to reach those speeds.
Essentially, the CPU/Chipset can "officially" handle DDR3 1600.
Anything beyond that speed is considered a OC, and the board is just saying it can handle it.

Okay, thank you guys! A 2133MHz kit it is. :)

I just wanted to double check everything beforehand. Also with these boards that show 2400MHz as an OC, they're much cheaper. ^__^U

No worries :)

And unless you need the extra bells and whistles of the more pricey boards - the cheaper boards will do the job just as well :)