Buyer Beware: 3200MHz nominal speeds may require XMP | Razer Insider

Buyer Beware: 3200MHz nominal speeds may require XMP


When looking for a 64GB memory upgrade to my Razer Blade 15” Advanced (2021),
I was naïvely assuming that _nominal speeds_ (i.e. those on the box or in the product
description) were guaranteed defaults that may be further tuned with XMP to find the
optimal timings automagically.

Little did I know that

When I reached out to support with my experience of these Ballistix running at 2666MHz
instead of the advertised 3200MHz, they confirmed the first point and hinted at the second.



This is the 64GB kit I used (and removed for return):


I re-tested with the original modules:


And, those do run at 3200MHz (albeit, only 32GB):


If anyone has recommendations for a 64GB kit **confirmed** running at 3200MHz
in a Blade 15 Advanced 2021 model, I'd love to hear!!



UPDATE

I can **confirm** that a Kingston Fury 64GB kit runs at 3200MHz in my Blade 15 Advanced 2021 model.

This topic has been closed for comments

17 Replies

Having the same issue. Its not that the Ballistix dont have XMP. Seems the issue is in BIOS. Kingston is by far a much more worse Sodimm. They just got managed to install a chip which makes the OC automatically. Crucial seems to need a Bios unlock.

I am not sure if i should ship the ballistix back and order Fury. I had before 64gb of Ram at 2666hz from crucial. The normal ones. Loading and Booting seems to be increased by the CAS 16

Fury has CAS 20!

Does anyone have a unlocked BIOS for XMP profiles?
Unfortunately, I can't give help to your request: however, I can tell you that all/nearly all RAM with advertised speeds higher than 2666Hz will not run higher than that out of the box. Many motherboards these days only "officially" support 2666Hz memory. However, on XMP enabled, your RAM is guaranteed to reach advertised speeds.
.Z4x. has 3200 running on his Razer Blade. with 64GB. Me too when i reinstall the OG samsung 32GB Ram. They run at 3200 Hz.

Sorry but thats not true. Its a BIOS issue because Razer is hiding some menues in BIOS. Like XMP



Iman.Nia
Having the same issue. Its not that the Ballistix dont have XMP. Seems the issue is in BIOS.


Correct. The problem is that the Ballistix will ONLY reach 3200MHz **with** XMP;
*AND* the current BIOS does NOT support XMP.


Iman.Nia

Kingston is by far a much more worse Sodimm. They just got managed to install a chip which makes the OC automatically.


Do you have factual support for either of these claims?

Since Crucial doesn't publish the profiles their support,
it's difficult to know, if their lower CAS latency is actually
valid at **all** speeds, or only at 2666MHz.
I suppose CPU-Z will list what it finds, I just never run it
with those sticks in the laptop. Have you?

The other bit about an OC chip in the Fury sounds a lot
like unsubstantiated speculation, but if you have facts,
please share!


Iman.Nia

Crucial seems to need a Bios unlock.


I'm not sure about "unlock", but those modules definitely need
XMP support to run at their advertised speed...


Iman.Nia

Fury has CAS 20!


Indeed. And, the original Samsung RAM has CL 22. So, what?
Is the Ballistix running at 2666MHz with CL16 really better
than the Fury running at 3200MHz with CL20?

I don't actually know. I'm not sure how the different speeds
play together with the different latencies. My understanding
stops at comparing speed/latency combos when either one
or the other is fixed (i.e. at the same speed, a lower latency
is better; and, similarly at the same latency a higher speed
is better). I don't have the slightest clue what applies above.


Iman.Nia

Does anyone have a unlocked BIOS for XMP profiles?


Another thread here claims that the older BIOS has XMP support.
You _may_ be able to downgrade, if that floats your boat.
Crucial needs 1.35V to run at full speed 3200Mhz CAS 16.... most gaming laptops don't have the option of running memory @1.35V. Default is 1.25V for which the best latencies I found is with Kingston / Hyper X Fury...Chose the 2933Mhz which has a latency of 17....which may run better than a 3200 CAS 20.
i had issues with kingston in my older razer blade studio. kingston is OC by chip to get to 3200. So i doubt your laptop is running all the time at 3200mhz. Another point is the latency. By installing the ballistix i could see how fast the booting took place. at least 2 sec less.

But i also send those back to order furies. i will soon see which is better. i had before both the samsung and also crucial 64gb at 2666hz inside. and none was so fast as the ballistix in booting.
Iman.Nia
By installing the ballistix i could see how fast the booting took place. at least 2 sec less.


Interesting... I haven't noticed a significant difference in booting speed between the different RAM options.
BUT, then again, I'd have to use a stop watch to recognize a two-second speed-up... :wink_:
.Z4x.
Interesting... I haven't noticed a significant difference in booting speed between the different RAM options.
BUT, then again, I'd have to use a stop watch to recognize a two-second speed-up... :wink_:


I dont shut off my laptop. Never. So i can see the difference. I also used a stop watch to be sure. Yes it worked faster. But maybe not in Adobe PS
my new RAM arrived today and seems it works at 3200mhz. Seems the CAS is not the same.
Iman.Nia
my new RAM arrived today and seems it works at 3200mhz. Seems the CAS is not the same.

HyperX/Kingston Fury should run @ CAS 20 for 3200 Mhz. Best I have seen for 1.25V RAM.
dudepare01
HyperX/Kingston Fury should run @ CAS 20 for 3200 Mhz. Best I have seen for 1.25V RAM.


I know mate. That's exactly what I wrote above. It's slower in terms of latency.
Iman.Nia
I know mate. That's exactly what I wrote above. It's slower in terms of latency.

At least it works on default JEDEC....
Latency is also important. So razer owner are forced to choose between mhz or latency. Thats not an option.
Iman.Nia
Latency is also important. So razer owner are forced to choose between mhz or latency. Thats not an option.

There are only a few laptops out there which can run 1.35V XMP profiles (you can see the reviews for Ballistix)

I went to for the middle ground which is 2933 MHz with a latency of CL17...from online ram calculators, it is marginally the fastest between 2666 CL16 and 3200 CL20...
Did anyone install additional Ram Heat Sink to their Ram? I did. Wondering if it makes any sense
After removing those labels on the m.2 nvme i can see dropping temps of about 4 degrees as the thermal pads have direkt contact now
Iman.Nia
Did anyone install additional Ram Heat Sink to their Ram? I did. Wondering if it makes any sense
After removing those labels on the m.2 nvme i can see dropping temps of about 4 degrees as the thermal pads have direkt contact now


Did not put one on mine (though I bought some from Aliexpress). Thought the blowers are enough to keep them happy and cool.
Userlevel 5
Hmmm I recall there was another thread that were seeking discussions about a similar experience with RAM upgrades.

Though I've heard that other than HyperX (now Kingston Fury) Impact RAM sticks are one of the more compatible upgrades for Razer Blades, including the 10th gen on XMP.