Memory Support specs?

I can now confirm that the Ballistix 2x16GB 3200 kit (BL2K16G32C16S4B) runs at 2667 Mhz on my Framework i5-1135G7 and there is no option for XMP in the BIOS.

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Never heard of XMP. Time to look it up!

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Thanks for confirming this so any user who see’s this post must find ram with a JEDEC profile that already runs JEDEC at 3200 nativity (sucks no XMP option but could happen in future boards or BIOS)

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Thanks for testing and confirming @jeshikat! We definitely recommend natively DDR4-3200 memory then.

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Thanks for posting your results. I did suspect that this would be the case.

DDR4 RAM has tables to tell the motherboard how to automatically clock/time the memory. XMP is an extension of that table that specifies configurations outside of what JEDEC (the developer of DDR4) recognizes. You can think of XMP profiles as the memory manufactures’ tested-and-suggested overclocking profiles.

Anything not found in this table and running at 1.2 volts can’t be specified by the normal table as it’s not technically part of the standard. If your DDR4 so-dimm’s advertised timings is not in the table, or it’s not at 1.2 volts, it’s almost certainly using XMP profiles to get there. So be careful to avoid 1.35v modules for this laptop.

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We’ve had a report of Kingston HyperX HX429S17IBK2/32 memory not booting on the Framework Laptop. We’re digging into what is causing this, since it should fall back to a standard JEDEC timing rather than not booting. In the meantime though, we recommend using non-XMP memory that runs natively at 3200.

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The Crucial 2x16GB 3200MHz kit (CT2K16G4SFRA32A) works at full speed.

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@jeshikat, any idea if that a dual rank kit? I’m guessing dual rank modules should work fine, but it would be nice to have some confirmation.

@speckledsea single-rank if I’m interpreting dmidecode right:

Array Handle: 0x0014
Error Information Handle: No Error
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 16 GB
Form Factor: SODIMM
Set: None
Locator: Controller0-ChannelA-DIMM0
Bank Locator: BANK 0
Type: DDR4
Type Detail: Synchronous
Speed: 3200 MT/s
Manufacturer: Crucial Technology
Part Number: CT16G4SFRA32A.C8FE  
Rank: 1
Configured Memory Speed: 3200 MT/s
Configured Voltage: 1.2 V
Memory Technology: DRAM
Module Manufacturer ID: Bank 6, Hex 0x9B

There’s eight of these Micron chips on each stick: Part #CT2G8Z32DD8JC-062E | FBGA code: C9BKY

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@jeshikat Very thorough, thanks! And yeah, that’s a single-rank board.

Hopefully the memory I have and was planning on putting in mine will run at full spec. I will post when I get my new Framework laptop if it works or not. :laughing:

What I already have: (2 x 8GB) G.SKILL Ripjaws 260-Pin DDR4 SO-DIMM (CL16) 3200MHz (Model F4-3200C16D-16GRS)

@DannyT, I was curious about that kit as well, but from what I’ve gleamed from this forum, I doubt the Framework run it at CAS 16, unfortunately, at least under the current BIOS. The tightest timing you can get for 3200 under JEDEC is CAS 20, so that should be your current best case.

According to what I can see posted about that kit (shout out to the hero on Newegg who uploaded a CPU-Z screenshot), the fastest JEDEC profile specified by the CAS 18 version of that kit is 22 @ 3200; the faster profiles are XMP 2.0. I’m guessing your CAS 16 kit follows that. So likely it will auto-configure to CAS 22 at 3200.

Please post your results when it comes in though! I’m interested to see what happens.

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I am also curious if the dual rank version of Crucial 2x16GB 3200 kit works (CT2K16G4SFD832A).

I installed the G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DIMM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Laptop Memory Model F4-3200C22D-32GRS (CAS Latency 22, 1.20V) and it works fine. My batch from Newegg was single rank.

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@FsOver2, thanks for sharing! Manufacturers aren’t very straightforward with what their kits are, so that’s nice information to have. Glad it worked for you.

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@uhhmeeyell For me, that kit does NOT run at full speed. 2667MT/s

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Just in case someone is looking for additional memory options, I used two ATECH/ADATA 8GB DDR4-3200 modules in ours and they’ve worked fine so far at 3200. I didn’t do a deep dive on the modules so I don’t know who made the actual DRAM ICs.

They are double-sided and fit snugly but without issue. Make sure to route your WiFi antennnae in the provided guides if you use both :wink:

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Unfortunately I’m not optimistic that’ll work as you hope. If you look at G.SKILL’s spec page for that exact SKU:
https://www.gskill.com/specification/2/197/1540866230/F4-3200C16D-16GRS-Specification
it specifically states:

Additional Notes: This product requires enabling XMP in BIOS to operate at the rated speed. Otherwise, the memory kit will operate at the default speed set by the system.

In contrast, for the F4-3200C22D-64GRS kit that I just ordered:
https://www.gskill.com/specification/2/197/1540866339/F4-3200C22D-64GRS-Specification
it instead just states:

Additional Notes: Rated SPD frequency requires compatible CPU and chipset support

There’s a pattern for all of G.SKILL’s DDR4-3200 memory that if it’s rated for any latency CL18 or lower, it will be marked as requiring XMP to run at the rated speed. All of their CL22 ones seem fine. It seems that G.SKILL is a manufacturer that’s pretty up-front about the XMP requirement as long as you’re looking at the official spec page.

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Does this come down to the memory controller on the intel mobile processors? I figured dual rank memory would have worked.