Samsung / Hynix

[Bearskin]

So last year I built a new PC and got 2x16gig corsair 5600, CMK32GX5M2B5600C36, yesterday I bought another 2X16 gig CMK32GX5M2B5600C36, same bar code on the box, everything exactly the same, booted up and there it was 64 gig of RAM. Only problem was it now said 40,40,40,77 4000 instead of 36,36,36,76. 5600, it didn't even go to the default 4800. I tried a few things in the BIOS but it would not boot unless it was set to 40,40,40,77 4000.  Fired up CPUz and looking at the SPD it Turns out that Corsair are now using Hynix in the new memory and were using Samsung in my old stuff. I know I shouldn't have mixed and matched and populated all 4 banks, but it was worth a try and I didn't know they had switched to Hynix.

 

So I am going to get 2 x 32 gig sticks but where can you find out what DRAM manufacturer they are using, I know there isn't much between Samsung and Hynix but I would prefer Samsung.

Edited November 25, 2024 by Bearskin

[EightyDuce]

26 minutes ago, Bearskin said:

So last year I built a new PC and got 2x16gig corsair 5600, CMK32GX5M2B5600C36, yesterday I bought another 2X16 gig CMK32GX5M2B5600C36, same bar code on the box, everything exactly the same, booted up and there it was 64 gig of RAM. Only problem was it now said 40,40,40,77 4000 instead of 36,36,36,76. 5600, it didn't even go to the default 4800. I tried a few things in the BIOS but it would not boot unless it was set to 40,40,40,77 4000.  Fired up CPUz and looking at the SPD it Turns out that Corsair are now using Hynix in the new memory and were using Samsung in my old stuff. I know I shouldn't have mixed and matched and populated all 4 banks, but it was worth a try and I didn't know they had switched to Hynix.

 

So I am going to get 2 x 32 gig sticks but where can you find out what DRAM manufacturer they are using, I know there isn't much between Samsung and Hynix but I would prefer Samsung.

Unfortunately most of the manufacturers don't cite the ICs being used as supplies vary. There used to be tool that you could run to find out which would tell you the chips you have (i don't recall its name or if it is still maintained or if it even works on DDR5). Sometimes you can look at the speeds and timings used as some chips will do tighter timings than others. For example straight 36 timings (36-36-36) on DDR5 in the early days was a dead giveaway for Samsung chips. Also, some manufacturers often favor a certain IC, again as an example, Corsair used to heavily favor Samsung.

If you're buying a new set of sticks and aren't going to overclock then it really shouldn't matter what ICs are used as long as they run your desired timings/speed. If you are looking for expansion compatibility down the road, I would strongly urge you to get matching sticks now or buy new set when you're ready to upgrade. As you have already found out, there are significant compatibility issues that could crop up trying to match memory months/years later.

 

Edit: For what's it worth, Hynix makes a better memory IC than Samsung.

Edited November 25, 2024 by EightyDuce

[kksnowbear]

This is among the problems with not buying memory as a set.  It can absolutely be done and work just fine, but it sometimes requires extra effort.

Unfortunately, all the memory manufacturers have at times changed the guts of their modules, with no prior notice.   They buy what they can find in the market, and cost is always a factor as well.

It is exceptionally difficult to 'specify' what devices (the actual chips) you want when buying a new set, because the manufacturers don't disclose it.  One of the (very) few ways to do so is if you can find a seller who can tell you (but again, this is very uncommon).  I'd consider the 'secondary market' because you can still find new components (if you must have new) and there's a much better chance you can determine what actual devices are used on modules.

Also, Corsair (used to) put version numbers on the module labels, and I believe it accurate to say the version numbers would match if the same guts were used. One thing I do is, if I'm adding modules to a build, I make sure the actual version numbers match.  Note not all manufacturers do this, and I'm not sure if Corsair still does or not.  I don't generally use their memory these days (and as you've learned, they don't actually manufacture the chips anyhow - never did).

Did you check the BIOS to make sure you're not running a profile that actually runs at CL40?   It's fairly common these days to see at least two profiles in BIOS, and often only one of these is what the memory is actually rated for.  TBH if it's rated for 32 etc, then the SPD should contain the proper data.  You indicated CPUZ shows Hynix devices, but you don't say if it shows an XMP with 32 vs 40.

Edited November 25, 2024 by kksnowbear

[Bearskin]

Unfortunately it wouldn't boot with XMP with the old and the new RAM, I set everything manually and it still wouldn't boot, it came up with the screen saying the error of my memory OC wouldn't work, press F1 to run setup, etc.

CPUz, with just my older Samsung DRAM in A2 B2, it shows the timings of XMP 36,36,36,76 2800 and Samsung DRAM in the SPD, with the new RAM in A1 B1 and my older RAM still in A2 B2, it showed the SPD A1 Hynix,A2 Samsung, B1 Hynix, B2 Samsung,  the timings were 40,40,40,77, 2000, the XMP still showed the 36,36,36, 76 2800 timings. It says 4 sticks will default to 4800 which I would have been OK with, but even manually I couldn't get it to run at 4800 .

Anyway thank you all for your help, the Hynix memory is on its way back to Amazon, but reading what Eighty Duce said, I should have probably sent back the Samsung and kept the Hynix as they were identical, apart from the manufacture date in CPUz.

Edited November 25, 2024 by Bearskin

[EightyDuce]

55 minutes ago, Bearskin said:

Unfortunately it wouldn't boot with XMP with the old and the new RAM, I set everything manually and it still wouldn't boot, it came up with the screen saying the error of my memory OC wouldn't work, press F1 to run setup, etc.

CPUz, with just my older Samsung DRAM in A2 B2, it shows the timings of XMP 36,36,36,76 2800 and Samsung DRAM in the SPD, with the new RAM in A1 B1 and my older RAM still in A2 B2, it showed the SPD A1 Hynix,A2 Samsung, B1 Hynix, B2 Samsung,  the timings were 40,40,40,77, 2000, the XMP still showed the 36,36,36, 76 2800 timings. It says 4 sticks will default to 4800 which I would have been OK with, but even manually I couldn't get it to run at 4800 .

Anyway thank you all for your help, the Hynix memory is on its way back to Amazon, but reading what Eighty Duce said, I should have probably sent back the Samsung and kept the Hynix as they were identical, apart from the manufacture date in CPUz.

Both the Samsung and Hynix can have same/similar XMP as that only sets the primary timings and voltages. The secondary/tertiary timings will likely differ between the two sets of sticks. 4800 is the default JEDEC spec for DDR5 in general. You definitely don't wanna run your DDR5 at JEDEC spec....it is god-awful slow with terrible timings.

As far as keeping Samsung vs Hynix, my statement was based purely on overclocking potential; I should have been more specific. Hynix will clock higher with better timings than Samsung. For example I have a set of 5600 Kingston Fury ram (Hynix A-die) that will easily do 6400 at 28-36-36 on Ryzen.  If you run them at XMP/EXPO there is little to no difference between Samsung or Hynix (by themselves, not inter-mixed).

For your next set, get two sticks of whatever max capacity  you want at whatever speed/timings you desire and call it a day. Things get more muddy when you mis-match RAM and even more so when populating all 4 DIMM slots on your board.