Z690 supports DDR4 with native clock speeds up to 3200MHz. If you want to get the best speed possible then you will want to consider purchasing some DDR5 RAM that supports native clock speeds up to 4800MHz. You are also able to increase RAM speeds even more by utilizing XMP to obtain speeds above the core clock speeds.
With populated 2 DIMMs per channel on GIGABYTE Z690 motherboards, the maximum memory capacity support is 128GB.
Z690 has models that support DDR5 and DDR4 respectively
However, there are also some naming methods that are less obvious. For example, BIOSTAR's "Z690 VALKYRIE" supports DDR5 memory, while "Z690A VALKYRIE" supports DDR4.
The easiest way to find what RAM is compatible with your motherboard is by checking your motherboard's Memory QVL list. As you browse for your motherboard's RAM specifications on the manufacturer's website, look for a page or section called “Memory QVL” or “RAM support list”.
Your RAM is held in check by the CPU and the motherboard. If you try to install and use a RAM module that operates beyond the speeds that the CPU and the motherboard can support, it will lead to unstable system performance and/or boot issues. Mismatched memory will do this as well.
The speed of your processor and the bus speed of the computer motherboard is the limiting factors on the speed of RAM installed in your computer. RAM upgrades are limited by the capability of the computer and the availability of expansion slots for adding RAM.
The maximum memory capacity on the Z690 motherboard is 128GB. After Intel updated the memory reference code, a single slot can support up to 32GB.
That will ensure you're getting the most out of the best CPUs for gaming. For an Intel DDR5 system, a good kit around the 5200MHz range will be fine, while for a high-end system, you'll want something a little faster at 6000MHz or even 6400MHz if you really want to get every last drop of performance.
If you're building a PC with Intel's 12th or 13th-generation Core processors, you'll want one of the best Z690 motherboards to slot it into. Intel's 12th- and 13th-generation Core CPUs are some of the best CPUs for gaming, featuring speedy core clocks and compelling value.
Featuring an LGA 1700 socket and Z690 chipset, this motherboard is compatible with Intel 12th Gen Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors. Install up to 128GB of dual-channel RAM across four DDR5 memory slots, with speeds up to 6400 MHz supported via overclocking.
The Intel Core i9-13900K is considered the best CPU for the Z690 chipset. As it is specifically designed to work flawlessly with 13th Gen processors. It is worth noting that users will need to update their motherboard BIOS before installing this CPU.
This means DDR5 transfers data at up to 38.4 gigabytes per second (GB/s), while DDR4 tops out at 25.6 GB/s. Overall, DDR5 can be 50% faster than DDR4's maximum data rate.
We recommend a minimum of 16GB for most serious gaming PCs (it's what we use in our high-end PC build (opens in new tab)), but as 32GB DDR5 kits are so widely available, 32GB has become the new baseline for a DDR5 system. With 32GB, you'll have more than enough for pretty much every task you can throw at your system.
Intel's Alder Lake and Z690 combined actually offer support for both DDR5 and DDR4 memory.
The 4800MHz launch speed is comparable to DDR4 memory speeds under extreme performance and is two times faster than 3200MHz. Since it's optimised for multitasking, your computer will be more responsive. This RAM will allow you to open more browser tabs and switch between programs or apps seamlessly.
RAM Speed. A more important aspect of RAM that you should concern yourself with when selecting a kit for gaming is the operating speed/XMP speed of this specific kit. Nowadays most gaming PCs use 3600MHz or higher RAM speeds to ensure overall smoother FPS performance.
However, RAM speed isn't going to make a gigantic impact on your gaming experience. In most cases, you'll get a few more FPS, but for gaming, your CPU and GPU are doing more of the heavy lifting. And you still need to make sure your motherboard can actually use DDR5.
GIGABYTE Z690 Motherboards feature the latest DDR5 architecture and XMP 3.0 capability. The new DDR5 memory technology brings 50% more bandwidth to the platform and increases the system performance drastically by implementing Unlocked Native DDR5 Voltage, Xtreme Memory Routing and reliable SMD slot.
In terms of capacity, users can install up to 128 GB across all four slots, although users can benefit from faster memory (up to DDR5-6000) when using 1DPC 2R memory (two sticks in dual-channel).
All of these high-end Z690 motherboards are absolutely jam-packed with fantastic features such as PCIe Gen 5 support and DDR5 memory support, so the Z690 Carbon is no different in this regard. Connectivity is handled by a 2.5 GbE LAN port or WiFi 6E, both of which are excellent options.
RAM that is rated at 3600 MHz will definitely not be hurt by running at 3200 MHz instead. In fact, if you don't enable XMP, then the ram will probably run by 2133 MHz by default as that is the highest “official” speed that the JEDEC standards support, and that would be just fine too.
3200 is the maximum, the default is 2133. You need to go in your BIOS and enable XMP (or AMP or A-XMP or whatever they call it - it's the same thing, and it's under “overclocking” -> “memory”, most likely). This is assuming your CPU can support it, otherwise your computer might fail to boot.
Clean Your Computer: Deleting old files, uninstalling unnecessary apps, and defragmenting will boost your PC's RAM speed, which can be tedious. So consider using such tools as CCleaner for automatic cleanup. Add More RAM: After you check your computer RAM, you'll know how much you've already installed.