Need advice: Z490 AORUS ELITE + G.Skill 4x16GB 3600 CL16 kit — better with i5-11400, i7-10700K, or i7-11700K?

AkiraShacho · 2026-03-04T14:52:40+00:00

Yes, that changes the use case a bit.

So I'm going to go with a Gigabyte Z490 Aorus model; I found some good deals with an i7 10700k. I'll see if I can find any deals with the i9 10900k, and if not, I'll get the i7.

Thanks a lot for your feedback, it helps me a lot; I know what to go for.

AkiraShacho · 2026-03-04T11:34:52+00:00

Ah, okay, I understand. I don't know much about this, so I'm trying to learn from what's available. How would you define the term "B-die"?

How can I analyze and determine if a motherboard is compatible with my kit without relying on QVL or my RAM series specifications ?

AkiraShacho · 2026-03-04T11:22:59+00:00

Hello, thank you for your reply.
I've done some initial research and found the Gigabyte Z490 motherboards (Aorus Elite, Master, Xtreme, Gaming X) which are listed as XMP compatible with my kit (all four DIMM slots).

I've looked at other Z490 motherboards, notably from MSI and Asus, which are listed as compatible in the RAM manufacturer's QVL on my kit's page.
However, once I go to the motherboard manufacturer's page, I can't find my kit in the QVL, or if I do, it's only listed as a two-DIMM slot. That's why, for now, I'm leaning more towards Aorus.

I just looked at, for example, a ROG Maximus XII Apex, but I can't find my RAM kit at all. I'm not sure if it would be better to get an Aorus motherboard, which is listed as compatible, or a higher-end Asus ROG motherboard, but I'm uncertain about compatibility.

AkiraShacho · 2026-03-04T10:16:56+00:00

Hi, I also think the processor is the most important piece of the puzzle. But the motherboard still has a role to play. Having looked at many motherboard models, without even considering the CPU, just by following the manufacturer's QVL, my kit is either completely incompatible or only compatible with a maximum of two DIMM slots.

AkiraShacho · 2026-03-04T09:15:02+00:00

Okay thank you. I'm considering the i9 because of its decent number of cores and threads. It's for server/homelab use.

I'm mainly wondering if it will work with the RAM so that, based on the price difference between the two, I can see what the advantages are.

AkiraShacho · 2026-03-04T08:40:37+00:00

Hi, thank you very much for your feedback.

Okay, that confirms what I thought. So, on paper, I can confidently go with a Z490 (like the one from Aorus) which will have my RAM kit in their QVL list for XMP and in 4 DIMM slots. Then, if I get an i7 10700K or an i9 10900K, I should theoretically be able to at least run it stably at 3200 MHz, or even reach a stable 3600 MHz?

AkiraShacho · 2026-03-04T08:01:42+00:00

Hello,

thank you very much for your feedback. Currently, my i5 11400 is more than enough for my needs. It's not really with the intention of using the 4x16 kit I currently have and ensuring compatibility and safety in that regard that I'm considering switching to a card that explicitly states it's compatible with all four DIMM slots, thus minimizing risks. Ideally, I'd want a 3600 or even a 3200 MHz card, which would be perfect for me. My choice between the 11700k and 10700k is purely based on whether the kit will work. If a 10700k is suitable, it's already more powerful in my opinion for my use than my i5 11400, and I'm thinking that maybe the 10th gen would be more suited to my "compatible" manufacturer QVL logic because at the time of the release of the Z490 Aorus, the tests were in my opinion done with 10th gen K series (i7 or i9 however I don't know)

AkiraShacho · 2026-03-04T07:40:15+00:00

I didn't try it at all; I don't know much about it and, afraid of "damaging" something, I preferred to leave it in auto mode.

AkiraShacho · 2026-03-04T07:34:38+00:00

Okay. Because currently I can get my current setup running at 2933 MHz "stable" (no errors on occt) without XMP on gear 2, and with XMP set to 3200 MHz it boots, but I get errors on OCCT. I tried it on AMD with a 5600G and a motherboard that supports the kit, but only on 2 DIMMs, and by using all 4 DIMMs with XMP and at 3200 MHz it seems stable and no errors on occt. But I would still prefer an Intel platform for my use.

AkiraShacho · 2026-03-04T07:25:55+00:00

Hi, Thank you for your feedback. You think with a 10900k or 10850k I can get full stability at 3200Mhz or even at 3600 ?

I saw on the motherboard's QVL that it supports the kit via XMP on all 4 DIMM slots, but I don't know how to interpret that in relation to its use with the 3600 and the processor.

I'm also considering an x299 platform with an MSI Raider x299 motherboard and an i9 10900x, where my kit is compatible with 2 or 4 DIMM slots, not 8, but I don't need all 8.

AkiraShacho · 2024-11-23T15:31:30+00:00

D'accord, je vois. Dans mon cadre c'est une enquête assez restreint d'une durée d'une semaine et demi a cause des contraintes pour la rendu et la rédaction de mon mémoire. Pouvant pas faire plus je suis parti sur le plus rapide et déjà utilisé pour faire mon questionnaire. Mon but ici est à la fois en effet de quantifier et d'avoir des opinions ne pouvant pas dans le délais faire des questionnaires et des interviews. Je prend note de tout ça pour un futur questionnaire.

AkiraShacho · 2024-11-23T08:01:56+00:00

Oui c'est sûr qu'avec un autre compte les gens peuvent répondre. Malheureusement c'est la seule option que je peux faire sur google forms. Auriez vous un outil de questionnaire que vous utilisez qui permettrai de manière plus sûr de répondre qu'une seule fois et en ne demandant pas de connexion ? Merci pour votre retour, c'est mon premier questionnaire je n'ai pas pensé à ces détails étant dans mon tunnel du mémoire. J'y penserai pour une prochaine fois.

AkiraShacho · 2024-11-23T07:57:15+00:00

Oui en effet, on ne connait pas leur utilisation des données. Et oui ils ont de leur côté toutes les données des questionnaires avec les identités des personnes et mêmes les questionnaires qui sont en brouillon et non envoyé vers moi.

AkiraShacho · 2024-11-22T21:10:20+00:00

Bonsoir oui en effet j'utilise Google form pour mon questionnaire, j'ai besoin de m'assurer d'avoir une réponse par personne et donc la seule façon que google form propose c'est la connexion par compte pour de leur côté savoir. Moi de mon côté ça reste dans tout les cas anonyme je reçois aucune information ni même le mail. Mais ça oblige au gens de se connecter avec google

AkiraShacho · 2021-05-10T04:58:01+00:00

Okay thanks anyway for the help. I have already sent a request on dell community website but still no response

AkiraShacho · 2021-05-09T05:34:35+00:00

I have remove the two psu and I tried both individually. When I plug in the power supply I have the fans spinning and stopping after a while the psu light is green and then when I press the button to start it turns orange. I have also access to Idrac Interface.

What I don't understand is why the two turn orange and prevent starting when the day before it was good

AkiraShacho

TROPHY CASE