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DDR3 1333 CL9 vs. DDR3 1600 CL7: How much faster?

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  • DDR3
  • Memory
Last response: in Memory
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September 13, 2014 5:34:40 AM

I am putting together a new build and I have a questions regarding the speed of the memory.
I have the option of installing a 16GB kit of 1333 CL9 low profile or a 16GB kit of 1600 CL7.

Now Obviously the CL7 kit will be faster but I am trying to get a measure of how much faster. The 1333 kit is considerably cheaper and the low profile will allow me to use the cooling layout configuration I want. So that is preferable. However if the CL7 kit is considerably faster then I will consider it but if the difference will amount to only 5-10% then I will probably save my money and get the slower kit.

Assuming Identical builds, does anyone know how much of a performance difference these two kits represent?

EDIT: I expect the workload of this workstation to be general in nature, lots of multi tasking between applications, Photoshop, audio/video editing, hosting webinars ect...

More about : ddr3 1333 cl9 ddr3 1600 cl7 faster

September 13, 2014 5:41:10 AM

The 1600 kit will be faster, but only in benchmarks. You might notice a boost of about 1-2 FPS in gaming, but that's it. If you're using the Hyper 212 EVO or anything that uses fan clips, though, go for the 1600 kit as you can slide the fan up a bit
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a b } Memory
September 13, 2014 5:43:07 AM

For editing,the higher the speed,the better.
Try and find 1866 CL9 RAM,that would be the best for editing.
If you can't however,then 1600 MHz and CL7.
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September 13, 2014 5:51:30 AM

@Zeyuanfu: I am indeed using the 212EVO and I can make either kit fit but my preferred layout is to have the cooler in updraft configuration with a pair of top mounted exhausts right above it. however this configuration places the tip of the heat sink right over slot #4. If I configure the cooler for crosflow and exhaust out the back then the profile of the RAM wont matter but I really prefer updraft. If there was going to be a significant performance increase in using the high profile CL7 then I would have gone with it but for a boost that can only be noticed in benchmarks, I will probably stick with the 1333.
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September 13, 2014 5:53:15 AM

@Lukaboki: The Memory controller of the chip and the motherboard are set to a maximum of 1600hhz and the client has made it clear that she wants no overclocking.
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a b } Memory
September 13, 2014 5:54:11 AM

Oh,then ok.
I would go for 1333 MHz and CL9. :) 
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September 13, 2014 6:26:03 AM

Right... If the RAM budget is high enough to afford 1600/7, why not 1333/8 or 1333/7?
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September 13, 2014 6:41:00 AM

I havent seen any 1333/7 kits. I am in the US, and I prefer Newegg if you have seen some there, please let me know :) 
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September 13, 2014 7:02:02 AM

What's your budget for RAM?
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September 13, 2014 7:20:53 AM

I can swing around $170 for the kit which will get me some nice CL7 G.Skill trident X but since I am building this for a client, every penny I spend is a penny I dont make. At the same time I want to give her the best system possible so that is why I was concerned with how much of a boost it represents. If the difference between the 1600 CL7 and 1333 CL9 is not noticeable then there is no point shelling out the extra cash if she is never going to see the benefits.
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September 13, 2014 7:24:53 AM

Meh, there's virtually (almost) no difference. Go 1066 if you'd like.
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a c 2209 } Memory
September 14, 2014 6:44:52 PM

What is the rig for?
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September 14, 2014 7:44:33 PM

Mostly Photoshop, audio editing, some rendering, hosting webinars. some statistical programs I think.
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a c 2209 } Memory
September 14, 2014 7:50:05 PM

For those types apps I would want fast DRAM and go to the 1600/7 or even 8 - what mobo and CPU
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September 14, 2014 8:17:36 PM

Right now I have a Gigabyte H97 Gaming 3 Motherboard and a XeonE3-1230v3. I was thinking about using an i5 but she told me she wants an i7 so I figured an E3 1230 was a nice compromise considering she has no plans to overclock.
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a c 2209 } Memory
September 14, 2014 8:28:24 PM

Yep, I'd go the 1600 the extra speed and bandwidth will make them happier
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a b } Memory
September 15, 2014 4:10:49 AM

SpongeBob agrees with Tradesman1,1600 MHz with CL7/CL8.
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September 15, 2014 5:38:17 AM

is there anyway to know how much of a performance boost she could expect? I am all for giving her high quality parts but I would rather not bite into my budget if the upgrade would make no noticeable difference.
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a b } Memory
September 15, 2014 8:10:25 AM

RAM speeds really don't matter.To be honest,1333 MHz RAM isn't different than 2400 MHz RAM.CL or CAS Latency is the key to having fast RAM.The lower the CL,the faster the RAM will be.So try and find 1600/7 RAM,that would be the best.
These ones are great if you can find them:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f31600c7d16g...
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a c 2209 } Memory
September 15, 2014 11:17:21 AM

The wider bandwidth and faster CL will show a performance increase in the the things it will be used for, as opposed to strictly gaming where DRAM is used basically as a data conduit
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September 15, 2014 11:29:17 AM

Well she doesnt do much gaming. most of what she will be doing is multi tasking between different programs. like of number crunching I assume and sound editing. lots of web apps.

I will mull it over and decide if its worth the extra bit of coin.
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a c 2209 } Memory
September 15, 2014 11:30:40 AM

Should be to her, those are where faster DRAM excels
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September 15, 2014 2:28:21 PM

Check my post? It kinda has the link to one of, if not THE cheapest 1600/7 RAM on Newegg.
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September 15, 2014 4:44:17 PM

yeah thanks for that man :) 

I actually just spoke to her today and she changed her order, now she wants 32GB. I told her she wouldn't really need more then 16 but she wants to future proof. Early on I had cautioned her about mixing and matching RAM sticks so she doesn't like the idea only only having 16 if the board holds 32. She wants to max it out so that she can be sure its all compatible.

That being said I found a 32GB kit of 1333 CL9 low profile for $299 (pretty much the same sticks I was looking at for 16, just a 4 stick kit)
And I saw a 32Gb kit of 1600 CL7 for $329 but like the other ones, its not low profile so I wont be able to fit the cooler the way I want.
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September 17, 2014 3:25:19 PM

What brand is it?
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September 17, 2014 6:53:35 PM

Both kits are G.skill. the 1333 sticks are Areies and the 1600 kit is a Trident X.
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September 18, 2014 2:48:39 PM

Yeah, the Ares are good, but make sure there are plenty of good reviews (I'm sure there are) to be safe.
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a c 2209 } Memory
September 18, 2014 2:55:21 PM

Both Ares and Tridents are good sticks, the Tri's are stronger, more OC headroom
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September 18, 2014 2:57:19 PM

I wouldn't think OP's client would OC:) 
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a c 2209 } Memory
September 18, 2014 5:00:24 PM

Just pointing out that they are stronger sticks, so if prices are are anywhere close, stronger sticks would be preferred
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September 19, 2014 5:07:05 PM

Do the Tridents use better ICs or something?
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a c 2209 } Memory
September 19, 2014 5:17:05 PM

Yes, and binned very well
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September 19, 2014 5:23:27 PM

How do they differ from, say Ripjaws X or Snipers?
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a c 2209 } Memory
September 19, 2014 5:29:18 PM

Near as I have found the Tri X use Hynix chips, and from a design standpoint they tend to bin them higher, i.e. if generally a chip is initially binned for say 1866 sticks they use them in 1600/7 sticks
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September 19, 2014 5:32:36 PM

Aren't Hynix modules generally more expensive? If yes, how does G.SKILL keep the costs on the Tridents down?

BTW sorry if I'm a bit persistent, i've never heard stuff like this before:) 
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September 19, 2014 6:05:15 PM

its all good information. I knew the basics regarding higher frequencies and lower CL ratings but its interesting to know all the mechanics.
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a c 2209 } Memory
September 19, 2014 8:22:26 PM

Hynix are generally a little more expensive, the thing on the Trident X is they were were designed with Haswell in mindand GSkill knew it would want to have high end sticks so chips were bought in advance and they did some serious binning, they actually started releasing the bigger sets about May of 2012 up through 2400 (that's when I picked up my 32GB set of 2400/10 (had been running 32 of 2133/9 Ripjaws X. in the meantime production continued and the higher end sticks were sort of stockpiled until the release of Haswell. For quite awhile GSkill was about the only company out there that had the 2666/2800/2933 and 3000 sticks, the other companies, in playing catchup pretty much followed the basic timings to freq 'standards' that GSkill had set as there were no official JEDEC standards, (JEDEC released standards (finally) for 1866 and 2133) after GSkill already had 2400 and 2666 sticks on the market
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September 20, 2014 4:33:32 AM

Ahh, okay. Thanks for the info!
One last thing, though, I heard something about the Hynix factory burning down a few years ago...
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