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RAM for Gaming

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  • Gaming
  • RAM
  • Memory
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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October 9, 2014 7:29:39 AM

Hi,
I am looking at installing a new RAM kit into my machine.

I'm using g.Skill 2x 4GB modules. They're 1333mhz.

I want to upgrade to 16GB.

I use this PC for gaming and media center.

Is 2133Mhz overkill? Is 1600mhz okay?

Any recommendations?

I don't care about the color of the heat sinks or anything.

SPECS:
AsRock Z77 Extreme 4
CPU cooler = Hyper 212 Evo/+

More about : ram gaming

a b 4 Gaming
a b } Memory
October 9, 2014 7:32:09 AM

It doesn't really matter. RAM never makes a performance difference even when you increase the clock speed of it (even on good timings). Overclocking RAM or having high speed RAM really only benefits APU setups (slightly) or affects synthetic benchmarks. Just get a second pair of the DIMMs you currently own.
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a b 4 Gaming
October 9, 2014 7:37:16 AM

cowboydude99 said:
Hi,
I am looking at installing a new RAM kit into my machine.

I'm using g.Skill 2x 4GB modules. They're 1333mhz.

I want to upgrade to 16GB.

I use this PC for gaming and media center.

Is 2133Mhz overkill? Is 1600mhz okay?

Any recommendations?

I don't care about the color of the heat sinks or anything.

SPECS:
AsRock Z77 Extreme 4
CPU cooler = Hyper 212 Evo/+


What is your processor?

RAM isn't really going to make a big difference. 1600MHz is the standard today, and anything over it and you aren't going to see much of a performance gain (except maybe with Haswell).

That said, RAM is priced very closely, you can find 2400MHz kits priced lower than many 2133MHz kits and even 1866MHz kits. If it's a good kit and your motherboard supports it, there really isn't a reason to not buy it.
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October 9, 2014 7:39:38 AM

CPU = i7 3770.

Supports:
DDR3 2800+(OC)/2400(OC)/2133(OC)/1866(OC)/1600/1333/1066
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a b } Memory
October 9, 2014 7:49:27 AM

Hello... My experiments and research have determined that ram speed amounts to about 5% of total machine performance, the amount at 8gb or above seems to be the important performance Number at this time. Your CPU is designed for 1600 stable operation, when you start to run at above that, it requires you to tune/adjust the MB settings and thus can introduce un-stable conditions... The MB has to start to compensate faster memory settings to your Slower CPU memory controller settings.
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October 9, 2014 7:50:21 AM

So basically it isn't worth running over 1.5v 1600mhz.
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a b 4 Gaming
October 9, 2014 7:55:26 AM

cowboydude99 said:
So basically it isn't worth running over 1.5v 1600mhz.


You aren't going to see much of a difference going over 1600MHz. But like I said, RAM is very close in price. A good 2400MHz kit can cost $175 while a good 1600MHz kit with good timings can cost $165. For $10 more, I would buy the 2400MHz kit.
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October 9, 2014 7:57:44 AM

The 2400 kits are CAS 11.

I don't know which is faster. High mhz w/ higher cas, or lower mhz with higher cas...
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Best solution

a b 4 Gaming
October 9, 2014 8:03:22 AM

cowboydude99 said:
The 2400 kits are CAS 11.

I don't know which is faster. High mhz w/ higher cas, or lower mhz with higher cas...


Take a look at Trident X 2400MHz Cas 10 and Trident X 1600MHz Cas 7. $175 vs $165, respectively.

AnandTech's Memory Performance Test - Ivy Bridge.

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a b } Memory
October 9, 2014 8:07:03 AM

Hello... it is True that you can buy 2400 rated ram and run it at the 1600 setting if the price is very close... A lower CAS means faster DATA flow to your CPU and is a MB BIO's changable ( OC ) setting.... and is a indicater of better Ram quality. But what is most important is getting your Ram set in your BIO's to Run at 1T vs 2T.
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October 9, 2014 8:18:11 AM

1t, 2t?

I don't know what that is...

If I won't see any increase in FPS in gaming, then I probably won't bother upgrading RAM for now. 8GB should be okay for a while.
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a b 4 Gaming
October 9, 2014 8:23:23 AM

cowboydude99 said:
1t, 2t?

I don't know what that is...

If I won't see any increase in FPS in gaming, then I probably won't bother upgrading RAM for now. 8GB should be okay for a while.


1T will be slightly faster than 2T.

You aren't going to see much of an increase. You may just want to wait until you upgrade your CPU. Once Skylake hits we should see mainstream DDR4, so you could just save the money now and buy DDR4 then.

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October 9, 2014 8:24:11 AM

Big investment in going to DDR4.
New motherboard, CPU, and RAM :) 
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a b } Memory
October 9, 2014 8:24:47 AM

Hello... it is The CR, last # you will see in your BIO's memory settings... it is basically a delay time for data to flow from and to the CPU... 1T is the least amount of delay applied to this process, my experiments have found that 1333 at 1T is faster than 1600 at 2T.
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a b 4 Gaming
October 9, 2014 8:27:22 AM

cowboydude99 said:
Big investment in going to DDR4.
New motherboard, CPU, and RAM :) 


Yep, should be fun.
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