Is it worth getting the faster RAM for gaming?

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AlexTheTechFreak

AlexTheTechFreak

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Apr 28, 2016
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I've been doing a bit of research on this but I've seen mixed answers. Some people say the difference between 2400MHz and 3200MHz RAM is marginal when it comes to gaming so there's no point in buying the faster RAM. Others say if you can afford it then get the faster RAM because there's no reason not to. The price difference between the 2400MHz and 3200MHz is $13. With that being said, should I just go for the faster RAM because the price difference is insignificant? Or is there really no need to spend that extra $13?
 
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azaran
Latency can get a bit confusing. There are a number of good articles out there on it, but the general formula I've seen on determining if the true latency in nanoseconds is worth it for faster memory is
2000 x (CL / Speed ) = Latency in nanoseconds (ns)

CL 15, 2400mhz would have a latency value of 2000 x (15/2400) = 12.5ns
CL 16, 3200mhz would have a latency value of 2000 x (16/3200) = 10ns

Even though the 3200mhz RAM has a higher CL value, its total latency is less than the 2400mhz with a lower CL.

The CL is the first number in the RAM value listings and is usually the one the manufacture will use to list it. There are more timings and a LOT more information on the other numbers in the timings listing but the first one, CAS...
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azaran

azaran

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Feb 17, 2010
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Yes, no, kinda? It seems it really comes down to the game. This article (such as you can call a couple of paragraphs) points to an analysis that showed Fallout 4 was heavily influenced by RAM speed.
http://wccftech.com/fallout-4-performance-heavily-influenced-by-ram-speed-according-to-report/

I know in rendering programs, the faster speed can make a noticeable difference in long renders, but again its program dependent.

If it's 13 bucks, your motherboard can handle it, and it won't break your budget, then go for it. In a year, you'll never notice the difference $13 makes in your life. But if a game you play in that time gives you better performance, then it'd be worth it. I've spent more on dumber things :)
 
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sykozis

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Dec 17, 2008
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System ram makes little difference to performance in gaming, so it doesn't really justify buying faster memory. However, if the $13 price difference isn't a problem, go for the faster memory. Faster memory usually results in slightly better system response when accessing data stored in memory.
 
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Shaun o

Shaun o

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Oct 7, 2007
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It`s a bit of a tricky question,

To be honest buying faster ram only really increases or add a slight improvement to frame rates in some cases.
And it`s pretty confusing, because for example you may buy ram that runs at a faster speed.
But if you look at the cas latency or memory timings of the memory it`s self for example on 2400 and 3200 speed memory most of the time the higher the speed the higher the cas latency or memory timings are.

If the latency timings are of a higher value it negatively effects memory based on the clock speed it is running at.
Because a higher latency value is how many clock cycles the memory performs before it is refreshed or data is read from it, or writen to it Alex.

So you could have memory working at 3200Mhz, but if the cas, or latency values are high then it is slowed down by the amount of time it has to wait before it is refreshed.

Say for example 2400Mhz memory had 9-9-9-10 and 3200 Mhz memory had 12-12-12-14 every fourteenth clock its refreshed.
But every tenth clock cycle 2400 is refreshed, so it has to wait less time.

And therefore in a set time period refresh or read and write more data.

And of course depending on what you are running, having more physical memory size or capacity instead of speed is more of a plus.
To avoid any situations where the system or windows resorts to the swap file, or page filing of the Os that will greatly slow your system down far more.

I mean for example some games now, though few and far between, can require close to 16Gb for optimal playing.
And I would expect the system memory requirements for running games released in 2017 and 2018 to have optimal system memory moving to 16 Gb installed.

 
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azaran

azaran

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Feb 17, 2010
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Latency can get a bit confusing. There are a number of good articles out there on it, but the general formula I've seen on determining if the true latency in nanoseconds is worth it for faster memory is
2000 x (CL / Speed ) = Latency in nanoseconds (ns)

CL 15, 2400mhz would have a latency value of 2000 x (15/2400) = 12.5ns
CL 16, 3200mhz would have a latency value of 2000 x (16/3200) = 10ns

Even though the 3200mhz RAM has a higher CL value, its total latency is less than the 2400mhz with a lower CL.

The CL is the first number in the RAM value listings and is usually the one the manufacture will use to list it. There are more timings and a LOT more information on the other numbers in the timings listing but the first one, CAS Latency (tCL), is where people put the emphasis.
So for instance this stuff
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232174
is listed as a CL or CAS 15 since its timings are 15-15-15-35
This stuff
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232157
is listed as CL or CAS 16 since its timings are 16-18-18-38
 
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