What Speed DDR5 Should You Buy?

Summary

This video explores the impact of RAM speed and timings on system performance, focusing on the transition from DDR4 to DDR5. It explains that faster RAM benefits applications where the CPU isn't the bottleneck, such as gaming. While DDR5 6000 is the sweet spot for both AMD and Intel processors, pushing speeds beyond this can lead to diminishing returns or instability. The video highlights the importance of RAM capacity over speed for multitasking and gaming performance, emphasizing that lower latency timings may not offer significant gains unless you have specific needs. Overall, the guide helps users make informed decisions about RAM choices for different applications.

Takeaways

• 😀 RAM speed and timings matter more when the CPU isn't the bottleneck, like in tasks where the CPU is heavily loaded (e.g., video/image editing, AI, and file compression).
• 😀 Faster RAM can benefit gaming performance, but the GPU remains the most important hardware factor for gaming performance.
• 😀 DDR5 6000 is considered a sweet spot for gaming performance, offering a good balance between price and performance.
• 😀 RAM speeds are measured in mega transfers per second, and higher speeds translate to more data transferred per second, but it doesn't always mean better performance for all tasks.
• 😀 AMD recommends DDR5 6000 as the sweet spot for Ryzen 7000 and 8000 series processors. Intel doesn't have a similar official recommendation, but DDR5 6000 works well for their CPUs too.
• 😀 Going beyond DDR5 6000 can make it difficult for the memory controller to handle the increased data flow, especially with higher-speed RAM modules like 7000+ MHz.
• 😀 AMD's Infinity Fabric, which connects chiplets in Ryzen CPUs, can suffer from instability if RAM speeds are pushed too high, resulting in performance degradation.
• 😀 CPUs with 3D V-Cache benefit less from higher RAM speeds, as the extra cache compensates for slower RAM.
• 😀 Overclocking RAM beyond 6000 MHz might offer diminishing returns or even instability, depending on your silicon's quality (Silicon Lottery).
• 😀 Faster RAM is more beneficial in games that run at lower resolutions and higher frame rates (e.g., esports titles), where maximizing frames per second is the priority.
• 😀 Memory timings (latency) are important, but spending excessive money on the lowest timings may not provide a significant performance boost for most users.
• 😀 If you're on a budget, prioritizing higher RAM capacity (especially for multitasking) is a better investment than focusing solely on faster RAM.

Q & A

Why does RAM speed matter in certain applications?

RAM speed primarily matters when the CPU is not the bottleneck. In tasks where the CPU is heavily taxed, such as video/image editing, AI, and file compression, the speed of the RAM doesn't have a significant impact. However, RAM speed can still affect gaming and other tasks where the CPU is not maxed out.

What is the recommended RAM speed for DDR5 gaming?

For DDR5 gaming, a good sweet spot is DDR5 6000. It offers a balance between cost and performance compared to slower kits like DDR5 4800 and more expensive modules that go up to DDR5 8000 or higher.

What does the number in RAM speed (e.g., DDR5 6000) represent?

The number represents the RAM's rated speed in Mega Transfers per second (MT/s). Multiplying this number by eight gives you the number of megabytes of data transferred per second.

How does RAM speed affect AMD Ryzen CPUs?

AMD recommends DDR5 6000 as a sweet spot for Ryzen 7000 and 8000 series processors. Going above 6000 can strain the memory controller and lead to instability or diminishing returns, especially with AMD’s Infinity Fabric architecture, which connects chiplets in the CPU.

What is the impact of RAM speed on Intel CPUs?

Intel hasn’t explicitly recommended a specific speed for DDR5 like AMD, but DDR5 6000 is still considered a good balance for Intel's current processors, providing good performance without straining the memory controller.

Why doesn't higher DDR5 speeds necessarily improve performance?

After reaching DDR5 6000, higher speeds can lead to diminishing returns or instability, especially if the memory controller can't keep up. Higher speeds may also not yield noticeable performance gains unless the CPU and system are optimized for it.

What role does Infinity Fabric play in Ryzen CPU performance?

Infinity Fabric is a technology used in AMD’s Ryzen CPUs to connect the chiplets. When setting higher RAM speeds, the Infinity Fabric clock may drop automatically, potentially offsetting any performance gains from the faster RAM. AMD recommends keeping the Infinity Fabric speed on auto to ensure optimal performance.

Does 3D V-Cache on AMD CPUs benefit from higher RAM speeds?

No, CPUs with 3D V-Cache tend to benefit less from higher DDR5 speeds. The additional cache memory compensates for slower RAM, making higher RAM speeds less critical in these cases.

Is there any benefit to using RAM speeds above DDR5 6000?

While some users report success with RAM speeds above DDR5 6000, pushing into the 7000 range may lead to instability or diminishing returns. RAM speeds above 6000 are also not officially supported for current-gen CPUs, and success can depend on the individual silicon’s overclocking potential.

Does RAM speed impact gaming performance?

Yes, RAM speed can impact gaming performance, especially in games that run at lower resolutions and higher frame rates, such as esports titles. However, the GPU remains the most significant factor for gaming performance, and having enough RAM is more critical than speed.