Consider moving up to a 32GB option and evaluate the benefits of faster speeds and better performance.
Consider moving up to a 32GB option and evaluate the benefits of faster speeds and better performance.
You're considering a memory upgrade for your 9700KF system. You have two RAM options: 16GB (2x8GB) or 32GB (2x16GB). The current setup runs at 5.0Ghz on an EVGA Micro-ATX Z370 with only two slots. Your goal is to decide between the Hynix and Intel options, weighing cost and performance impact. You're aiming for a tighter timing kit or a jump from 3200 to 3600 MHz, and you're planning to use a 1080p monitor at 144Hz while potentially upgrading to a 3070 later. The discussion focuses on choosing between the two RAM configurations rather than the overall system budget.
In that scenario, it becomes quite challenging to provide a clear response to "is it worth it." The upgrade to 32GB isn't beneficial for pure gaming, so why not invest in a more powerful setup? If your goal is top performance within your budget, focus on the tightest clock speeds you can afford.
It's just a measurement of the CAS delay. I upgraded my 32GB 3200MHz 14-14-14-34 B-die board to 4000MHz 16-18-18-36 at 1.45V. Your results might differ, but it's a more affordable B-die option based on what I've seen, and I'd suggest choosing the lower frequency version over the 3600MHz one.
I agree this doesn't consider sub-timings; I notice the same latency for 3600 16-19-19-39 as 16-16-16-36. It's surprising how many AAA titles struggle to hit 144 FPS at 1080p high settings without my 1080 Ti (MSI Gaming X Trio). My upcoming GPU aims for 144 FPS in Ray-Traced AAA games, but only if it fits my budget. I expect the 3070 to reach that target, though we'll find out once Nvidia and AMD release their next-gen GPUs. Regarding RAM, 16GB is sufficient but not essential; I’ll upgrade from my current build instead of purchasing new RAM. Since I have only two slots, upgrading now to 32GB would be wise so I don’t need a full replacement later.