Gaming issues caused by CL (CLOCK SPEED) on RAM module latency.
Gaming issues caused by CL (CLOCK SPEED) on RAM module latency.
Hey everyone. I recently purchased a laptop (in February) and have been experiencing stuttering in my games. The system specs are solid: an AMD R7 5800H (8 cores, 16 threads), 16GB of 3200MHz CL22 RAM from Samsung, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Max-Q (130W) GPU, and a new 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD from Samsung. After noticing the issue, I ran all my benchmarks again—before even starting any game—to check for any underlying problems. Surprisingly, nothing unusual appeared in the logs or on the screen during testing. The benchmark programs, like Cinebench R23, performed well. Temperatures stayed stable around 67°C CPU and 65°C GPU.
I tried reinstalling drivers, updating to Windows 11, then downgrading to Windows 10—no improvement. Eventually, I went back to Windows 11 but used a more methodical approach. I lowered game settings drastically and adjusted Nvidia control panel settings to reduce GPU load. Still, stuttering persisted. I focused on graphics settings, checking textures, shadows, upscaling, and even PCIe performance. I wasn’t seeing bandwidth or PCIe issues. My CPU remained calm with high FPS, and it didn’t seem to affect performance regardless of settings.
Then I noticed a pattern: stuttering occurred more often when the game environment changed—like when loading new chunks. This led me to suspect my RAM. Since it holds map data, I tested games that varied in CPU and RAM demands, such as CSGO and Control, and others like Rainbow Six Siege. The results supported my theory: stuttering was more frequent in CPU- and RAM-intensive games.
Now I’m wondering—could my RAM’s speed or capacity be the root cause? Thanks for your time!
Neither of those applications pays any attention to memory. Think of them as Time Spy instead. Regarding slow memory leading to stuttering, it’s possible. The main issue is often you can’t boost RAM speed on laptops. If you open the BIOS and tweak the settings, try primary timings around 16-18-18-38 and voltage at 1.35V. This should improve performance across most devices. You might also encounter an x16 organized RAM setup that reduces speed noticeably. Still, it’s more likely your processor is throttling because a 3200MHz CL22 chip isn’t ideal—though not bad, I’ve seen worse.
Hey, thanks for the response. I plan to try Time Spy. Appreciate the help. Regarding timing adjustments, my laptop's BIOS doesn't allow much flexibility, but XMP is available since I verified the speeds are around 3200. For X16 organized RAM, there’s nothing further I can do unless you clarify. How would you know if it’s using dual channel mode? That means I’m running in dual channel with two 8GB sticks of the same RAM.
The JEDEC standard for 3200MHz applies to this chip, meaning XMP isn't required unless you change the RAM. Otherwise, just stick with the original RAM.
Looking for suggestions on RAM upgrades? I recommend checking popular European retailers like MediaMarkt, Saturn, or Amazon.de. Popular models include Corsair Vengeance, G.Skill Ripjaws V, or Kingston Memory Blade. Let me know if you need more details!
Could you send the exact laptop model number? I just want to double check to see whether it needs DDR4 or DDR4L and whether it has any soldered memory.