I don’t have personal preferences, but I can suggest options based on common needs. What features are important to you?
I don’t have personal preferences, but I can suggest options based on common needs. What features are important to you?
Considering current options, I’d lean toward DDR5-5600 for its balance of speed and stability. The 8000 series offers higher bandwidth but may demand more power and be pricier, while the 5600 provides a solid upgrade without excessive cost. Your choice depends on your system’s needs and budget.
I tried DDR5 5600MHz Cl36. It wasn't the quickest, but it wasn't the slowest either. I considered going up to 6000MHz Cl32, though I prioritized compatibility when setting up my AM5 build since memory support was unclear at launch.
If these are the only two choices, the recommended option is 5600. It functions effectively at XMP/EXPO. There are numerous factors involved, making a definitive choice difficult. What processor are you using? Which motherboard do you have? Are you considering any manual adjustments? What specifications are you targeting? What budget are you working with? Without detailed information, providing a solid recommendation is challenging. If your system uses an AMD processor, exceeding 6000 without adjustments is unlikely to succeed. For Intel systems, the chosen motherboard significantly impacts performance. With 13th generation chipsets on a six-layer board, reaching 7200MT/s is ideal, while 6400 offers just enough for XMP operation. On boards with eight or more layers and four DIMMs, speeds can climb from around 6800 to 7800. Two DIMM configurations push top speeds up to 8600MT/s, though 7200 remains a reliable baseline for XMP. Generally, performance gains slow after 6400 CL32 on Intel and 6000 CL32 on AMD, especially with larger memory sizes. Faster configurations improve results, but success depends on proper setup—overcoming obstacles might mean opting for a lower-rated unit and doing the overclocking yourself, as many 6000 CL32 kits should support DDR5 7000 or higher.
I'm running at 11400f plus b560, no need for DDR5 in here. Based on what Buildzoid (that YouTube channel) says about overclocking, keeping DDR5-8000 or higher on Intel platforms is really tough these days. The top DDR5 options that work well with 13th gen chips are probably around 6200 or higher. For Raptorlake, better performance comes from solid DDR5 support. They're also more affordable now. It's all about finding the tightest D5 setting for you. On the AMD side, you don’t have to pick between AM4 (D4) and AM5 (D5)—AM5 is great for stability, though it does push voltage limits and feels more like Intel’s 4-core era. For my needs, which are mainly gaming, I’d go with DDR5 and a 13th gen processor.
Currently I'm running a 6600mhz Hynix A-die kit boosted to 7200mhz CL32 with fine-tuned settings. The limiting part is my board, which is one of the more affordable Z790 models. Once you hit around 7200mhz (Intel and AMD typically cap at about 6400mhz), stability will likely need further tuning. I suggest using a 6400mhz Hynix A-die kit and pushing it, as Hynix dies can support 8000mhz+ with the right configuration. Reaching 8000mhz is quite challenging—it demands significant adjustments to voltages, timings, and a top-tier Z790 board plus a capable memory controller. For 7000-7200mhz, achieving stability should be more achievable.
I plan to go with a 13700K. I saw that DDR5 5600 is much more affordable compared to the 7000-series and 8000-series. After being away from it for a while, I’m unsure what to do next. My current rig is a 3960X from around 2011-12, though I’ve upgraded the GPU several times and it’s been fine so far. I’ve noticed occasional pauses in video playback but nothing that affects performance. Usually, my PC runs nonstop for weeks without issues. Overall, I’m upgrading to keep things current. Simply put, a Rippy4500 setup with just a few changes would have cost over 3k AUD, while the 7000+ RAM alone would have been about 700 AUD.
It varies based on the platform I develop. For Intel systems right now, using DDR5 is a poor investment. With AMD, you typically get 6000MHz CL30 or 6200MHz CL32; anything higher tends to hurt gaming performance and is mainly for competitive overclocking—just that. At least for now. With Zen 5 it could change, but we’ll have to monitor what comes in 2024.