I'm about to upgrade my Ram/CPU and saw there's a lot of research about it..
I'm about to upgrade my Ram/CPU and saw there's a lot of research about it..
I'm currently using a Ryzen 3700X with an F4-3200C16-8GTZR RAM (2X8) that features 16-18-18-38 timing. The issue is that I'm struggling to understand RAM timing specifications and their significance. I'm unsure if it's too low, especially since my next CPU will be the 9 5900X and I've heard recommendations for a compatible RAM kit (like F4-3600C14D-32GTZN with timing 14-15-15-35). My main concern is whether these numbers make sense for gaming performance. It's important to me that I get your advice on this. *Just to be clear, my usage is mostly for gaming.*
The upgrade seems unnecessary, what graphics card are you running? Memory usage can be kept minimal, there isn’t much room for further reduction.
You can adjust RAM configurations, but choosing 3200 versus 3600 doesn’t really add much value unless you need a few extra frames. DDR5 offers better benefits even though it isn’t supported yet. Currently, the main upgrade is the CPU change; if you’re serious about overclocking, feel free to experiment. The timing values relate to how much data can be read from or written to the memory, which seems to cover all cases. Then there’s the speed range and CL, plus whether the RAM supports OC features with tighter settings.
Sure thing! It sounds like you're weighing options due to budget and performance concerns. You're considering whether an upgrade would be worthwhile or if sticking with your current setup makes sense. Also, it seems you mentioned a GPU model—your ASUS Strix RTX 2060 Super. Let me know if you'd like help comparing options!
Frequency indicates the number of ticks per second, while timings refer to the number of ticks required for each task. Essentially, smaller timings usually correlate with improved performance, though exceptions exist such as command rate and tREFI, which depend on the specific context.
They wouldn't work unless you're using a standard desktop with regular DDR4 RAM. ECC models are slower due to error correction, and laptop RAM tends to be shorter. If you're curious, check benchmarks from others who have tested them. Mixing different types can cause issues or reduce performance.
Your question seems unclear since there isn't actually a concept of RAM timing. What you're referring to is speed, which is listed on the packaging and specifications like 2600mhz, 3200mhz, 4000mhz, etc. Essentially, all RAM works with any CPU available because it's the first memory your computer uses, leaving temporary files that vanish when you power down. So, in short: yes, they should work together. Two points to note—two. Whether it's better than older models is hard to judge due to factors like cost, manufacturer, and performance, but generally, newer RAM tends to be superior overall.
Yes there is. RAM is not controlled by speed alone, there's also settings that control the delay before certain actions are executed. The listed timings on RAM kits (in format ##-##-##-##, e.g. 14-14-14-31) are CL, T RCD , T RP , T RAS . CL, or CAS latency is the cycles between the CPU issuing a command to the RAM and the RAM returning the data, I believe. For this one, lower is better (CL14 > CL16). T RCD , or Row Address to Column Address Delay, is the delay between opening a RAM row and a RAM column. RAM is laid out in a grid, similar to a coordinate plane, and if you know the coordinates for a bit of data (usually in hex form, like 0x003482) then you can access that data and read from it. T RP , or Row Precharge Time, is the delay between the CPU issuing a "precharge command" and that command reaching the RAM chips. A precharge command, from my understanding, is the CPU telling the RAM "Get ready, I'm gonna need some data from this area*. T RAS , or Row Active Time is the delay between issuing a "row active command", or getting a row ready to read, and a "precharge command". There's also a fifth timing, T RC , which isn't listed on RAM kits. It should be greater than or equal to T RAS + T RP , and is the delay between issuing two "row active" commands on the same RAM bank. What are banks of RAM? RAM banks are kinda like dual channel. Here's an analogy. Single channel RAM with 1 RAM bank is the CPU having one hand to access 1 RAM bookshelf. It can look at one book, or bit at a time. Dual channel RAM with 1 RAM bank is the CPU having one hand to access 1 RAM bookshelf, but it can read two books from that shelf at the same time. Single channel RAM with 2 RAM banks is the CPU having two hands to access 1 RAM bookshelf. It can also read two books, giving it a total of 2 books at the same time. Dual channel RAM with 2 RAM banks is the CPU having two hands to access 2 RAM bookshelves. It can read two books from each shelf, giving it a total of 4 books to read at a time.
The performance improves by about twice as much when moving from 3700X to 5900X for multicore tasks, thanks to more cores and better clock and IPC gains. This boost isn't just for gaming; it really helps with any productive work.