RAM options for my build: CL14 or CL16 compatible chipsets.
RAM options for my build: CL14 or CL16 compatible chipsets.
I'm noticing many different views on this issue, so I'm trying to find some clarity for my particular configuration. Should I invest the extra money in CL14 RAM, or should I allocate it elsewhere and choose CL16 instead? My setup includes:
CPU: Ryzen 2700x
Motherboard: GIGABYTE B450M DS3H AM4
GPU: ASUS RX 5700XT ROG STRIX
I came across a recommendation suggesting CL14 would offer better performance, especially paired with this CPU. Another source advises going with CL16 and mentions compatibility tips. I also saw some discussions saying the difference might be negligible.
For my setup, if I go with CL16, what frequency should I use—3200 MHz or 3600 MHz? I've heard that exceeding 3200 MHz isn't beneficial for my CPU. What are your thoughts?
CL14 to CL16 won't stand out much. You'd benefit more from 3600Mhz, though it might be trickier on the 2700x setting. From my experience, 3600Mhz at CL16 is ideal. Lower timings help a bit, but not as much. Personally, switching from 3000Mhz to 3600Mhz gave better frames and less stutter during games.
Ryzen favors both speed and timing, which together yield optimal outcomes. Still, the 2700x tends to be sensitive to RAM, making it tricky to fine-tune unless you're comfortable with memory overclocking. In short, the gains from swapping RAM for higher speeds or better timings are likely limited to around 3-5%, so for cost-effectiveness, investing in a stronger graphics card might be more beneficial than spending on RAM.
I possess the 3600 speed Ripjaw package you mentioned; it works well with Ryzen 3000 systems. However, switching to a Samsung B-die 3200 kit for a Ryzen 2000 might be simpler and more effective. You could adjust the settings using the Ryzen DRAM Calculator once, or upgrade to Ryzen 3000 later. The 3600 kit may not boot on your Ryzen 2000 without manual speed and timing changes. Adjusting the 3200 CL14 kit should bring you to comparable or slightly improved performance when moving to Ryzen 3000, while avoiding compatibility problems with your current setup.