What Ram Should I Get?
What Ram Should I Get?
Hello, I was trying to determine the right RAM speed for my setup. It seems my memory performance might be limiting my frame rates, even though the rest of my system is solid. I considered Corsair 3200 or 3600 MHz options but wasn’t sure which would work best. I also looked into Steel Viper 4000 MHz RAM and saw some comparisons showing noticeable FPS improvements in certain demanding games, sometimes reaching around 40 FPS. If anyone has any suggestions on what to choose, I’d really appreciate your advice. Current specs: RTX 3080 I7-10700K, 750W PSU, 16GB 2400 MHz RAM with XMP support, Asus TUF z390 chipset.
The key factor is dual rank per channel. This applies to both AMD and Intel. Intel isn't as dependent on RAM speed because it doesn't have a FCLK like Ryzen does. Performance doesn't increase in a straight line, so exceeding 3600cl16 brings only small benefits at a much higher cost. 8GB modules usually offer single rank, making dual rank possible only with 32GB of memory. You can choose either 4x8GB or a premium 2x16GB configuration. 16GB modules are inconsistent for dual rank; only the more expensive sets reliably provide dual rank, so the best choice for most users is 4x8GB. Models with 3200cl16 and 3600cl18 are recommended, as anything lower loses value and falls into the cheapest range quickly. Overall, it's the combination of speed and timing that truly impacts RAM performance. A 3600CL16 setup is solid without the steep prices of top-tier kits, but beyond that costs rise rapidly.
I believed using two 8GB RAM modules installed together would enable dual-channel operation, which matches the current speeds I’m seeing and the channel information from hwinfo.
He's mixing up dual rank and dual channel concepts. I think it's better to keep things simple. Unless you enjoy spending hours adjusting your RAM, just pick a 3200 CL14 or 3600 CL16 setup and move on. The real-world differences in games are almost negligible, so it's not worth the effort.
Dual channel and dual rank refer to distinct concepts. Consumer CPUs feature two memory channels and two physical connections linked directly to the CPU. On four-slot motherboards, each slot is divided into two for each channel. This explains why placing RAM in the right slots is crucial. Ranks describe how the RAM module organizes its chips—either in single or dual groups depending on the chip type (non-server or non-laptop). Two ranks provide a latency benefit via clever internal organization. You should utilize both channels of your motherboard with two ranks per channel.
I was considering purchasing either the Crucial Ballistix Desktop Gaming BL2K8G36C16U4B or the Corsair CMK16GX4M2Z3600C18-PC4 model. I believe the Crucial option might be more suitable.
It seems you're likely choosing to purchase two 8GB kits at once now. It's a straightforward option that offers a solid improvement without breaking the bank.
Consider boosting your RAM's speed a bit more. Observe how far it goes. If you're not seeing a big jump in ranks per channel, the improvement will be minimal. The main impact from memory timings alone might be around 3%. A dual rank boost could reach about 10%. Overall, maximizing performance can add up to roughly 15% in certain cases.
I had my old motherboard from MSI that included a built-in feature called memorytryit, which let me reach around 3800MHz and it worked well. However, ASUS doesn’t offer the same capability. Overclocking memory feels a bit frustrating for me, which is why I haven’t tried it yet. I’m also not sure how to do it manually.