Which DDR5 ram speed to choose?
Which DDR5 ram speed to choose?
You're planning a build with an i7 13700k and the MSI z790 tomahawk. There are differing views on the RAM speeds these models can support. The first option is the Corsair DDR5 Vengeance RGB 2x32GB 6000 CL40 at 253€, while the second is the 6400 CL32 at 259€. Considering the price gap, the latter appears to be the more affordable choice.
I aim for the top base speed rather than the maximum achievable with XMP activated. Most RAMs have a fixed speed, but they advertise higher speeds when XMP is enabled—this usually works well for many users, though it doesn’t always apply consistently. I keep XMP turned off because I play Warframe frequently, and it can cause crashes during casual gameplay when I’m just enjoying the experience.
It's tricky. Some systems have CPUs that struggle with 2x32GB at 6400 with auto tuning, so unless you're okay adjusting certain IMC parameters, I wouldn't fully rely on it. 6000 should be fine. Yes. Even if it doesn't hit XMP, lowering the frequency to 6000 with the same timing settings can still improve performance without extra cost.
It doesn't really matter much in games, I'll aim for the 259. But if you're into clock speed chasing, let's talk about RAM overclocking: welcome to the discussion!