Which is better, the 3200Mh CL16 or the 3600Mhz CL16?
Which is better, the 3200Mh CL16 or the 3600Mhz CL16?
I recently found myself puzzled about selecting the right dual channel setup for a 16GB (2x8Gb) configuration. I have several choices for the 3600Mhz CL16 lineup: Kingston FURY Renegade 16GB 3600 CL16 16-20-20 at 79.90€, Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 3600 CL16 16-19-19-36 at 82.90€, Mushkin Redline 16GB 3600 CL16 16-19-19-39 at 79.90€, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB 3600 CL16 16-19-19-39 at 87.90€, or a more budget option at 3200Mhz CL16: G.Skill Aegis 16GB 3200 CL16 16-18-18-38 at 53.90€, Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 3200 CL16 16-20-20-38 at 57.90€, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB 3200 CL16 16-18-18-38 at 67.95€, and TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 16 GB 3200 CL16 16-20-20-40 at 63.95€. Some comments suggest that 3600Mhz CL16 might not be reliable, and CAS isn't a big factor, so going for 3200Mhz instead. Also, most recommendations for older AM4 builds usually stick to 3200Mhz CL16. Why not opt for 3600Mhz CL16 then?
Which processor are you using? Based on the significant price variations, choosing the 3200MHz CL16 seems logical since its performance would be nearly identical to the older AM4 models. Earlier AM4 chips struggled at speeds above 3333MHz, so recommending 3200MHz instead of 3600MHz was a sensible choice to avoid issues. Today’s processors don’t have the same gap, but the improvement isn’t enough to warrant a 50% price jump for RAM that only adds about 1-2% speed.
Performance is lower, but not drastically so. CAS latency is expressed in clock cycles; thus, even with the same number, the 3600MT/s model will be quicker because its clock runs faster. CAS latency isn't a huge factor, but other timing specs (like tRCD) do impact overall speed, and typically the main timing improvements also enhance frequency better. The higher clocked version usually offers better memory bandwidth, making it the quicker option. Based on recent recommendations for R5 5600 builds over the last six months, 3600MT/s units don’t show significant gains—they’re only slight improvements. If you're targeting a 5600, you're aiming to maximize value, so these higher-end kits are priced too high. For Intel systems, the trend is similar; saving on DDR4 versus DDR5 can help, but 3600T/s CL16 units are often priced like many decent DDR5 options. It’s essentially a trade-off between cost and performance. The 3600C16 models sit in an awkward spot where extra spending rarely pays off for budget builds, yet they’re still more expensive than many solid alternatives. For mid-range to high-end setups, it makes sense to opt for the most affordable CL16 options—like the G.Skill Aegis—since there’s little point in paying more unless you need top speed.
CPU will be a Ryzen 5600 and possibly in the next 2-3 years the 5800X3D.
Thank you for your clarification. I now see the situation differently. The performance gain won't be significant, so spending extra on a 3600Mhz chip isn't worth it. A small increase in FPS won't justify the additional cost. I'll go with a 3200Mhz model instead. Appreciate your help!