Yes, quicker memory would likely boost system responsiveness and make it feel more responsive.
Yes, quicker memory would likely boost system responsiveness and make it feel more responsive.
I focus more on gaming speed than raw performance, as bottlenecks usually come from the GPU at higher resolutions. I'm curious if quicker memory with tighter timing would improve overall responsiveness during regular tasks—like opening apps and windows. For instance, switching from 3000MHz CL18 to 3600MHz CL16 on a 3900x setup could make a difference. I've received mixed feedback from several sources so far. Thanks ahead!
Can you share the specs of your system? Also the type of work you do. I don't think the memory speed is going to make that much of a difference, the amount (if don't have enough) could do a difference, but mostly where do you have your OS installed (NVMe > SSD > HDD) and programs.
In tests, the effect is clear; in everyday use, the change will be almost imperceptible.
I have 3900x OS running on a WD750 NVMe 2x8GB 2933MHz CL18. I think GTX 1080 is probably not a big factor for me. Outside of games, it's just everyday use, though I enjoy multitasking a lot. I’m thinking about upgrading to an RTX 3080 if possible. I’m reaching out because I know my RAM is likely one of the slowest parts of my setup and it limits how much my CPU can perform. Since this was the last thing I considered when expanding my build gradually, I’m not sure if it would really help. For now, I’m wondering if CL16-16-16-36 offers a noticeable improvement over 16-19-19-39—it’s just a small difference at this point. It’s been a lot to consider with RAM specs. Thanks for the feedback so far!
Technically increasing the RAM speed will cause a slight improvement, though it won't be obvious. When comparing speeds to timings, the outcome depends heavily on the context—Ryzen favors faster memory, but if that leads to timing problems, issues can arise. Generally, higher speeds paired with tighter timings are advantageous, but balancing both is essential. Personally, moving from 2400MHz to 3000MHz (maintaining similar timings) didn't show a significant change, except in games where I experienced fewer FPS drops during CPU-heavy situations.
Only the benchmarks are noticeable, not the visuals. The SSD upgrade stands out the most.
At 2933 cl18 you gain an improvement, roughly a 10% shift to cl16 3600.
It runs quite slowly; if the RAM is functioning properly, I wouldn’t consider replacing it.