Don't let RAM speed fool you! Find out what really matters: Unveiling the Real Factors Behind RAM Performance for Gaming

We often hear about the importance of RAM speed in improving game performance and computer performance in general. But is speed really everything? RAM manufacturers often focus on high speeds as a marketing tool, but the truth is that there are other, more important factors to consider. In this article, we'll reveal the truth behind RAM speed and performance , and we'll explore three things that are more important, or at least as important.

Do you remember when you upgraded your computer? Did you focus only on RAM speed? This is a mistake many people make! Upgrading RAM from DDR4 to DDR5 is a good step, but it's not always the best solution for improving performance. Let's delve deeper into this topic and discover what other factors you should consider.

Debunking the RAM Speed Myth: What Really Matters?

Processor and Graphics Card: The Foundation of Powerful Performance

When it comes to gaming performance, the central processing unit (CPU) and the graphics card (GPU) play the biggest role. They are responsible for most of the heavy computational operations and rendering graphics. The graphics card draws images, processes lighting, shadows, and visual effects, while the central processor manages the logical operations and physical calculations that make the game run smoothly. If either of these components is weak, you will encounter what is known as a "bottleneck ," which means that one component is hindering the performance of the other components, and increasing RAM speed will not solve this problem.

So, before you spend your money on super-fast DDR5 RAM, make sure you have a powerful central processor and graphics card. If you have an old processor or a weak graphics card, upgrading the RAM will not make a big difference in the frame rate (FPS) in games. In addition, if you are considering an X3D series processor such as the 5800X3D, 7800X3D, or even the 9800X3D , the large L3 cache in these processors will greatly compensate for the need for super-fast RAM.

RAM Capacity: The More, The Better?

In the world of modern gaming, RAM capacity has become more important than its speed. Huge games known as AAA games require 16 GB of RAM as a minimum to run smoothly at 1080p resolution, and often you need 1440p. Some demanding games like Black Myth: Wukong recommend 32 GB of RAM for the best experience, especially when ray tracing is enabled and the resolution is increased. So, instead of focusing on RAM speed, focus on increasing capacity to reduce the chances of stuttering and other performance issues. Larger RAM capacity also gives you room to run other programs in the background, such as screen recording programs, without affecting game performance.

Are you sure you have enough RAM? Discover the ideal amount of RAM for gaming in our detailed article.

RAM Timing (CAS Latency): The Hidden Performance Factor

Speed is not the only factor that determines RAM performance. RAM timing, known as CAS Latency (CL), plays a big role in actual performance in games. Although DDR5 RAM prices have fallen in recent years, you still need to pay more for RAM with lower CL. For example, you can find DDR5 RAM with a speed of 6000 MHz and a capacity of 32 GB at a reasonable price, but you will also find other kits with the same speed but at a higher price. The reason is that this RAM comes with a lower CL timing. Cheaper RAM often comes with CL36, while better models come with CL30 or less.

What does CL36 mean? This means that the RAM needs 36 cycles of processing cycles to access data or execute a command, making it slower than CL30 RAM and below. DDR5 RAM with a speed of 6400 MHz and CL30 is often faster than DDR5 RAM with the same speed but with CL36 timing, especially in processor-dependent games. In general, if the RAM timing is less than CL36, you don't need to worry too much about performance. But avoid buying DDR5 RAM with a high frequency but with CL40 timing, because it may be about 10% slower compared to CL36 RAM.

• ✨ The processor and graphics card are the foundation of performance in games.
• ✨ RAM capacity (16GB or 32GB) is often more important than its speed.
• ✨ RAM timing (CAS Latency) significantly affects performance.
• ✨ DDR5 RAM with CL30 timing is better than CL36 RAM.

In conclusion, RAM speed is not the only factor determining performance, especially if you have a powerful processor and graphics card. RAM capacity and timing are no less important than speed. If you are playing AAA games at 4K resolution, you may not notice a big difference when upgrading to faster RAM, as long as you are already using DDR5 memory. For example, upgrading from DDR5-6000MHz to DDR5-8000MHz may give you a slight increase in the number of frames. But if you are playing competitive games like Valorant or Counter-Strike 2 on a 1080p screen, RAM speed may be more important, especially if you have a powerful processor and graphics card. In this case, upgrading from DDR5-5600MHz to DDR5-8000MHz may give you a noticeable improvement in the number of frames.