how to know what mhz ram to buy
Shopping for whatsoever piece of computer hardware can rapidly become a confusing activity, what with all the numbers and specs that y'all have to keep in heed. When it comes to RAM, speed is potentially one such entry on the spec sheet.
With speeds that unremarkably range from 2133 MHz to every bit loftier as 4800 MHz, how do you pick the right one, and does RAM speed actually matter?
That is what nosotros will primarily be taking a look at in this guide, so read on!
What Is RAM Speed?
First off, let'due south respond the virtually basic question here – what is "RAM speed"?
Well, when we say "speed," what we actually hateful here is "clock speed," just like with the CPU or the GPU. It tin can be expressed in both MHz and GHz (unremarkably the sometime), and ane Hz equates to i clock cycle per second.
Nevertheless, these are retentiveness modules nosotros're talking well-nigh, not processors, so it'southward non the same deal. RAM doesn't process data just simply transfers it betwixt components i.due east., the CPU, the GPU, the SSD, the HDD, external storage, etc.
So, essentially, RAM speed is actually bandwidth. The higher the clock speed, the more data the RAM can transfer betwixt components in a shorter period of time.
Why Does RAM Speed Matter?
Now that we have established that the RAM clock speed is essentially bandwidth, information technology becomes relatively obvious equally to why having a higher clock speed would exist a good thing. Basically, you don't want the system slowing down due to a RAM bottleneck i.e., the disability of the RAM to transfer data speedily plenty to continue upward with the other components.
That said, how exercise you lot determine the advisable RAM clock speed without the fear of underspending or overspending on RAM?
Well, the easiest way to go about it is to simply see the RAM speeds supported past the CPU and the motherboard. If the clock speed is lower than the minimum specified past the motherboard, the system could behave unpredictably – it could only consequence in subpar functioning, or it could lead to the PC refusing to kicking up altogether. In any case, coming together the motherboard's and the CPU's minimum should be the top concern when picking out a new RAM module or RAM kit.
Equally for college speeds, they tin can frequently provide a operation boost when information technology comes to professional person programs and applications that require tons of RAM, merely if we're talking about a gaming PC, then the minimum mentioned above will be the all-time and nigh cost-efficient choice. Get beyond that threshold, and any performance benefits offered past faster RAM volition remain more than or less unnoticeable in games.
CPU and RAM Speed
The two leading desktop CPU manufacturers, Intel and AMD, provide detailed specifications for all their CPUs, including RAM specifications. For example, the Intel i9-7900x CPU supports DDR4 RAM operating at 2666 MHz. This is the minimum speed that needs to be met to ensure that the CPU operates at optimal chapters, but it isn't the maximum speed that the CPU can handle.
Both the CPU and the RAM tin be overclocked, providing a noticeable overall performance boost. As nosotros have already mentioned, DDR4 RAM can reach clock speeds as high as 4800 MHz, though non anybody will want or need to become to such an extreme.
Of course, RAM performance is still limited by the CPU and the motherboard, and pushing a RAM module beyond the clock speed that it was designed to operate at (and beyond the speeds that the CPU and the motherboard tin can support) can atomic number 82 to unstable system performance and/or kick issues.
Does RAM Speed Improve Performance?
Technicalities aside, do higher RAM clock speeds better performance? Well, the answer is a disappointing "maybe."
When information technology comes to gaming, information technology mainly depends on the game i.eastward., how much RAM the game actually uses. Usually, capacity is more of import than speed when it comes to gaming, and if a game tin can indeed do good from a higher RAM clock speed, the performance increase volition come down to a handful of frames that you could easily practise without. Every bit usual, the GPU is the main component to keep an eye on if you are a gamer who wants to become the best value for their money.
That said, if you are pinching pennies, you shouldn't invest too much in RAM. Information technology will not provide a tangible performance boost, and the money that you'd be spending on it would probably be better spent on a better GPU or CPU.
Cost
As you lot have probably anticipated, a higher clock speed ways a higher price.
Every bit we accept mentioned to a higher place, RAM chapters is more important for gaming performance than RAM speed is, and then putting extra money towards faster RAM is usually non the best move since that money could instead be spent on something more essential such as the GPU, the CPU, or an SSD. The benefits of, say, a GPU with more VRAM, a CPU with more cores, or a larger SSD, are far greater than what you'd get past going with a 4266 MHz instead of a 2666 MHz RAM kit.
With that said, we recommend going with 16 GB of RAM if you're building a gaming PC in 2020, forth with whatever speed is recommended for the CPU and the motherboard that you take your eyes on. That way, you won't overspend on RAM, and y'all'll either cease upwardly having some leftover cash in your pocket, or you'll just take extra coin to spend on another component.
The Last Word
With all of the in a higher place in listen, the respond to the titular question remains credible: the best RAM speed for gaming is the minimum speed specified by the motherboard and the CPU manufacturers.
Granted, you can always get beyond the specified minimum, but the benefits are unlikely to exist noticeable if gaming is your primary concern.
Source: https://www.gamingscan.com/what-ram-speed-do-i-need/
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