Ya can get a good idea about RAM speeds and their effects running various programs here.....
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7364/memory-scaling-on-haswell
What I took from it was this:
- After 2400, I could not come close to making a case for purchase, not only were there diminishing returns but in many cases, performance actually decreased with increased RAM speed.
- The 'sweet spot' was around 2133 / 2400. But that I mean, the with a base price of $6.25 per GB (article used August prices) for DDR3-1333, ya can stay below $10.00 per GB up to:
DDR3-1333 CAS 7 ($9.50 per GB for 5.25 ns*)
DDR3-1600 CAS 7 ($9.38 per GB for 4.38 ns) Better buy and faster than above
DDR3-1866 CAS 8 ($9.00 per GB for 4.29 ns) Better buy and faster than above
DDR3-2133 CAS 9 ($8.75 per GB for 4.22 ns) Better buy and faster than above
DDR3-2400 CAS 10 ($8.63 per GB for 4.17 ns) Better buy and faster than above
For the proverbial "giggles"
DDR3-2666 CAS 11 ($18.50 per GB for 4.14 ns) Lousy buy though faster 1% than above
* CAS Speed x 1000 = nano seconds
So .....incrementally
DDR3-1333 CAS 9 is the cheapest at $6.25 per GB
DDR3-1600 CAS 9 is $6.75 per GB (20% faster than above for 8% more money)
DDR3-1866 CAS 8 is $9.00 per GB (31% faster than above for 33% more money)
DDR3-2133 CAS 9 is $8.75 per GB (2% faster than above for 3% less money)
DDR3-2400 CAS 10 is $8.63 per GB (1% faster than above for 1% less money)
DDR3-2666 CAS 11 is $18.50 per GB (1% faster than above for 214% more money)
So what stands out overall is that DDR3-2400 CAS 10, while 38% more expensive than the DDR3-1333 CAS 9, it's also "theoretically" 62% faster..... Ya cost premiums using August prices, from DDR3-1600 CAS 9 to DDR3-2400 CAS 10 are tabulated below. Current post Hynix fire prices (projected at 10-20%) from newegg also listed).
+$19.00 for 8GB ($69) ..... current newegg prices are $85 - $110
+$38.00 for 16 GB ($138) ..... current newegg prices are $145 - $180
+$76.00 for 32 GB ($276) ..... current newegg prices are $350 - $360
Of the DDR3-2400's currently available, some of the best specs are offered by the Mushkin Redlines at 10-12-12-28 ...... most everyone else is at 10-12-12-31
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/memory-scaling-gaming-haswell-richland,3593-18.html
The 16GB category seems to have taken the smallest hit from the fire (23%). But when we look at current DDR3-1333 CAS 9, we see prices from $130 - - $200, the post fire price increase is 30% for the cheapest kit. So if anything, moving up makes more sense now, assuming ya not budget limited. BTW, a little web searching will find pricing lower than newegg. Personally going from $130 for DDR3-1333 to DDR3-2400 for $145 is a "no brainer".
If ya thinking that's for off brands ...... still the same 38% price increase as we saw back before fire.
Mushkin $130 for 16GB of DDR3-1333; $180 for 16GB of DDR3-2400 (10-12-12-28)
G.Skill $135 for 16GB of DDR3-1333; $180 for 16GB of DDR3-2400 (10-12-12-31)
Now that doesn't mean your system will be 62% faster as few applications are bottlenecked by RAM. examine individual benchmarks to see whether the investment works for you. If ya seeing a 3% increase in game fps or 5% in minimum fps, and that's your primary focus, then the 38% price increase may seem silly.
However keep in mind comparing speed increase with RAM cost increase is a fool's errand. When you see a performance increase from RAM, it's your whole system that goes faster. That $50 price increase is only:
3.1% on an $800 system w/ 8GB
2.1% on a $1200 system w/ 8GB
3.1% on a $1600 system w/ 16GB
2.5% on a $2,000 system w/ 16GB
Hope that helps
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