RAM speeds for AMD - is it worth it?

[fattybobbyjones]

Hey so i'm from New Zealand and I'm upgrading my PC. In terms of ram is 2666Mhz much different than 3000Mhz. My CPU is Ryzen 2600 and I know ryzen benifits off faster speeds, I just need to know if it's worth the increase in price. In my country the ram at 2666 costs $152 and the 3000mhz costs $169. I'm on a tight budget so does the different in performance between these two RAM sticks warrant the price difference. I just want to know if it's really worth the money, because it is really expensive. Thanks alot.

 

[richiestang_78]

The first gen Ryzen benefitted much more from it then the 2nd

 

[need4speeds]

It's way more complicated than that because usually the faster the ram MHZ the higher the Latency and the slower the memory timings are to get to that higher speed. So 2666 CL 14 is likely faster than 3000 CL 20. But you can get 3000 CL16 which is faster than 2666 CL 14 memory.

For the most part if your not using a IGP like with the APU's, since the discrete video card has it's own much faster memory you only really need a 4gb + 4gb 8gb total kit. A IGP eats up some memory so they usually need a 8 + 8Gb 16gb kit. Having 16gb is nice but almost every game out now will run just fine with 8gb, and most even on 4gb.

-So if your looking to chop some cash off, look at some 4x4gb kits instead of the larger 8x8gb kits.
If the cost savings is not much by dropping to 8gb, then stick with 16gb kits.

 

[need4speeds]

It's $17, so i doubt with a discrete video card like your using that has it's own speedy memory that for gaming it will matter more than 1 or 2 fps.

 

[fattybobbyjones]

It's $17, so i doubt with a discrete video card like your using that has it's own speedy memory that for gaming it will matter more than 1 or 2 fps.

Okay I kinda understood what you said... lol

Just so you know I was planning to get 8GB of ram. Here in New Zealand they cost about the same as US 16GB. It's ridiculous I know. To be specific I was looking at both these RAM: 2666 and 3000. Could you just tell me what YOU think is better, if you were to choose , because they are probably the only options I'm going to consider because the other RAM are so expensive here.

3000MHz: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820215178
2666MHz: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233826

Also these websites show that they're the same price, but here in NZ they differ by like $20.

 

[need4speeds]

They have the same timings so it's down to speed. But the ADATA is 1.35Volts leaving little room for extra voltage for overclocking while the Corsair is 1.2 volts so that leaves some room for extra voltage and overclocking. So ADATA put fancy heat spreaders on them and cranked the speed and voltage up on thier 2666 sticks and now they become 3000mhz ones.

My personal experience is that Corsair are usually good when it comes to overclocking.

I am sure 1.25volt or 1.30 volts and the Corsair sticks will easily do 3000mhz with the 2666 timings. Likely you can just copy the corsair's 3000 mhz version's settings.

This is common, my Kingston ddr3 1600 sticks have a close 1833mhz model, i simply went with the 1833 voltage and they work at that speed with the 1600 timings.

 

[need4speeds]

It looks like 1.35volts and 3000 is confirmed. (I am sure 1.30volts is enough, corsair is just setting them at a voltage that makes sure they are error free since they can't test them on every board and system.)

Corsair went all the way to 3600 with these sticks but they resorted to putting a custom fan on them. It seems like 3000 a good compromise.

Of course just like cpu's , memory sticks are Binned so you will have to do a memory test or benchmark to confirm they are error free.

 

[fattybobbyjones]

It looks like 1.35volts and 3000 is confirmed. (I am sure 1.30volts is enough, corsair is just setting them at a voltage that makes sure they are error free since they can't test them on every board and system.)

Corsair went all the way to 3600 with these sticks but they resorted to putting a custom fan on them. It seems like 3000 a good compromise.

Of course just like cpu's , memory sticks are Binned so you will have to do a memory test or benchmark to confirm they are error free.

Okay so please forgive me (I am an absolute noob) but can you overclock 2666mhz ram to 3000? Specifically these corsair ones. I didn't know you could do that.

 

[fattybobbyjones]

It looks like 1.35volts and 3000 is confirmed. (I am sure 1.30volts is enough, corsair is just setting them at a voltage that makes sure they are error free since they can't test them on every board and system.)

Corsair went all the way to 3600 with these sticks but they resorted to putting a custom fan on them. It seems like 3000 a good compromise.

Of course just like cpu's , memory sticks are Binned so you will have to do a memory test or benchmark to confirm they are error free.

Okay so please forgive me (I am an absolute noob) but can you overclock 2666mhz ram to 3000? Specifically these corsair ones. I didn't know you could do that.

 

[need4speeds]

Most memory can overclock, it will vary. Higher speed memory is already "factory overclocked" so it wont go much higher. Those 3600 sticks with the extra fan wont go much higher but the lower ones likely will go faster than stock.

 

[fattybobbyjones]

Most memory can overclock, it will vary. Higher speed memory is already "factory overclocked" so it wont go much higher. Those 3600 sticks with the extra fan wont go much higher but the lower ones likely will go faster than stock.

So which ones would you reccomend? That's all I want to know haha.