Does DDR4 Ram Speed Matter: RAM (Random Access Memory) is one of the most significant components found in a computer. The quantity of RAM in your computer should at least meet a minimum need, which is determined by the tasks you want to perform on it. RAM is more than its capacity; frequency and latency are also essential aspects to consider.
The official highest clock speed for DDR4 was 3200MHz, whereas the starting speed for DDR5 is 4800MHz.
This represents an increase of 50% over DDR4’s maximum clock speed. Although there was a large increase in latency, DDR5 is still reported to be faster than DDR4, even though it jumped from CL14 on most 3200MHz DDR4 kits to CL40 on most 4800MHz DDR5 kits.
So, does DDR4 RAM speed matter? The simple response to that question is, “it depends.”
What makes RAM fast?
Clock speed or frequency increases performance. Frequency improves memory bandwidth or data transfer rate. Overclocking RAM is easy, like overclocking CPUs or GPUs.
Lower latency decreases CPU-RAM communication time but does not increase data transmission per second. Most users won’t bother manually lowering latency because it’s harder than raising frequency. XMP will set your RAM to the highest frequency and lowest latency.
Frequency and delay typically trade-off. Frequency and delay are tougher to change. This is another reason overclocking by raising frequency alone is preferable to boosting frequency and latency.
Memory channels depend on your CPU and RAM, not settings. Most motherboards and processors have two memory channels. Dual-channel mode runs two or four RAM sticks. Single-channel RAM has a significant memory bandwidth cost.
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How does faster RAM boost PC performance?
CPUs need masses of fast-transferable data. CPUs have their high-speed cache memory, but it’s limited (even the Ryzen 7 5800X3D only has 96 MB of shared cache). RAM becomes the bottleneck when the CPU requests data. Therefore, quicker RAM should improve performance.
However, not all software is the same, and not all apps and games depend on RAM similarly. Faster RAM depends on how you use your PC.
Standards for Measuring Performance
How much performance do you gain by switching to dual-channel RAM, raising frequency, or lowering latency? We’ll stick to popular apps and games because it’s hard to answer.
Because everyone utilises two RAM sticks without hesitation, few people or publications compare single-channel to dual-channel memory.
This is crucial for laptops because many run on single-channel memory (which is horrible) or have half the memory soldered to the board and the other half in a RAM slot. Ultrabook Review tested the Asus Zephyrus G14 to determine how awful single-channel RAM was.
Switching from dual- to single-channel RAM affected most applications, from synthetic benchmarks to gaming.
The gaming benchmarks are fascinating because the G14’s 2060 Max-Q should be the limiting factor. Shadow of the Tomb Raider performance drops by approximately 20%. If this were a faster laptop or desktop that could run games at a higher framerate, the single- and dual-channel RAM benchmarks would differ more.
Techspot ran many applications and games on Intel’s 12th-gen Alder Lake CPUs to test DDR4 and DDR5 memory frequency and latency. Frequency and delay rarely matter. Adobe Photoshop 2022 showed minimal performance changes with slower and faster RAM. The fastest 6200MHz DDR5 memory was barely quicker than the slowest 2400MHz DDR4 in most games. Cyberpunk 2077 and Hitman 3 showed 29% and 15% more fps with 6200MHz RAM.
A fast RAM kit doesn’t always improve performance, but it’s still a smart idea. At the time of writing, a 16GB kit of DDR4 2400MHz RAM costs about the same as a 16GB kit of 3600MHz RAM. Therefore, investing a few bucks more for the 3600MHz is worth it.
DDR5 memory costs roughly twice as much as DDR4, and it’s not worth it on Alder Lake. Alder Lake users should be good with DDR4, but Ryzen 7000 and Raptor Lake users may want DDR5.
Dual-channel mode is the biggest memory performance factor. It boosts application and gaming performance and is easy to enable (two or four RAM sticks). Frequency and delay matter sometimes but rarely.
Where the RAM Speed Comes Into Play
| Friendly Name | Industry Name | Peak Transfer Rate | Date Transfer/Second (in Millions) |
| DDR4-2400 | PC4-21300 | 21300-MB/s | 2666 |
| DDR4-2933 | PC4-23400 | 23400-MB/s | 2933 |
| DDR4-3000 | PC4-24000 | 24000-MB/s | 3000 |
| DDR4-3200 | PC4-25600 | 25600-MB/s | 3200 |
| DDR4-3600 | PC4-28800 | 28800-MB/s | 3600 |
| DDR4-4000 | PC4-32000 | 32000-MB/s | 4000 |
| DDR4-4400 | PC4-35200 | 35200-MB/s | 4400 |
What are the exceptions to RAM capacity over speed? RAM speed is less significant than motherboard compatibility.
RAM speeds vary with motherboard generations. 3200 MHz RAM is wasted on motherboards that only support 3000 MHz. It will work; however, your RAM will operate at the motherboard maximum rather than the RAM maximum.
ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming motherboard RAM compatibility:
The motherboard supports any DDR$ RAM at those frequencies. Without overclocking, speeds only reach 2666 MHz. Consider motherboard specs before buying RAM and speed. If you don’t overclock or push your machine, 4000 MHz RAM for that board is overkill.
Matched Pairs
When mixing RAM sticks, ensure your motherboard can use them and watch the speed. You can mix RAM modules, but most don’t. If so, acquire the same-speed RAM. If not, RAM will slow down.
What If I Get DDR5?
DDR4 to DDR5 is imminent. RAM speeds will increase as before. RAM speed won’t affect games much. In most circumstances, you’ll get a few more FPS, but gaming requires greater CPU and GPU power. You must also ensure your motherboard supports DDR5.
When DDR5 becomes affordable, it will be a wonderful update to your system that will future-proof it for a few years, but it will still be about the number of gigabytes of RAM, not the speed.
FAQs
What is a good RAM speed for DDR4?
DDR4 RAM speeds of 3,200MHz for Intel chips and 3,600MHz for AMD’s newest chips are ideal. Your CPU should have enough bandwidth for games and work.
Does RAM speed make a difference?
Is there that big of a difference in performance between different RAM speeds? Yes, it does. However, it does not improve performance in the same manner for every user.
Do RAM speeds matter for gaming?
When it comes to gaming, having RAM that can run at fast rates has several advantages. Even though it won’t have as significant of an impact as upgrading the processor or graphics card, increasing the RAM speed can enhance the game’s overall performance and frame rate.
Is DDR4 3200MHz fast?
Is RAM with a speed of 3200 MHz considered to be rather fast in 2021? Nope. Even the value RAM already operates at 3200 MHz, although it has a larger latency.
Can I install 3200mhz RAM in a 2666mhz motherboard?
Yes, RAM with a speed of 32 MHz will function normally on motherboards that only allow a speed of 2666 MHz.
What happens if your RAM is too fast?
Suppose you attempt to install and use a RAM module that operates at a speed that is faster than what the CPU and the motherboard can support. In that case, it may result in the unstable performance of the system and possibly problems booting the computer.
Is it better to buy more RAM or faster RAM?
Faster RAM usually improves performance. More ram doesn’t always mean faster performance—the appropriate sort of ram can make all the difference! Faster RAM may improve bandwidth or latency.
Is DDR4 4000 worth it?
After our Intel testing, 4000MHz or greater RAM only makes sense for high-end systems like a Ryzen 9 3950X or Core i9 10900K with an RTX 2080 Ti, where consumer PC gaming is at its limit. For the love of God, set your RAM’s XMP speeds in the BIOS.
Can I use DDR4 2666 instead of 3200?
Benchmarks aside, 2666MHz and 3200MHz RAM are equivalent for gaming and regular use. RAM-intensive programs and tasks benefit from 3200 RAM’s quicker memory.
Is DDR4 better than DDR5?
DDR4 is cheaper and performs well. DDR5 RAM’s improved speed and capacity will benefit modern software and games. You’ll need DDR5 afterward.
