How much does Ram speed matter for gaming

compboyo · 23 Oct 2011 at 20:11

I am buying 2x4gb for BF3 mainly

I see

1200
1333
1600

etc..etc...

Which should I go for and how exactly does it effect performance?

Surveyor · 23 Oct 2011 at 21:40

It doesn't matter too much and the rest of your system specs. will determine what RAM you can use.

It looks like you're talking about DDR3 so nearly everyone buys 8GB of 1600MHz these days as you can pick this up for around £40-£50.

If you want more specific advice please list your processor, motherboard, the CPU cooler you're using and what RAM you have now.

I assume you have a 64 bit operating system so you can use more than 4GB?

compboyo · 23 Oct 2011 at 22:16

Surveyor said:
It doesn't matter too much and the rest of your system specs. will determine what RAM you can use.

It looks like you're talking about DDR3 so nearly everyone buys 8GB of 1600MHz these days as you can pick this up for around £40-£50.

If you want more specific advice please list your processor, motherboard, the CPU cooler you're using and what RAM you have now.

I assume you have a 64 bit operating system so you can use more than 4GB?

i will have

win 7
2500k cpu
mobo? p67 or z86? I cant recall but socket for cpu.

Surveyor · 23 Oct 2011 at 22:35

Offers change all the time so if you're not buying yet then you'll have to see when the time comes.

At the moment:

G.Skill RipJawsX 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit £37.99 until Wednesday morning but the larger heat spreaders can interfere with the bigger CPU air coolers.

Low profile for the best compatability with big CPU coolers:

Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C10 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit £37.99, slightly looser timings but it doesn't make too much difference.

Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit £47.99

Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit £49.99

But see what's on offer at the time you order.

compboyo · 23 Oct 2011 at 22:37

what about 2133 or 1866mhz?

1600mhz is enough?

Surveyor · 23 Oct 2011 at 22:41

1600MHz is enough.

Faster RAM offers little benefit with Sandy Bridge.

Have a read:

The Best Memory for Sandy Bridge

compboyo · 23 Oct 2011 at 22:42

Surveyor said:
1600MHz is enough.

Faster RAM offers little benefit with Sandy Bridge.

Have a read:

The Best Memory for Sandy Bridge

ok and is it not better to buy timings 7-7-7-7 or 8-8-8-8 than 9-9-9-9 etc....

Surveyor · 23 Oct 2011 at 22:44

compboyo said:
ok and is it not better to buy timings 7-7-7-7 or 8-8-8-8 than 9-9-9-9 etc....

Read the article.

Faster RAM and/or lower timings only make a very small difference.

90%+ of Sandy Brdge systems on this forum with a "K" series processor will use 1600MHz C9.

compboyo · 23 Oct 2011 at 22:47

Surveyor said:
Read the article.

Faster RAM and/or lower timings only make a very small difference.

90%+ of Sandy Brdge systems on this forum with a "K" series processor will use 1600MHz C9.

ok cool.

compboyo · 24 Oct 2011 at 03:00

Surveyor said:
1600MHz is enough.

Faster RAM offers little benefit with Sandy Bridge.

Have a read:

The Best Memory for Sandy Bridge

if I buy 1333 will i be losing a lot in performance or not?

nikeair94 · 24 Oct 2011 at 03:45

compboyo said:
if I buy 1333 will i be losing a lot in performance or not?

I would also like to know this. Loads of friends cringe when I put a 1333 in my mockup build with a 2500k sandybridge i5.

(I am a noob when it comes to PCs)

Surveyor · 24 Oct 2011 at 08:16

compboyo said:
if I buy 1333 will i be losing a lot in performance or not?

nikeair94 said:
I would also like to know this. Loads of friends cringe when I put a 1333 in my mockup build with a 2500k sandybridge i5.

(I am a noob when it comes to PCs)

Read the article I linked in post #6.

There's little difference between 1333MHz and 1600MHz in gaming and a small hit in some other tasks.

1600MHz is the "sweet spot" for price/performance and as 1333MHz and 1600MHz cost virtually the same, at least at OcUK, why wouldn't you get the 1600MHz?