5000 Mhz. 6000 Mhz. You’ve seen the speed of RAM listed in mega hertz by now. RAM plays an important role in gaming performance.

But how much does this speed matter? In this guide we will explain the ins and outs of RAM speed, the impact it has on your gaming sessions, and help you better understand just how RAM performance impacts your PC.

What is RAM Speed?

Simply put, RAM speed is the rate at which data can be read and written from random access memory, RAM, as you often see it called. The higher this number, the faster RAM can transfer data.

The DDR you see listed before the RAM speed is the Double Data Rate. This means that the RAM processes data on both parts of the clock cycle, which essentially doubles the data transfer speed compared SDR or single data rate. But you don’t really need to worry about that. Just know that DDR-5 is the latest generation of RAM that is used in pretty much all of our gaming pcs featuring the latest processors.

RAM speed is simply determined by the DDR generation and raw MHz speed. There are other factor to consider.

Timing: In the specs of the RAM are a set of four numbers. (16-18-18-38) which represent various delays in clock cycles.
Latency: This is the delay that occurs between when a command is entered and when data transfer begins
Bandwidth: this is the amount of data that can be transferred in a given unit of time.

How does RAM speed affect gaming performance?

RAM speed impacts gaming performance in a number of ways.

Data Transfer Rate: Faster RAM facilitates faster data transfer to and from the CPU, improving game load times and overall game responsiveness.
Game Load Times: High speed RAM can reduce the time it takes for games to load assets, provided a smoother transitions and game startup times. But the speed of your storage has a larger impact on this.
Multitasking While Gaming: Faster RAM can support running additional applications better. Such as streaming software and Discord alongside games without performance drops. In this case the amount of RAM also plays a large role as well.
Smoother Gameplay: Faster RAM can ensure quick access to necessary game data, minimizing lag and stuttering in more complex scenarios
Open World and AI Heavy Games: Faster RAM is very beneficial for games that have complex open worlds or intricate AI systems
Improved CPU Efficiency: Faster RAM means the CPU can access and process game data more effectively, improving performance in CPU bound games.
Minimize Bottlenecks: High speed RAM can help reduce bottlenecks in your gaming PC by better balancing the performance of your CPU and GPU
Improve Framerates: Certain games can see minor boosts in FPS with faster RAM, especially when paired with a high performance GPU.
Reduce Stuttering: Faster RAM can help prevent or reduce frustrating micro stuttering in games
1% Low FPS: Faster RAM can improve your 1% FPS lows, which makes you gameplay feel smoother.

RAM speed won’t always be a straightforward determinant of gaming performance, but in general your faster DDR5 RAM speeds will offer better gaming performance.

To get the most out of your RAM, using an extreme memory profile (EXPO on AMD CPUs and XMP on Intel CPU Based gaming pcs)

Which Matters More: RAM Speed or RAM Capacity?

RAM speed is an important performance indicator, but sometimes having more RAM can have a bigger impact on performance. Why?:

Multitasking: When it comes to having multiple programs running simultaneously, you can’t beat having more RAM.
Working with Large Files: If you do things like complex graphic design, video editing, or 3D modeling, than you benefit more from having a larger amount of RAM.
Future Proof Your PC: Games become more demanding. In fact, 32GB is already being seen as the ‘recommended’ amount of RAM for games coming out in the tail end of 2024.
Point of Diminishing Return: Work backwards from what has the biggest impact on your gaming performance. While having faster RAM does have it’s benefits for gaming, the amount of RAM can be a better choice than having faster modules with lesser capacity.

In an ideal world, you want to maximize both the amount of RAM you have and the speed that it runs at.

Frequently Asked Questions About RAM Speed

Do video editing & 3D rendering benefit from faster RAM speed?

In both creative pursuits – video editing and 3D rendering, you will see a big benefit from having faster RAM. Though because these task revolve around using large files, a larger amount of RAM is also very helpful. Faster RAM helps the programs run much more responsively and reduce the time you spend waiting around for things to render out.

When is it time to upgrade my RAM?

Here is some signs that it might be time for an upgrade:

Memory intensive tasks, like multitasking, video editing, 3D renders, or gaming are having performance issues.
You need higher performance for the games you want to play or the programs you use.
Your PC does not meet the system requirements for newer games

Which is better having more RAM or faster RAM?

Usually you will see the larger benefit in games and programs from having more RAM. For example, a gaming PC with 8GB of super fast DDR5-7200 Mhz RAM will not perform as well as one with 32GB of DDR5-6000 Mhz. But the amount of RAM being equal, you should always opt for the faster RAM.

Do CPUs benefit from RAM speed differently?

Intel Processors and AMD Ryzen Processors use unique architectures that benefit from faster RAMs differently. In general, Ryzen processors tend to see a large benefit from faster RAM than Intel processors. When upgrading your PC, always check that your CPU and motherboard support the specified speed of your RAM kit.

Can I overclock my RAM?

Yes! RAM kits that run at these fast speeds are essentially overclocked, they are just rated by the manufacturer to be completely stable at their specified speeds. So while you could overclock an existing RAM kit to run at higher speeds, this could lead to system instability or crashing if not done correctly. If you want faster RAM, the better option is to by RAM rated to run at the faster speeds you are looking for.

How do I check the RAM speed of my gaming pc?

Open task manager
Click the “Performance Tab”
Click on “Memory”
Look at the “Speed” value – this is your RAM speed.

Summary

RAM speeds are an important contributor to your PC’s gaming performance. How much an impact it has can vary depending on the use case or applications that you are using. Faster RAM can boost your gaming performance and speed up your content creation.

A bulk of the benefit of RAM will be seen by having more of it. Having more RAM is generally more beneficially than having a small amount of really speedy RAM – so that single 8GB stick is gonna be in for a hell of time. When purchasing a gaming pc in 2024, you want to consider desktops that have 16GB, or really 32GB for future proofing as many games are now listing 32GB as the recommended amount of RAM.

By understanding the impact of RAM speed you are now better equipped to make an informed buying decision when customizing your next CyberPowerPC gaming desktop. Head over to our website to get started customizing a new system today