When does higher speed (MHz) RAM come in useful?

[Jamesey162]

Most of the time when browsing new build posts or when people ask advice for a build spec, others often say that there is no real-world advantage to a higher MHz RAM and the performance gain wouldn't be noticeable. My question is when is a higher MHz of benefit to you? It is obviously manufactured to fit some purpose surely? Unless it is purely just for the enthusiasts, ehh, 'bragging rights'.

Can anyone help better explain this to me?

 

[Firat]

Most of the time when browsing new build posts or when people ask advice for a build spec, others often say that there is no real-world advantage to a higher MHz RAM and the performance gain wouldn't be noticeable. My question is when is a higher MHz of benefit to you? It is obviously manufactured to fit some purpose surely? Unless it is purely just for the enthusiasts, ehh, 'bragging rights'.

Can anyone help better explain this to me?

It mainly good for synthetic tests and pushing for highest bechmarks, it also improves your Folding at home points per day.

I guess it is pretty much for CPU intensive applications, and having that bit extra can help speed things up even if it is only by a small margin, but I'm sure the performance gain depends on the program's you use.

 

[Vicey]

Anything really RAM intensive think creative applications that allow you to make original content such as video. This is where you're using a 64-bit application that is making use of several GB's of active memory while you scrub through content and manipulate it in real time. Any application that does RAM previews (most video editing suites do) will benefit from it also especially when you get up in to the 4K resolution range.

When it comes to normal tasks that most people do on a computer such as browsing the web and some gaming you're not going to notice it obviously but in some key tasks that extra bandwidth can shave seconds off a loading bar and when you're sitting through those hundreds or thousands of times a month they all add up in the grand scheme.

RAM now is so cheap I myself picked up 32GB of 1866MHz v1.5 RAM for about £190 and I saw 32GB of 1333MHz for just around £100 on Aria. It is totally possible to get fast ram in large quantities at a good price. It has become one of the cheapest parts of a build now.

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

Sony Vegas I saw a huge jump from 8gb 800mhz to 8gb 1600mhz.

 

[SparkleDJackson]

Sony Vegas I saw a huge jump from 8gb 800mhz to 8gb 1600mhz.

This is what i like to hear as when i get my system rebuilt i will be doing all that video editing and other things like it.

 

[fredtrix]

You can also use RAM to create a "Storage Drive", but It will only last until you reboot. The faster the RAM works then the faster the drive you create will be, obviously. I've seen examples of this and it was way faster then most SSD's

 

[Jamesey162]

I see, thanks for clearing that up everyone.

You can also use RAM to create a "Storage Drive", but It will only last until you reboot. The faster the RAM works then the faster the drive you create will be, obviously. I've seen examples of this and it was way faster then most SSD's

I use one currently to store Tribes: Ascend in, gets me into the game first and with no start clock timer really gives you a big advantage.

 

[airdeano]

You can also use RAM to create a "Storage Drive", but It will only last until you reboot. The faster the RAM works then the faster the drive you create will be, obviously.

it is called making a "RAM Drive" on XP-32 bit i use it with the wasted RAM (8gb) sapce that 32 does not use. then i use it as a RAM Drive. i hadn't really benchmarked the perf

but the video render, Db acess and building, and audio mixing is increased overall in perf. yes like the SSD perf and possibly faster.

airdeano

 

[oO_KoPiTe_Oo]

I'm thinking about upgrading to 8gb. I'm currently running 4gbs of Corsair Xms3 DDR3 at 1333mhz. What would be a good upgrade for my gaming PC? I also like to use Photoshop and Video editing software.

 

[Mrboxfacetramp]

Mainly CPU intensive programs will have a positive effect with higher mhz frequencies.

 

[magicc8ball]

I am currently running 4 gigs of mushkin blakline ddr2 800 and will be going up to 8 gigs @ 2400 or 2600 with the IB coming out next week =). So I should see a huge increase.

 

[Rastalovich]

Manufacturers have latched onto this. You'll see 2000+ speed memory out there and all they've really done is made a botch of the timings to allow the mhz increase. I wouldn't mind betting we'll see CL12 memory before too long, but wait, it does 2400 mhz !!! pffft

A balance of the two is what I tend to look out for.

 

[magicc8ball]

Manufacturers have latched onto this. You'll see 2000+ speed memory out there and all they've really done is made a botch of the timings to allow the mhz increase. I wouldn't mind betting we'll see CL12 memory before too long, but wait, it does 2400 mhz !!! pffft

A balance of the two is what I tend to look out for.

if the cas for 2600 mhz memory is going to be higher than 11 I will not buy any. I will come back down to a cas 9 or 10 2400 or 2133. I really do not want to go as high as 10 but well see.

 

[BKCXb]

I noticed another trick they are using for high Mhz memory, they rate it as CL 9 2133Mhz than when you read the full specs its 9-11-11-31, with maxed out voltage.

 

[magicc8ball]

I noticed another trick they are using for high Mhz memory, they rate it as CL 9 2133Mhz than when you read the full specs its 9-11-11-31, with maxed out voltage.

Who was the manufacturer ?

 

[BKCXb]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231572