4

What are the main criteria for selecting "good" RAM? Obviously, everyone wants quantity with RAM, 16GB is better than 8GB, but what about quality? What are the main factors involved? When I see two RAM sticks, each with the same quantity of RAM, at two different price points, how should I determine what to get?

Is there such a thing as RAM speed, and does it make a significant difference which makes a disparity in price justifiable?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
6

Priority one: Clock speed. Higher numbers are better.

Priority two: Latency. Lower numbers are better.

Priority three: Voltage. Lower numbers are better.

Priority four: Heat sink. Cooler looking is better.

Improve this answer
7
  • 1
    Modern RAM has a maximum clock speed. It will happily run at a lower clock speed. One of the reasons clock speed is important is that when you run RAM at a lower clock speed, generally the latency (measured in clock cycles) decreases.
    – David Schwartz
    Nov 28, 2011 at 20:38
  • 1
    One of the priority is brand. Don't ever go for cheap brands, you will be disappointed.
    – Sachin Divekar
    Nov 28, 2011 at 22:01
  • 1
    Basically, any brand you've heard of is fine. But if no brand is mentioned or it's a brand you've never heard of, watch out -- you may get whatever junk is lying around.
    – David Schwartz
    Nov 28, 2011 at 22:05
  • 1
    @TKKocheran For points one and two see: How does RAM frequency and latency differ? How does it affect performance?, and also check out Memory timings and RAM?
    – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007
    Nov 29, 2011 at 0:53
  • 1
    @SachinDivekar "Value RAM" by quality brands is the best choice (IMO); unless you want to over-clock and/or enjoy screwing around with finicky "enthusiast" RAM, you're just burning money on shiny/blinky bells and whistles you'll never see. ;)
    – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007
    Nov 29, 2011 at 0:58

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .