What's more important with RAM memory: fast timings or higher clockspeeds?

Question

I do a lot of gaming on my machine, and have the option of running

Which memory configuration will benefit intensive gaming more?

FYI, I have a Wolfdale C2D @ 4.5ghz and GTX-280 SLI if that matters.

WalterJ89 · Answer 1 · 2010-02-19 06:33:52Z

up vote 1 down vote accepted

I would lean toward the one with the higher frequency being faster but generally they will be nearly identical in speed.

for example the

800mhz /12 is 66.66 cycles 1000mhz /15 is 66.66 cycles

800/4 = 200 cycles 1000/5 = 200 cycles

so you can see they should be close to the same speed although in my experience the higher mhz is more flexible with overclocking

answered Feb 19 '10 at 6:33

	This is incorrect. They won't be the same speed at all. They will have the same latency, but the one with the higher clock speed will transfer data at a higher rate. (For two identical transfers, once the latency time for an operation has passed, the one with the higher clock speed will transfer the data at a faster rate.) – David Schwartz Feb 23 at 20:31
	@DavidSchwartz Well that makes sense. – WalterJ89 Feb 24 at 3:47

feedback

David Schwartz · Answer 2 · 2011-08-30 17:34:20Z

I think you're forgetting that the latency timings are in cycles.

PC6400 (800mhz) with 4-4-4-12 timings

This RAM has an 800MHz effective clock speed (400MHz actual) and a 4 cycle CAS latency. 4 cycles at 400MHz is 10ns. 12 cycles is 30ns.

OR PC8000 (1000mhz) with 5-5-5-15 timings.

This RAM has a 1,000MHZ effective clock speed (500 MHz actual) and a 5 cycle CAS latency. 5 cycles at 500Mhz is 10ns. 15 cycles is 30ns.

So they have the same latency and one has a higher clock speed. It's a no brainer, the second one wins.

2 Answers