I'm looking to upgrade my RAM and I've got my eye on two options, but I'm a bit confused about their differences. I'm considering a G.Skill AEGIS DDR4-3000 kit with 32GB (CL16, dual channel) and a Kingston FURY Beast DDR4-3200 kit with the same size and timings but at a higher price. Since the Kingston set costs almost double, is it really worth it? As someone who primarily plays FPS games, will I notice any difference between these two?
5 Answers
Most RAM brands don’t actually make their own memory chips; they usually source from giants like Samsung, Hynix, or Micron. So, the real difference lies in branding, chip sorting, PCB design, heat spreaders, and tuning. For gaming purposes, two kits with the same size and timings perform nearly the same. The MHz difference between 3000 and 3200 is minimal in practical FPS gaming. Unless you're into serious overclocking or need guaranteed compatibility, going for the cheaper kit is totally fine.
It mostly comes down to looks and potential software for RGB features. Cheaper RGB RAM might lack robust software options, while pricier brands generally have better aesthetics.
For those two kits, you'll see little difference—definitely not worth paying double. A 3600 CL16 kit is often the sweet spot for price-to-performance. Personally, I opted for 3200 CL14 RAM that overclocks well, but if you’re not looking to overclock, either of the kits set to XMP should work great.
With just a 200 MT/s difference and the same CL16 latency, it’s unlikely you’ll feel any change in performance. Your CPU or GPU will usually be the bottleneck anyway.
The main difference really comes down to the brand. Since all memory essentially comes from the same big suppliers, if the speeds and timings are the same, you won’t notice any differences in performance. Even side-by-side, you likely wouldn’t tell the difference while gaming.
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