I'm planning to buy a new SSD and I'm a bit stuck on whether I should go for one with DRAM or not. I've heard mixed opinions — some folks say DRAM only matters for SATA SSDs, while others insist I shouldn't settle for anything less than an SSD with DRAM. My main use for this SSD will be storing games and my Windows OS, and I'm considering the DRAM-less MSI Spatium M470 PRO 2TB since the regular version is out of stock. So, do I really need DRAM for my needs, or am I overthinking it?
5 Answers
In real-world usage, having DRAM doesn't affect performance as much as you might think. I found a comparison on TechPowerUp that shows various SSDs, some with and some without DRAM, performing pretty similarly under gaming scenarios—within a 5% margin. I like having DRAM, but it usually doesn't impact everyday gaming tasks significantly.
If you're not doing heavy writing or pro-level work on your SSD, DRAM-less NVME drives are typically just fine. Most everyday tasks—including gaming—won't really push the limits where the absence of DRAM becomes an issue, especially if your OS is HMB aware. So, if you mainly play games and do basic tasks, you should be good without it.
That makes sense, but I wonder about load times for games. Do you ever notice a difference?
For gaming and OS storage, DRAM isn't as crucial as some people make it out to be. Most modern NVMe drives without DRAM use HMB, which works fine for normal workloads. Just keep in mind that advertised sequential speeds don't translate directly to better gaming performance; they're not that relevant.
Honestly, for gaming, having DRAM makes little to no difference in day-to-day tasks. A good example is the M470 Pro, which uses QLC flash—it has lower durability and might slow down in certain situations. If you’re looking at alternatives, consider going for the Kioxia Exceria Plus G3 or WD Blue SN5000 for better performance.
Just remember, if you plan on using NVMe drives externally, the lack of DRAM might be problematic since they can't use system RAM for caching. But if you’re sticking to just internal drives, DRAM-less drives with HMB can totally keep up with what you need.
Usually, games load slightly faster with DRAM, but you're really only talking about a second or two here. It's not a game-changer for most titles.