I recently bought a Ryzen 7 9800X3D along with some RAM from Micro Center. I was aiming to get a 2x24GB DDR5-64000 CL32 kit for $238, but ended up grabbing a 2x32GB DDR5-5600 CL40 kit for $250 instead. I genuinely didn't pay attention to the speed during my purchase. Since my other parts won't arrive for a while, I'm unsure whether to keep this RAM or return it. Is that extra latency going to make a notable difference for me? On top of that, with RAM prices skyrocketing lately, is it worth risking going back into the store?
5 Answers
Honestly, just keep it. You won’t notice a huge difference day to day, especially on the X3D. The performance you gain from faster RAM might not justify the price difference, especially with current RAM pricing being what it is.
If you can, I’d recommend returning it. Upgrading to at least a 6000MHz CL30 kit seems wise as all AM5 CPUs can easily handle that speed. There’s really no reason to settle for such low performance when shopping for RAM right now.
Those extra four nanoseconds of latency won't make a huge impact in real-world use, especially for casual gaming or standard tasks. But, you might keep thinking about a better kit, so if it bugs you, it might be best to exchange it.
I'd suggest returning it. For gaming with your new CPU, a 2x16 6000 CL30 kit would perform better. This setup should still be plenty for even demanding games, and you'll leave potential performance on the table if you stick with the slower RAM.
Keeping it isn’t the end of the world. With the X3D chip, latency isn't as critical compared to standard Ryzen CPUs. You might see a minor FPS drop in some games, but you’re generally looking at 3-5% lower minimums. If you need the extra RAM for tasks like video editing or heavy multitasking, it might still be a good choice.
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