Hey everyone! I'm looking to upgrade my gaming PC because it's clear my current RAM setup isn't cutting it. I have 16GB of DDR4 at 2666MHz, and I'm aiming for at least 32GB, possibly even 64GB. I know that higher MHz, lower CAS latency (CL), and more memory are generally better, but I'm a bit confused about how these factors interact. For instance, I'm debating between two Kingston RAM options: one is 32GB (2x16GB) at 3200MHz with CL16 priced around $110, and the other is 32GB (2x16GB) at 6000MHz with CL30 priced around $500. My mobo is a Gigabyte X570 UD, and I run an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X processor. How can I tell if either of these RAM options will be compatible with my setup? Also, how much of a performance difference should I expect between these two? Thanks!
1 Answer
Those two RAM types are different technologies: one is DDR4 and the other is DDR5. Your AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and the Gigabyte X570 UD motherboard only support DDR4, so you can't use the DDR5 option at all. Stick with the DDR4, like that 3200MHz kit—you'll be good to go!
Thanks for the clarity! So, just to confirm, any DDR4 RAM should work with my setup as long as I check for compatibility, right?