I ordered some Crucial 32GB CL36 6000MHz RAM for my new PC build, but I received 64GB of CL40 6400MHz instead. At first, I was excited about the extra memory and higher speed, especially given the recent RAM shortages. However, after doing some research, I'm concerned about the performance differences due to the CL timings. I rarely use more than 32GB while gaming, and my current latency in OCCT is 89.5ns with EXPO. Should I keep this RAM or exchange it for what I originally ordered? What factors should I consider before making a decision?
5 Answers
With RAM prices and availability being what they are, it’s probably best to keep the 64GB. If you exchange them, you might end up waiting a long time for the correct ones to come back in stock.
CAS Latency (CL) measures how many clock cycles it takes to perform a CAS operation. As your clock speed increases, the individual cycles shorten, which can cause CL values to rise. For example, the 6000 CL36 has about 12ns latency while the 6400 CL40 is around 12.5ns. In practical use, you won't notice the difference between those timings.
Definitely keep the 64GB! More memory is always useful, especially for multitasking or future-proofing your build.
Honestly, the performance difference is really minimal. CL40 vs. CL36 won’t make a noticeable impact in real-world use, so you shouldn't worry too much. Just enjoy that sweet 64GB!
Don't stress it too much! Faster RAM often comes with slightly looser timings, which is a trade-off many users accept. Plus, if you're savvy about it, you could manually tune your RAM for better performance, potentially hitting those 6000/CL36 specs if that's what you prefer.
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