I'm looking to upgrade my RAM from 2x8GB DDR4 3600 - CL18 to 32GB by getting a 2x16GB DDR4 4400MHz CL19 kit instead of adding two more 8GB sticks for a 4x8GB setup. I am using an i7-12700K processor with an Asus Prime Z690 - Plus D4 motherboard. Do you think the 4400MHz kit is worth the investment compared to sticking with the 3600MHz?
3 Answers
With the Intel 12th gen CPUs, the performance benefits of higher RAM speeds can vary. While going for 4400 MHz might be tempting, if you're not dealing with Ryzen, Intel generally handles higher speeds better. If you can easily return the RAM if it doesn't work out, it might be worth trying. However, sticking with 3600MHz is likely the more reliable choice and less hassle.
If you're into overclocking, you might enjoy the potential with the 4400MHz kit. I had a 12900KF and pushed a 3200MHz kit to 4000MHz on gear 1, but anything beyond that needs gear 2. If the 4400MHz kit won't work on gear 1, you could manually set it to 4000MHz and tweak the timings down from CL19, which could yield better performance. Otherwise, sticking with the 3600MHz kit and overclocking it might be a safer route.
While 4400 MHz sounds appealing, it's likely that you'll need to run it in gear 2, which could mean slower performance compared to running 3600 MHz in gear 1. So, you might want to consider that the 4400 MHz could actually end up being a downgrade unless you can get it to run effectively at a lower speed in gear 1.
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