I'm refreshing my PC build and got stuck on choosing RAM, especially with the DDR5 options available. I've noticed that CL 38 DDR5 kits are popping up, particularly among the more affordable or higher capacity choices. Some people say that timing isn't as crucial with DDR5, while others suggest that anything above a certain CL rating isn't worth it. I'm mainly using my system for gaming, multitasking, and light productivity, so I'm not looking to push overclocks or manually tune memory settings. I'm curious to hear from those who are currently using CL 38 DDR5 RAM: did you experience any real downsides? If you switched from tighter timing kits, was there a noticeable difference outside of benchmarks? When it comes to practical workloads, do you think these CL 38 kits are usable or just a waste of money?
4 Answers
In a nutshell, Good DDR5 is definitely better than Good DDR4, but if you're on a budget and can't get decent DDR5, I'd suggest going for a good DDR4 setup instead. You don't want to compromise everything for DDR5 that might not perform well.
To really know the impact of the RAM timings, you'd want to use benchmarking software. It can give you a clearer picture of any differences in performance.
What CPU are you planning to pair with the RAM? That can also affect how much you benefit from DDR5 versus DDR4.
I had a kit with 64GB of 6000MT/s CL30-36-36-76 and switched it out for a CL36 version. Honestly, I didn't see much difference—just about 3 FPS in games, and my boot times were the same. If you're looking at significantly slower RAM like 4800-5200MT/s CL38, you might notice a bigger hit, but not enough to ruin your experience. If budget's tight, perhaps stick with your current RAM or save a bit longer for something decent in DDR5.
DDR5 definitely has a major edge over DDR4, even at lower speeds. For instance, DDR5 at 5200 MHz with worse timings can still beat DDR4 at 3600 MHz. It's just about long-term gains, if you can swing it.