I'm currently deciding between two Corsair DDR5 RAM kits: one is 64GB (2x32GB) with a timing of CL38, which is about 100 euros cheaper than the CL30 version. I understand that a lower CAS latency (CL) generally means better performance, but I'm trying to figure out if the price difference is justified. Can anyone share if the performance gain of going from CL38 to CL30 is significant enough to warrant spending the extra cash?
4 Answers
The CL30 RAM is likely Hynix, which is known to perform better. Micron chips usually max out at CL38, while Hynix can potentially go down to CL26 with some tweaking. If you're into overclocking, Hynix is worth considering despite the price difference. Both should perform similarly under normal conditions, but it comes down to whether you want to overclock or not.
What resolution are you gaming at? I tested my RAM at 4K, and while it overclocked well, the performance gain was pretty minimal—just a few extra FPS in Minecraft!
If you're mostly gaming, 32GB should be enough. I found a comparison of RAM with different timings, and it showed that the performance difference might not be that impactful for regular use.
Thanks for sharing that link!
I read that too! Super informative, thanks!
In this economy, I say go for the CL38! If you've used both, you might spot the difference, but I doubt it's worth the 100 euros extra for CL30.
I game at 2K with a 120Hz refresh rate, using an RTX 5070ti and a 7800x3d CPU.