Hey everyone! I'm currently using a dual-stick setup of 16GB Xpower Zenith RAM with a CL16 timing. I'm looking to upgrade before prices go up here. One of the options I found is the Hiksemi Future RGB 16GB RAM with CL22 timing. If I buy two of those, I'd have a total of 32GB. I'm just wondering, how much of a difference does CL22 make compared to my CL16? Would you go for the CL22 in my shoes? Thanks in advance! Also, I have a 1440p monitor, a Ryzen 5 5600X, and an RTX 5060 TI 16GB. Have a great weekend!
5 Answers
Typically, CL22 RAM is what's considered "default 3200 MHz" while CL16 often needs manual settings to run at that speed. So while CL16 has better performance, if the price is way higher, you might just want to go with the cheaper option.
It's tough to say without knowing the prices. Are there truly no other 32GB options at your store?
If you're thinking of using two different sets of RAM, make sure they’re closely matched. Otherwise, you might face stability issues.
Honestly, I’ve been using RAM with CL50 timings and didn’t even notice until I switched to CL30 recently. The difference wasn't mind-blowing for everyday tasks.
I’d just go for the 32GB option. The latency difference isn’t huge for most tasks, and having the extra capacity is definitely a better deal, especially if prices are rising.

True, I've seen prices shoot up too! It’s wild how much things change.