I'm in the process of upgrading my PC since my 5900X is failing, and I'm a bit confused about which RAM to choose. I'm primarily gaming and doing some web browsing, along with occasional CAD and photo editing. I often utilize between 25-35GB of RAM. I've got a 9800X3D and an MSI MPG X870E CARBON motherboard, and I'm aiming for 2x32GB sticks. I want something that's reasonably fast and affordable, with RGB since it'll be installed in my Lian Li O11 DXL case. I've started looking at DDR5 6400/6800, but I'm open to faster options. I'm also unsure about RAM timings; while I understand that CAS latency is key, I wonder how important the other timing numbers are. Is a higher CAS latency an issue with faster speeds? Thanks for your help!
6 Answers
If you’re aiming for the 9800X3D with a high-end board, definitely go for 2x32GB. Just keep it at 6000MT/s CL30 and you’ll maximize performance without complications. A lot of users report that this combo works well without issues, plus you'll have room for future upgrades if needed. I’ve also heard about the sweet spot being around this speed, so stick with it.
Just aim for 6000MT/s with CL30 or lower timings to keep things simple and headache-free. You don't need to stress too much over speed and latency, especially with your CPU. This will save you from any issues down the road.
The general recommendation for Ryzen is 6000MT/s with CL30—as you’ve noticed, the Infinity Fabric ratios change above that speed, which could lead to complications. You can often find decent prices for quality RAM kits, so just pick one you'll be pleased with and set the profile to get started easily.
For your setup, I’d recommend going with 2x32GB sticks at 6000MT/s with CL30 timing. If you really need more than 32GB later, that option is always there, but 64GB is a solid choice, especially for gaming and creative tasks. The 6000MT/s speed is pretty much the sweet spot for Ryzen right now, and it's widely available, making your selection easier.
Thanks for the tip! I was leaning towards 64GB, but I might settle for 48GB if I can't find exactly what I want. Good to know about the 6000MHz sweet spot!
Solid advice here! I agree that CL30 should be your target for minimal hassle.
For my 7800X3D setups, I've found that a G.Skill 64GB DDR5-6000 CL30 kit works great. It's not RGB, but you could look at the G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB options at 6000 with CL28, though they might be tougher to find. Always check your motherboard's QVL for compatibility.
You're right about CAS latency being important! Generally, with 6000MHz RAM, aiming for CL36 or less is good. CL30 is common and usually doesn't cost much more. Just keep in mind that while a lower CAS latency is better, the difference isn’t drastic enough to break the bank for tiny improvements.
Thanks for that deep dive! I’ll focus on finding 6000MHz RAM with either CL28 or CL30. I’m not looking to waste money on something that won’t give me real performance benefits.
Exactly! Often, real-world performance differences with faster RAM are negligible unless you're doing extreme tasks.
I appreciate this! It seems like the consensus is that going faster than this isn't worth the cost for marginal gains.