Hey everyone, I'm in the final stages of putting together my new PC and I'd love some advice on RAM. I'll be using a 9950X3D CPU on a GIGABYTE X870E AORUS PRO motherboard for gaming, Lightroom, and occasional video encoding. From what I gather, DDR5 speeds of 6000-8000 are available, but I'm curious if the upper end is significantly better. Also, I've read that using only 2 sticks instead of 4 is advisable with the AMD/AM5 setup. I'm leaning towards 64GB of RAM since it seems like a good amount for my use, but I'm unsure about the best speed and latency to go for. Ideally, I'd like to stay within the $200-250 range, but I also don't want to waste money on minimal performance gains. Any insights?
3 Answers
Since you’re going with the 9950X3D, DDR5-6000 is ideal. A CAS latency of 30 is great for performance. 64GB is perfect for multitasking and heavy workloads—definitely worth it if your budget allows.
Check the motherboard's QVL list to ensure RAM compatibility. Look for RAM that fits your budget but has the lowest latency at your desired speed. Generally, you might not notice a huge difference in performance unless you're using specific software like Topaz Video Enhance AI. If your workload isn't too heavy, 32GB might suffice, but if you have the budget, 64GB is solid.
For the best stability and performance with AMD, aim for CL30 at 6000MHz. This should serve your needs well, and I recommend going for 64GB (2x32GB), especially for your use case.
The X870E series is great! Just make sure it has PCIe 5.0 support for future-proofing. It's good to consider audio quality if that's important to you.
Thanks for the tip! Any suggestions for reliable motherboards? I'm willing to spend between $250 and $400. The one I mentioned has good reviews, but I'm also interested in audio quality and stability. Should I stick with the X870E series?
Right, CL30 seems to be the consensus! Thanks for clarifying.