Ram tier list: RAM Benchmark Hierarchy: Fastest DDR4 Memory Kits

Patriot’s Viper 4 Series falls under the lower end of the price spectrum in our list of best RAM for gaming. However, this doesn’t take anything away from the performance power they provide with Patriot saying the Viper 4 has been engineered and designed for intense gaming and the most demanding computer environments. All sounds good to us. In benchmarks, the Viper was slightly slower than the standout brands but we’re willing to let that slide considering the price is vastly cheaper.

The viper comes in a couple of different colors and does have an RGB iteration, be careful though as this adds a decent amount to your shopping bill total.

Ultimately the Viper caters to consumers looking to get affordable RAM which still operates at a fairly decent level. Just be aware that build quality and longevity have been comprised to accommodate the difference in price

How We Choose

All of the RAM kits on this list have been hand-selected for a reason. First and foremost, we conducted a search to discover which RAM kits gamers tend to prefer while trying to balance those with the highest reviews against those with the lowest price tags.

Reviews from various manufacturers were taken into account, as well as reviews from others in the PC gaming industry.

Next, we get our hands on as many of our recommendations as possible so we can see the build quality up close and test how easy they are to install.

How We Test

From CPUs to RAM kits, we like to get hands-on with all the hardware we recommend. Testing the products is a huge part of our overall selection process and it is a way we can be sure that a specific option is the best for the job.

Products must pass our testing which is largely a lot of gaming, with some other boring stuff but most if not every recommendation will have gone through a strict testing process.

With a RAM kit, especially the ones we list as the best for gaming, we need to assess build quality, performance, and finally, value.

This process enables us to provide you with an accurate take on how well individual RAM kits perform and, ultimately, if they are worth your hard-earned cash.

Things To Consider

Just like with any component or peripheral, there are always a few key factors to consider, whether you’re a seasoned PC builder or a newbie. In this section, we are going to go over a few terms that you may need to know, discuss what the perfect RAM capacity will suit your needs, and what speed you should opt for in order to get the best gaming experience you can for your cash.

What Is RAM?

RAM is short for Random Access Memory. It’s also “dynamic” memory, versus your HDD/SSD storage, which is considered “static” memory.

RAM is used to hold data in the short-term, by holding active applications and data where it can be quickly accessed, discarded, and changed. In human terms, think of it as your short-term memory or what you have in mind right now.

With the increasing RAM demands of operating systems, games, and applications, many people are starting to ask more questions about what exactly RAM is and what it does for them. We’re going to use the rest of the article to demystify any questions you may have about RAM to allow you to make an educated buying decision.

When it comes to gaming, RAM is usually used to hold the active levels/maps and help your CPU/GPU juggle all the calculations that are going on in-game. In the sections below, we’ll dive a bit deeper into how it affects performance.

Before we discuss more intricate topics related to RAM such as; how much, what speed and what difference RAM makes to gaming, let’s take a look at the best DDR4 RAM right now.

What Is The Best Amount Of RAM For Gaming?

In many cases, RAM doesn’t actually matter that much for just gaming if that’s literally all you’re doing at the time, as long as you have 8GB or above. Where it primarily matters, is when you look at what else you happen to be doing when you’re gaming, be it having a web browser open, playing music, recording footage, or running any other background program. Realistically though, most people do tend to have at least one program running outside their game.

Additionally, the increasing demands of modern games are pushing the required threshold higher. 6GB used to be the minimum but it is now 8GB, and we’d generally now advise that you get 16GB to future-proof your machine and prevent any chances of bottlenecking your other components.

Here’s a helpful breakdown of what you can do at various RAM capacities:

4GB RAM –  It’s rare to find a modern PC or laptop with only 4GB of RAM these days, but if you’ve still got an older piece of kit it may come with 4GB RAM. This is below the bare minimum for any modern game and you’re likely to struggle unless you stick to older, non-demanding games. Even web browsing could be an issue if you have several tabs open.

6GB RAM – For many titles, 6GB will be suitable for gaming and you will be able to perform day-to-day multitasking, you won’t, however, be able to do both at once. Additionally, although 6GB used to be the minimum for even the most demanding games, for many new titles you may see them require 8GB, so this is still below the minimum we’d recommend.

8GB RAM – You can multitask and you can game, but only just. Running anything CPU/GPU-intensive in the background of your game will still cause you problems. Most new titles have minimum RAM requirements of 8GB.

16GB RAM – You can multitask and game, with more intensity: you could, say, run a RAM-intensive game while also having a large number of browser tabs in the background, for instance, or comfortably run recording software or streaming programs. 16GB of RAM will also keep you future-proofed for a while when it comes to the needs of the latest games.

32GB RAM – This is really only recommended for people who use professional/productivity applications that require the extra RAM, like if you’re a serious streamer or audiovisual editor, or you run Virtual Machines or advanced calculations.

64GB+ RAM – At this time, this is literally only useful for servers and extreme workstation scenarios. This will have absolutely no impact on your gaming experience and is considered a luxury.

The most practical amount of RAM for gaming is therefore 16GB of RAM and this will likely be the case for the next few years.

What Is The Best RAM Speed For Gaming?

Now, it’s time to tackle another fun topic: RAM speed in gaming!

Many people invest in the fastest, greatest hardware to push maximum frames. But, does that actually result in better gaming performance or is it just an ego boost number?

First off, most DDR4-compatible motherboards and RAM will only be able to reach a maximum of around 4200MHz without serious performance issues. In fact, getting RAM to run at these high clocks requires BIOS tweaks which can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Out of the box, your average consumer RAM runs anywhere from 2400MHz to 3200MHz.

Secondly, most games and applications just don’t see much of a performance boost by boosting RAM frequency. Of course, it’s better to run 3000 DDR4 than 1333 DDR3, but as we’ve hit higher speeds we aren’t seeing corresponding differences in gaming performance.

Now, to be fair, some games may very well benefit from RAM speed increases. Unfortunately, these benefits are often marginal at best and are usually not worth the extra money.

Ultimately, there is no best RAM speed for gaming. So, let’s talk about the final question: how much of a difference does RAM actually make?

Please note: we’ve just finished a variety of benchmark tests on RAM speed and published the results on our Youtube channel which you can find here.

The Best DDR4 RAM For Gaming In 2023 frequently asked questions

Is DDR4 RAM good for gaming?

When you are looking to purchase RAM for gaming, the option you choose is an important one. When it comes to DDR4 RAM, this is certainly the best that is currently available.

It is the newest form of RAM, and is therefore the most future proof. When it comes to purchasing this RAM, you will not need to change or upgrade it for a good number of years.

While DDR3 RAM is still suitable to use for gaming, DDR4 RAM does take your gaming to the next level. Its minimum clock speeds are typically around 2133 MHz, which tends to be the very highest MHz DDR3 RAM can reach.

In addition to this, it self-refreshes which allows it to be more energy efficient as it consumes less power on the whole.

Although it is better, it does come at an increased cost, which is something that you will need to take into consideration. It also does not have an auto-refresh feature like the DDR3 RAM has, but it does have no limit when it comes to capacity.

Is 2400MHz RAM good for gaming?

The faster RAM that your PC has, the better your gaming performance will be. While RAM is not the most important aspect to consider, it is something that should not be ignored.

When looking at the RAM specifications, you should always look at the speed. While 2400 MHz may seem like a significant amount, it is slightly lower than the recommended amount needed for gaming.

Typically, if you want your games to run with no performance issues, you should be looking to purchase RAM that is above 3200 MHz. This is considered the optimum amount, though there is RAM available that is 4000 MHz.

However, you can still game using 2400 MHz successfully, but the performance will not be quite as good as it could be. This type of specification is better suited for an entry level PC, rather than for someone that is looking to take their gaming more seriously.

Is 32 GB RAM overkill for gaming?

For all intents and purposes, yes, 32 GB of RAM can be seen as overkill for gaming. However, this is down to the individuals thoughts on this. While 32 GB is not typically needed for gaming, this will allow your PC to be future proof.

In the future, as games become more demanding, it is likely that a higher amount of RAM may be needed. For gaming, 16 GB is typically the optimum amount. However, if you are also using your PC for other purposes, such as rendering larger files, then you may actually benefit from having 32 GB of RAM.

To summarize, while this is double the amount of RAM needed for gaming, if you do choose to purchase 32 GB, this will not negatively impact your gameplay in any way. It also allows for better future proofing.

Is 128 GB RAM overkill for gaming?

To follow on from the frequently asked question above, given that 32 GB is often seen as overkill for a gaming PC, 128 GB being significantly more than this is often seen as unnecessary too.

The only real reason why you would want to choose 128 GB of RAM over 32 GB or 16 GB, is if you are using your PC for more than just gaming. For example, if you are running particularly large games, and multiple other types of large software at the same time, a higher amount of GB is needed.

However, in the vast majority of cases, this is far more than enough RAM needed. While it will future proof your build significantly, and is useful if you are purchasing it with a prebuilt PC, if you are deciding on the amount of RAM to purchase, 32 GB or 16 GB are likely the better options for gaming.

Can RAM affect FPS?

While some people assume that RAM can have an effect on FPS, this is not actually the case. While RAM can help to improve the running of a game, it does not really have an impact on the FPS. You will need to look into upgrading your GPU if you are having FPS issues.

While a high amount of RAM can help to smooth out the game, it does have the potential to perhaps improve the FPS ever so slightly. However, this is not typically enough for the average person to notice. Only a GPU paired with a decent monitor can improve your FPS.

Is higher MHz RAM better?

When it comes to purchasing RAM, you should be aware of what the different specifications mean, and how they will impact your game play. The frequency RAM is measured in is MHz, and this will give you a better idea of how quickly it will perform.

In theory, the higher the MHz RAM, the better your overall performance will be. For gaming, the optimum amount of MHz needed is around 3200 MHz to 3600 MHz, though there are higher amounts available.

While there is an optimum amount needed for gaming, a higher MHz, does not always mean that you will have a better gaming performance. If the RAM is too high, this can actually have a negative impact on the performance as it can slow it or cause freezing. This is certainly prevalent if the RAM has been seriously overclocked.

Can I use 2400 and 3200 Ram together?

If you have a motherboard that is compatible with DDR4 then you will be able to use 2400 and 3200 RAM together. DDR4 is still relatively new. Given this, not all motherboards will be compatible. Newer motherboards are compatible, but older motherboards may not be.

It is worth noting that while you can use them both together, it is likely that your PC will only use the slower speed rather than the higher speed. The majority of people will tend to use one RAM rather than two, but it is possible to use both if you prefer.

Final Word

So there you have it. Although the big lesson when it comes to RAM is to just buy what you need and what fits your budget, for a seriously good RAM kit that will never let you down or empty your wallet we’d recommend Corsair’s Vengeance LPX RAM.

That being said, each of the recommendations we’ve dropped in this article could all be considered the best DDR4 RAM for gaming if they fit your needs.

Check out the recommended articles alongside this page for more pieces discussing RAM and other components, and leave a comment below if there’s anything specific, RAM-related or otherwise, that you’d like us to cover.

WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

【Gaming memory (ram) modules 】recommended for gaming│TEAMGROUP

Product compare

RGB DDR5 Desktop Memory

• DELTAα RGB DDR5 DESKTOP MEMORY

  6000, 5600, 5200

  T-FORCE DELTAα RGB DDR5 is a DDR5 memory built for AMD and has passed compatibility and reliability tests from motherboard manufacturers.

• DELTA RGB DDR5 DESKTOP MEMORY

  8200, 8000, 7800, 7600, 7200, 7000, 6800, 6600, 6400, 6200, 6000, 5600, 5200, 4800

  Desktop DDR5 Overclocked Memory with RGB Colors & 120° Ultra-Wide Lighting

DDR5 Desktop Memory

• VULCANα DDR5 DESKTOP MEMORY

  6000, 5600, 5200

  DDR5 OC gaming memory is built for AMD; equipped with high-quality ICs to deliver the ultimate performance

• VULCAN DDR5 DESKTOP MEMORY

  6400, 6000, 5600, 5200, 4800

  Gorgeous streamline Design, durable Structure and Cooling, DDR5 Desktop OC Memory

DDR5 Laptop Memory

RGB DDR4 Desktop Memory

• XTREEM ARGB WHITE DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  5333, 5066, 4800, 4533, 4000, 3600, 3200

  With a flawless white finish, XTREEM ARGB offers colorful and translucent when illuminated and provides a large capacity package for gamers to purchase.

• XTREEM ARGB DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  5333, 5066, 4800, 4533, 4000, 3600, 3200

  T-FORCE XTREEM ARGB DDR4 Gaming Memory is the first to feature full mirror reflection/light penetration/ARGB three major core technologies.

• XCALIBUR RGB DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  4000, 3600, 3200

  The light guiding panel is embellished with unique totem designs. Gamers will love this all-new visual experience that is sure.

• NIGHT HAWK RGB / NIGHT HAWK Legend RGB DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  4000, 3600, 3466, 3200, 3000

  The exclusive symmetrical hawkeye cooling fin is surrounded by battle totem lines

• DELTA RGB DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  4000, 3600, 3200, 3000, 2666

  Supports ASUS Aura Sync software synchronization control, XMP2.0 one-click overclocking technology.

• NIGHT HAWK DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY (EOL)

  3200, 3000

  Hawk wings symmetric type heat spreader with unique hawkeyes light guide panel design

DDR4 Desktop Memory

• XTREEM DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  5333, 5066, 4800, 4500, 4133, 4000, 3600

  Support Intel XMP 2. 0 smart overclocking technology, Selected high quality SAMSUNG original IC chips.

• DARK PRO DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  3466, 3333, 3200, 3000

  INTEL XMP 2.0 compatible, High-efficiency forging type heat transfer cooling layer.

• DARK Z FPS DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  4000

  T-FORCE DARK Z FPS is a gaming memory specially designed to boost FPS. With both high frequency and low latency, it provides gamers a realistic shooting experience.

• DARK Zα DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY (FOR AMD)

  4000, 3600, 3200

  T-FORCE DARK Zα DDR4 Gaming Memory is the tail made for AMD’s latest Ryzen 3000 series processor and X570 motherboard

• DARK Z DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  3600, 3200, 3000, 2666

  T-FORCE DARK Z DDR4 gaming memory offers gamer a DDR4 memory with excellent quality, optimal performance, stability and compatibility.

• VULCAN Z DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  4000, 3600, 3200, 3000, 2666

  T-FORCE VULCAN Z DDR4 gaming memory offers gamers excellent quality, optimal performance, and the finest, smoothest gaming experience.

• ZEUS DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  3200, 3000, 2666

  T-FORCE ZEUS Gaming Memory provides a wide range of specifications for gamers to fully enjoy the game.

• T1 DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  3000, 2666, 2400

  To make it easy for beginner-level gamers to get started, the T-FORCE team introduces the entry-level gaming memory – T1. It pumps up the gamers and makes them ready to battle at any time.

• DARK DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  3200, 3000, 2800, 2666, 2400

  The only four-pieces heat spreader in the market. Selected high quality IC chips. Support Intel XMP 2.0.

• VULCAN DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  3200, 3000, 2800, 2666, 2400

  Selected high quality IC chips, Support Intel XMP 2. 0 smart overclocking technology.

DDR4 Laptop Memory

• ZEUS SO-DIMM DDR4 LAPTOP MEMORY

  3200, 2666

  T-FORCE ZEUS Gaming Laptop Memory provides a wide range of specifications for gamers to fully enjoy the game.

• VULCAN SO-DIMM DDR4 LAPTOP MEMORY

  3200, 2666, 2400

  VULCAN SO-DIMM for gaming notebooks has a super-slim graphene copper-foil heat spreader that effectively dissipates heat out.

Special Edition

• VULCAN Z DDR4 BLACK EDITION DESKTOP MEMORY

  3600, 3200

  T-FORCE VULCAN Z DDR4 BLACK EDITION gaming memory offers gamers excellent quality, optimal performance, and the finest, smoothest gaming experience.

• DARK PRO x 8PACK DDR4 OVERCLOCKING DESKTOP MEMORY

  3866, 3600, 3200

  T-FORCE fit with OCUK, Powered and Certified by 8 pack, INTEL XMP 2. 0 compatible, High-efficiency forging type heat transfer cooling layer.

• XTREEM x OnePageBook DDR4 OVERCLOCKING DESKTOP MEMORY

  4133

  Support Intel XMP 2.0 smart overclocking technology, Selected high quality SAMSUNG original IC chips.

• XTREEM x 8PACK DDR4 OVERCLOCKING DESKTOP MEMORY (EOL)

  4500, 4133, 4000, 3600, 3200

  Selected high quality SAMSUNG original IC chips, The finest crafted heat spreader with unique trench design, Support Intel XMP 2.0 smart overclocking technology.

Co Branding

• DELTA RGB DDR5 VALKYRIE Edition DESKTOP MEMORY

  6000, 5600

  First T-FORCE DELTA RGB DDR5 VALKYRIE Edition Gaming OC Desktop Memory

• DELTA TUF Gaming Alliance RGB DDR5 DESKTOP MEMORY

  6400, 6000, 5600, 5200

  First DDR5 RGB OC Gaming Memory Certified by TUF Gaming Alliance

• XCALIBUR Phantom Gaming RGB DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  4000, 3600, 3200

  XCALIBUR Phantom Gaming RGB desktop memory is designed with unique style of Phantom Gaming, so you can have coolest RGB lighting effects and extreme performance at the same time.

• DELTA TUF Gaming Alliance RGB DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  3200, 2933, 2666, 2400

  DELTA TUF Gaming RGB DDR4 overclocking memory is designed with TUF’s unique military camouflage pattern. It is definitely your best and bravest comrade!

• VULCAN TUF Gaming Alliance DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  3600, 3200, 3000

  VULCAN TUF Gaming Alliance gaming memory is certified and strictly tested by TUF Gaming Alliance with high-speed performance.

• DARK ROG DDR4 DESKTOP MEMORY

  3000

  ROG Certified, Support Intel XMP 2.0 smart overclocking profile technology, Selected high quality original IC chips.

clock speed, bandwidth, timings, classes (DDR) and more / Habr

Hello, Habr! Today we will talk about RAM, about what types of it you can freely buy in a store for building a PC or upgrading it. Under the cut, a story about the differences between different types of RAM from each other, about overclocking and cooling memory, as well as a few thoughts about whether it matters which memory bar should be installed in a particular computer in order to achieve the optimal combination of speed, energy efficiency and cost. This post will be of interest to those who do not consider themselves a DDR guru and are not 100% sure what timings, types and characteristics of modules are needed when choosing a memory.

Random access memory, or RAM (random access memory) — literally translated random access memory. Wikipedia states that it is a volatile part of a computer’s memory system that stores machine code being executed as well as data being processed by the processor. The definition is technically correct, but essentially quite abstract. It will be much clearer if we understand why the RAM is needed at all.

Simply put, RAM is responsible for running the applications you run. The more RAM your computer has, the more tasks it can perform simultaneously. It is not even necessary that there are several applications. The entire load can come from one single program with a lot of the same type of processes: Photoshop (layers), Google Chrome (tabs), Final Cut Pro (tracks), etc.

A bit of history and theory

There are two main types of RAM by default: DRAM and SRAM. In addition to them, SDRAM, VRAM, NVRAM, etc. are often distinguished. but they are all nothing more than variations on a theme. For example, VRAM is the same DRAM, but used in video cards and known to us as video memory. So in this article we will focus only on the main types.

DRAM is dynamic random access memory where each bit of information is stored in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit. It is called so because it requires periodic updates. This is the same RAM that is used in smartphones, tablets, computers and other electronic devices. True, now the RAM, which modern gadgets are equipped with, is usually referred to as the SDRAM subtype.

SDRAM is Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. It’s a subspecies of DRAM, so ab ovo it’s the same thing, just newer and faster. What distinguishes them is the presence of a kind of timer, which is used to synchronize memory with the microprocessor and jointly process data. This is where the concept of DDR — double data rate comes from. We’ll talk about it later, but for now let’s move on to SRAM.

SRAM is a static random access memory that uses a bistable-latched circuit to store data. It sounds complicated, but in reality everything is simple and clear. Static memory doesn’t need to be updated all the time and is much faster than DRAM, so it costs more and is used less. A typical application for SRAM is level 2 and level 3 caches.

For computers, DRAM or SDRAM is measured in gigabytes. But passive devices like smart speakers, fitness bracelets, etc. RAM can be only a few hundred megabytes, which is more than enough for them. L2 and L3 caches use even less memory. Basically it is 8-10-12 or 16 MB. Their tasks simply do not require that the volume be larger. Yes, and size matters — due to the lower density, 4 megabytes of SRAM is approximately equivalent in size to a 128 MB DRAM bar.

Dimensions of RAM

At the physical level, there is also a division between RAM sticks, but everything is quite simple here:

DIMM are standard format RAM sticks. They are usually installed in stationary computers, including monoblocks and some nettops. They are large, so they require a lot of space inside the case. They simply cannot be installed on laptops.

SO-DIMM are compact sticks of RAM. They are used mainly in laptops and some compact nettops. According to its properties, SO-DIMM is no different from standardized strips, it just has a smaller size. But due to the difference in dimensions, installing a DIMM bar instead of SO-DIMM will not work, and vice versa.

There is also server memory, which even has the same dimensions as DIMM strips, but it is not used in personal computers due to incompatibility with CPU controllers. But this is not the topic of our article, so we will not focus on this type of RAM.

How DDR performs in tests

The speed of RAM is directly related to its class. SDR memory used to be the industry standard, but today everyone has switched to DDR.

DDR is a modern type of RAM, which belongs to the type of dynamic synchronous memory with a double data transfer rate. Doubling the speed was the result of the transfer of this type of memory to the new mechanics of reading commands. It allows you to recognize them not only by the front (transition from state 0 to 1), but also by the fall of the clock signal. Thus, DDR memory, when operating at a frequency of 100 MHz, produces an efficiency comparable to the operation of SDR (previous generation) at a frequency of 200 MHz.

Because of this, the concepts of real and effective frequency even appeared. For example, if you bought a board at 2133 MHz, then don’t be surprised that in synthetics it will give out only 1066. This is where the very double rate comes into play, from which the name DDR memory comes from. In reality, it develops half the speed than indicated on it, but its efficiency will be the same as if it were twice as high. A little confusing, but generally logical.

RAM clock speed

Modern DDR4 strips (there is also DDR5, but we will not dwell on them in detail) operate at a frequency of 2133 — 3200 (3333) MHz. It’s a big difference, but bigger doesn’t always mean better, especially if your computer has the wrong processor.

Let’s say your processor specifications say the following verbatim: Up to DDR4 2133. This means that DDR4 memory with a frequency of 2133 MHz is suitable for it. You can set the bar to 3200 or even 4800, but the processor will simply not let it work to the maximum, because it cannot process more on its own. Therefore, memory with a higher clock rate will run at the frequency that the chip allows it, and no more.

The same thing (frequency reduction) will be paired with the same processor with one board for 2133 and another for 1066. They will work together without any problems. But the processor will not be able to add megahertz to the bar of RAM with a lower frequency. Because of this, both — even the one that is capable of operating at a higher frequency — will not be able to accelerate above 1066 MHz. If it is not accelerated.

Overclocking the RAM

Overclocking the RAM is a common procedure that allows you to forcibly increase its clock speed. The ability of a particular RAM bar to overclock does not depend on the characteristics specified by the manufacturer, but on the memory chips. Overclocking allows you to increase the clock frequency quite significantly. For example, 2666 MHz sticks start running at 3200 after overclocking, and those that worked at 3200 go to 4166.

In terms of frequency, by the way, it is very easy to calculate the bandwidth of a particular bar in megabytes. Just multiply its frequency by 8 (bits) and get the exact result. So, for a DDR bar with a frequency of 2400, the bandwidth will be 19200 MB, and for a bar with a frequency of 3800 it will be 30400 MB.

Increasing the frequency at which RAM operates reduces latency. But it has almost no effect on games. From what frequency your bar of RAM is running, the FPS indicator will not decrease or increase, as well as the screen refresh rate. This does not apply to video memory, which directly affects the performance of games. It’s just about the standard operating system.

Clock speed is a “working” indicator that is important not only for compatibility with the processor, but also for professional tasks. You will definitely notice a difference when working with some specific applications, which really speed up if you use high-frequency RAM. For example, fast RAM types perform well in archiving. The higher the bar frequency, the faster the process will go.

RAM timings

Another factor to be aware of when choosing RAM is timings. Basically, it’s just a delay. They show the time that elapses from the moment the command is sent by the memory and its actual execution. They are measured in cycles. Therefore, if you look at the specifications of any RAM board, you will see numbers like 8-8-8-16 there.

These numbers indicate the execution of four operations. That is why timings are usually specified as four digits. Although some manufacturers indicate only the first digit, because it is the most important. But we will analyze what each of them means:

1. CAS Latency (CL — the most important indicator) indicates the number of cycles that elapse between sending a request and starting a response;

2. RAS to CAS Delay — the number of cycles that the controller takes to activate the desired bank line;

3. RAS Precharge — the number of cycles required to close one data line and move to another;

4. Row Activate Time — the number of cycles until the row closes.

Not the fact that you generally need to know this, but for general development it will do. The main thing to remember is that the lower the timings, the better. This means that the RAM needs less time to deliver information within the bar itself. Calculating the actual speed of the RAM using data on its characteristics and knowing a special formula is very simple.

For example, we have CAS Latency (CL) equal to 8, and the bar clock frequency is 3600 MHz. So, we will count as follows: 8*2000/3600 = 4.4(4) nanoseconds. 2000 is a constant here. Therefore, we always take it, without changing it.

Which RAM to choose

Despite the fact that the principle of «better — faster» applies when choosing RAM, blind adherence to it cannot always be justified. When choosing a RAM stick , you need to consider what frequency the processor and motherboard in your computer are compatible with.

Above, we have already made it clear that the clock frequency, among other things, is a characteristic of the correspondence between the memory that you install and the processor that is already installed in the system unit of your PC. But, now let’s dwell on this in more detail. And, to make it clearer, let’s draw an analogy understandable to everyone: just imagine that the RAM is a nut that needs to be tightened, and the processor is a wrench.

If you, having a key for 12, take a small or, conversely, too large a nut, they simply will not fit together and you will not succeed. We cannot say that this nut or this wrench is good or bad. They just aren’t designed to work together. Therefore, just as the nut and key must be selected in size, so the RAM and processor must be selected according to the same frequency.

But the processor and memory, given the convenience of this analogy for clarification, is still not a key or a nut. Therefore, in principle, you can install a fast modern RAM in a computer that uses an old processor. But due to the mismatch of characteristics, this bar will operate at the minimum frequency.

Cooling RAM

Cooling RAM is not as popular as overclocking, but goes hand in hand with it. In this case, we are talking about the RAM (SDRAM), and not the video memory (VRAM), for which cooling is vital. Despite the fact that it seems that ordinary RAM sticks have nothing to experience heat from, this is not the case. Most of them can get quite hot — up to 80-90. This is their working heat, which does not need to be fought.

Much worse than overheating. RAM, like any other microcircuit, can suffer from overheating if it works under excessive load. In particular, this applies to overclocked sticks, the clock speed of which was forcedly increased. In such cases, you will almost always get increased heat, and if you do not return the memory to the optimal operating temperature (and it is often possible to achieve it only by force), it may start to fail and eventually burn out.

Cooling the RAM is most often offered in a passive way. To do this, you need to buy a special heatsink, which is made of a heat-conducting material like aluminum and is attached to the RAM bar. When it starts to overheat, it quickly takes its heat onto itself and, due to the increased area (radiators are always larger than the RAM itself), gives off heat to the outside.

Such radiators are inexpensive, and look quite stylish, and often even have their own backlight. For this, they are loved by gamers who tend to install a radiator for each bar used. But, as we have already found out above, the RAM in games does not have to experience increased loads, therefore, there will be no practical use for gamers from RAM radiators, except perhaps for external attractiveness.

The laptop does not need RAM cooling either. Radiators are too bulky to install them in the case of a small, albeit gaming, laptop. He just has no place to stay. Therefore, remember the rule — only desktop computers need RAM radiators, and even then not everyone.

How much RAM does a computer need

The standard for PCs in 2022 was 8GB of RAM. This volume was enough for most users by the eyes and ears. But many people like to have everything, including RAM, with a margin, and serious tasks often require increasing this type of memory. Therefore, it is still better not to take the “base” for 2023. Moreover, you won’t have to pay so much for a 16 GB bar.

Anything more is up to you. Even if you have a lot of money, it makes little sense to take 32 or 64 GB RAM for computer , where it will be idle, there is simply no point. Such volumes are considered workable, and can only come in handy in heavy use cases that require multiple tasks to be performed simultaneously, such as editing dozens of layers in Photoshop or using three or more tabs in Google Chrome. Joke :).

However, keep in mind that some computers, mostly laptops, of course, allow you to choose the amount of RAM only once — at the stage of purchase. Therefore, you will not be able to increase the RAM after. In particular, Mac computers with Apple Silicon processors suffer from this problem. They use the so-called combined memory, which is soldered on the same board along with the processor and the drive, and it is impossible to remove it from there.

How to choose RAM. Summary

When choosing RAM, consider the following factors:

1. What standard of RAM (DDR3 or DDR4) does your processor support. As a rule, this information is indicated directly in its specifications, so there is no mystery here. If you have a stone that has been released at least within the last 5 years, then it will support DDR4 strips — take them. And DDR5 , although they are already commercially available, it’s better not to take it at random — they have limited compatibility and may not be suitable. Only if you know for sure that your processor supports this class, and you really need it (but then why do you need this article?).

2. Don’t go after the highest clock speeds. Firstly, your processor may simply not pull them, and then even the fastest memory will operate at a frequency supported by the used chip. Secondly, the RAM can almost always be overclocked by saving on buying a bar with a low frequency and then increasing its performance forcibly.

3. Choose sticks of RAM of the same standard and the same clock speed. If you install 2133 and 3200 MHz RAM in your machine, the processor will automatically equalize them, and they will be able to operate at a minimum frequency not exceeding 2133 MHz.

4. Make sure that the size of the RAM stick is suitable for your device. If you remember, for ordinary PCs, as a rule, the bar DIMM-RAM will suit you, which has a standard size. But compact SO-DIMMs, and even more so server strips, are best avoided — they still won’t fit a standard PC.

Server RAM and its differences from regular

Is it possible to use RAM modules from a regular computer in a server? And vice versa? How is server RAM different from regular RAM?

It should be said right away that not some special «server» memory. There are various types of RAM, some of which are suitable for servers, and some that are only suitable for ordinary personal computers.

The main difference between RAM for servers is that the latter must support ECC (Error Correction Code) technology, an error correction code. This memory is capable of detecting and correcting data errors that occur in the memory bits. For ordinary user computers, recognition and automatic error correction are not critical, since the load of servers and ordinary computers is incomparable in terms of the volume of data flows, so bit failures in ordinary computers occur much less frequently than in servers.

There are other differences in server memory, such as buffered and unbuffered memory, but these differences are more related to different types of server memory per se.

ECC

Support for ECC (Error Correction Code) is the main feature of server memory, which significantly increases the price of memory for servers by 10-30%. There are system administrators who, wanting to save the company money, put memory for a regular desktop into the server, and the server sometimes works. But this usually happens, firstly, only for entry-level servers, and secondly, the possibility of server failures increases significantly.

ECC makes it possible to correct single bit errors in RAM. If for ordinary desktops such errors are not directly critical, then for servers with a high intensity of calculations, such errors can lead to serious business process failures and losses to enterprises.

ECC memory contains special control bits and additional memory controllers that control these bits in a special memory module chip. They store the ECC code entered when recording data. During data reading, the ECC code generated when valid data was written is compared with the ECC code generated when data was read. If the code generated by the read does not match the code by the write, then when it is decrypted, it is possible to determine which bit has been corrupted, after which this bit is immediately corrected.

Fig. 1. The principle of operation of the ECC.

ECC, used in computers with increased requirements for data bit corruption tolerance, such as scientific or financial computing, and corporate servers.

Some motherboards and processors for less critical applications may not support ECC memory and may be priced lower. Some systems may support non-buffered ECC memory modules, but may also work with non-ECC memory. In this case, the ECC functionality is provided by the system firmware (firmware) and such systems may cost more.

ECC memory modules are designed to be more stable than conventional memory modules. However, they also have some drawbacks.

First, not every computer can support ECC memory. Most servers and workstations support ECC, but few regular user computers support it. Either they will not work with such memory at all, or the ECC functionality will not be involved.

Secondly, due to the presence of an additional ECC chip, and in general a more complex structure of the ECC memory, it costs 10-30% more than the usual one.

Thirdly, ECC RAM is slightly slower than non-ECC RAM, but not by much, on average by 2-5%.

Fig. 2. ECC and non-ECS memory modules.

So, the presence of the ECC is the main difference between the server RAM and the usual one. To understand how they still differ, let’s take a closer look at what types of RAM, or RAM (Random Access Memory), are generally, and what types are used where.

Buffered and unbuffered memory

There are two main types of RAM — buffered (buffered) and unbuffered (unbuffered). In buffered memory there is a so-called. a processing power boost level that speeds up the write and read processes. In such memory, the memory modules are 4-bit, as opposed to 8-16 bits in unbuffered memory.

The main difference between buffered memory is the presence of a buffer chip that processes information received from the processor (CPU). The buffer chip then sends this information to the other chips in the RAM module. Such buffering allows you to centralize the sending of information from the CPU to the RAM chips. For example, the popular PC3-10600 RAM module has 18 memory chips, so buffering to interact with the CPU greatly simplifies the work of the latter.

When using unbuffered memory, the CPU will communicate directly with each memory bank, so the CPU will send information to every chip on every RAM module. While this makes the system slightly more expandable and flexible, it does increase the power consumption of the processor significantly, making it difficult to perform other tasks.

Servers use mostly buffered RAM.

Various types of buffered memory

Registered memory (Registered Memory, RDIMM, DIMM — Dual In-line Memory Module) — has an additional chip that performs intermediate operations between the CPU and RAM module chips. It reduces the number of signals sent between RAM and CPU. Registered memory RDIMM, unlike unbuffered UDIMM (Inbuffered DIMM), reduces the electrical load on system components, however, slightly reduces performance. However, in this case, the system may have a wider address space than in unbuffered memory. Almost all register memory types support ECC error correction code. Registered and unbuffered memory cannot be combined on the same system, even if it supports both types.

Fully Buffered Memory (FBDIMM) is an older version of registered memory. DDR3 does not use such memory. Fully buffered DDR2 memory and unbuffered DDR2 memory had different sizes to avoid confusion during installation.

Load Reduced Memory (LRDIMM) is a newer version of buffered memory that uses a buffer chip to further reduce electrical load. This reduces or even eliminates problems with memory ranks (more on that below), allowing you to use high-capacity memory modules without compromising system performance (or at least reducing this effect). In addition, LRDIMM makes it possible not to try to fill all the slots on the motherboard with memory modules. However, LRDIMMs, like UDIMMs and RDIMMs, cannot be combined with other standards on the same system.

Memory ranks

The rank is the number of 64-bit memory areas. Memory modules can be one-, two-, four- and eight-rank. This division does not have a big impact on conventional computers, however, for registered memory in servers, they lead to some restrictions.

Fig. 3. Types of memory modules.

Top ranked modules may have limits on how many modules can be installed. For example, if the system has six DIMM slots, then only 4 slots can be occupied for 4-rank modules. Whether the remaining two slots can be occupied by, for example, 2-rank or 1-rank DIMMs depends on system settings. Sometimes this can be done, but only certain sockets should be used for such purposes. Using modules of high ranks sometimes leads to a decrease in system performance. Thus, the use of one or another rank of modules is often a matter of compromise between the amount of RAM and system performance. On the one hand, the higher the RAM capacity, the higher the performance, on the other hand, the higher the rank (and, therefore, the larger the amount of RAM), the lower the performance may be.

Server memory design differences

Server memory, especially RDIMMs and LRDIMMs, may differ in size from desktop memory. In addition to the fact that more components can be soldered on server memory modules, heat sinks can also be installed there, since more heat is released into the server during memory operation, both by the processor and by the memory. Server memory modules may also need more space above them to dissipate heat. Sometimes, this circumstance forces you to purchase special low-profile VLP (Very Low Profile) modules. Many users try to purchase just such modules, since they provide the best heat dissipation in any case.

Conclusions

As you can see, server memory has some features compared to memory for conventional computers. First of all, it is the need to use ECC error correction codes. If you use ordinary memory without ECC for the server, then either such a system will not work, or its operation will be associated with the risks of failures, which is unacceptable in corporate IT systems.