Ram memory timings. Is it really worth the extra cash?

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by fuel_f2f, Oct 31, 2009.

  1. fuel_f2f

    fuel_f2f Regular member

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    Ok I'm just curious... I've been looking at 2 sets of Ram right now and I wasn't sure what to buy.
    One is a pretty cheap set of 2x2GB Corsair XMS2 ram at CAS:5 and Mem Timing:5-6-6-18 for $55 after MIR
    The second is a nice set of 2x2GB Corsair Dominator ram at CAS:5 and Mem Timing:5-5-5-15-2T for $80 after MIR

    I know a low CAS Latency is better because theirs fewer clock cycles. But I know little about memory timing other than lower is usually better.

    So how important is this and is it really worth an extra $25 for the better timings listed.

    Here's a link to the two ram sets:
    http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145247
    http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145214
     
  2. abuzar1

    abuzar1 Senior member

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    You will barely see a difference (like not even, it's gonna be something that would have to be measured by a resting program). They are both essentially cas5 memory. Just get the cheaper one.
     
  3. fuel_f2f

    fuel_f2f Regular member

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    Sounds good... I read in a few places it would only be noticeable in benchmarking programs and not really make a diff real world. But those sites were kinda crappy so I always come here for trusted advice.

    Thanks for the confirmation, I'm def gonna put in an order of the Corsair XMS2's
     
  4. abuzar1

    abuzar1 Senior member

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    No problem. And if you've got a good motherboard you can try lowering the timings to Cas4. Depending on how good the batch of memory it is, it might work.
     
  5. KillerBug

    KillerBug Active member

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    There isn't even much difference between cas9 and cas7...1/3 of a cas might not even be detected by some benchmark apps.
     

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