John Chad, Bachelor Degree in Computer Science & Computer Engineering.
Russel Collins
The new generation of CPUs from Intel and AMD have made a significant impact on PC gaming performance. The latest games take advantage of multi-core processors to deliver an amazing level of detail that is not possible with older hardware. However, for AMD CPUs like the Ryzen 5 5600x, RAM Speed affects its performance quite a bit, especially now with the new DDR5 sticks.
This article will help you choose the right kind of RAM for your new Ryzen CPU by understanding how it affects overall system performance.
We’ll also cover what size of RAM works well in laptops compared to desktops. Finally, we’ll explain why some manufacturers use different naming conventions when labeling their products. Picking a good motherboard is also key to ensure that your memory can reach, if you want a good motherboard you can read this guide.
At last, let’s dive into our recommended setup recommendations.
Recommended RAM Speed for Ryzen 5 5600x
Since Ryzen CPUs are quite dependent on RAM quality & speed, we would suggest a bare minimum of at least 3200Mhz DDR4, while anything above 3600Mhz would be perfect.
Going below 3200Mhz will affect how well your CPU will be able to perform, especially during gaming the difference will be more noticeable in terms of FPS.
If you can afford it, going with DDR5 sticks would be way better since DDR4 to DDR5 is a massive jump in terms of performance.
What does RAM Speed affect in AMD CPUs?
As mentioned earlier, RAM speed determines how fast data travels through your computer.
A higher MHz means faster transfer rates. Generally speaking, lower latencies result in better overall performance. On top of that, having faster frequencies reduces power consumption, allowing you to run longer periods without needing to be plugged in.
However, too high of speeds could potentially increase errors due to interference from other components like graphics cards and hard drives.
Also, if your computer runs hot, the temperature inside increases dramatically. And finally, overclocking isn’t always necessary—you might actually end up sacrificing performance instead of gaining it.
What does RAM Size do?
Since RAM dictates how many programs your processor has open simultaneously, increasing its capacity allows you to multitask more efficiently. However, larger amounts of memory size aren’t always needed. Sometimes less space provides optimal results.
If you have enough room, adding extra DRAM generally gives you negligible gains. Furthermore, upgrading to 32 GB usually costs hundreds more dollars. Most people simply shouldn’t bother spending money on bigger packages unless they absolutely require them.
That being said, certain tasks demand large amounts of resources. Gaming requires loads of RAM.
Streaming video takes more juice than normal browsing.
Video editing eats up lots of memory size. When performing intensive tasks, consider investing in a beefier package.
In terms of actual physical size, 8 GB is sufficient for everyday tasks like web surfing. Upgrading to 16 GB is beneficial if you regularly perform resource-intensive activities like playing games or running multiple applications at once.
On average, desktop users rarely reach the upper range of 32 GB of RAM.
DDR4 vs DDR5 for Ryzen 5 5600x
There are five key factors that differentiate DDR4 versus DDR5: throughput rate, power efficiency, signal integrity, operating voltages, and device temperatures.
To learn more about these aspects, we recommend checking out Anandtech’s thorough comparison of DDR4 and DDR5 in this link: https://www.anandtech.com/show/17047/the-intel-12th-gen-core-i912900k-review-hybrid-performance-brings-hybrid-complexity/12
Conclusion
So now you know everything about selecting the appropriate RAM for your AMD processor. Now it’s time to relax and enjoy your first foray into customizing your rig. Hopefully, you learned something useful throughout this entire process, and hopefully, nothing was lost along the way.
If you ever run into trouble during installation, feel free to drop us a comment below. We’re happy to answer questions and assist you in getting started.