How does RAM Speed affect PC’s performance?

The output of your computer is influenced by a number of factors. The central processing unit (CPU), also known as the processor, is a critical component – it goes without saying that the faster the CPU, the faster your PC can run. Solid-state drives (SSDs) are much faster than traditional spinning hard disc drives in terms of storage (HDDs). RAM (memory) speed is another significant performance factor. Not all RAM is created equal, Some people are much faster than others. The difference won't be noticeable to the average web surfer, but if you're a gamer or a creative professional, RAM speed might be critical.

This guide will explain how RAM speed influences PC performance and introduce you to the concept of RAM speed.

The data transfer rate is the first and most commonly mentioned aspect of RAM speed. Simply put, this is the sum of data that your RAM will send and receive from your CPU. Most RAM today is referred to as Double Data Rate (DDR) RAM, with a number following the acronym indicating the generation. DDR4 for the fourth and current generation, for example. Then there's a number that indicates how fast it can perform a task measured in Megahertz (MHz), or millions of cycles per second.

RAM speeds range from DDR4-1600 (or 1,600MHz data rate) to DDR4-3200 at the time of writing (or a 3,200MHz data rate). RAM is also written as a PC4 specification, which equals the data rate multiplied by eight. DDR4-1600 is also known as PC4-12800, and DDR4-3200 is also known as PC4-25600.

All of this means that the higher the data rate, the faster the RAM will be. That's what there is to it. Modern RAM performs better when placed in matched memory module pairs – the “Double Data Rate” component of DDR4 stands for “Double Data Rate”. The data rate would be half of the specification if only one memory module is mounted or if mismatched modules are used. DDR4-3200, for example, will only run at 1,600MHz.

The timing or latency rate is the next component of RAM speed that you might see specified for a memory module. We won't go through this in depth because it's incredibly complex, but when reading RAM specs, you'll see numbers formatted like 7-8-8-24. These four numbers reflect the amount of time it takes the RAM to perform various tasks. In general, the lower these numbers are, the quicker the RAM will be.

To emphasise the argument, if you can afford it, faster components are often preferable. However, for most people, RAM speed is less critical than CPU, GPU, and storage performance, and it's often easier to have more RAM than faster RAM. If you want to speed up your PC, investing in additional RAM modules, a faster CPU, a more powerful GPU, or an SSD rather than an HDD can give you more bang for your buck.