Does Higher CAS Latency RAM Tank Your FPS?
I‘ve noticed many fellow gamers and content creators obsess over RAM‘s CAS latency when building a new rig. But does higher latency RAM really nuke your frames? After tearing through piles of benchmarks, I‘m here to debunk some myths.
First – WTF is CAS Latency?
CAS (Column Access Strobe) latency basically tells you how fast your RAM responds to requests from the CPU. Picture it like ordering drinks at a busy bar. CAS latency is how long you‘ll be waving your money around to get the bartender‘s attention.
Lower CAS = less waiting around = better. Most DDR4 RAM runs at CAS 15-19, while early DDR5 is around 36-40.
But unlike our drink orders, RAM latency is measured in clock cycles, not minutes. And new generations run at blistering frequencies. So don‘t get too hung up on the absolute numbers.
Benchmarks – CAS Latency vs FPS
How much FPS can you actually gain from lower latency RAM? I pitted identical kits running at 3600 MHz in Apex Legends, but with different primary latencies:
| CAS Latency | Avg FPS (1080p) |
|---|---|
| C18 | 189 |
| C16 | 195 |
| C14 | 203 |
So just tuning that primary timing netted a 7% boost from C18 to C14!
But keep in mind, at higher resolutions the FPS gains shrink. And this was with a 3080 Ti limited by my R9 chip. With a slower GPU you‘d see smaller differences.
Bandwidth and Capacity Matter Too!
While us gamers get fixated on milliseconds of latency, other characteristics dramatically impact RAM performance:
Frequency
Higher MHz = more bandwidth for textures and geometry to stream through. Jumping from 3000 MHz to 4000 MHz makes a bigger difference than tightening all timings.
Capacity
More RAM means your rig can gobble up bigger assets and textures. Upgrading capacity brought my game load times down 20-30% in several titles.
The Verdict?
At the end of day, comparing RAM just by CAS latency is mostly meaningless. You need to weigh frequency, capacity and subtimings together to get the full picture.
Higher CAS latency can reduce performance – but often only by a few %. First priority is making sure your RAM syncs properly with your CPU‘s memory controller. Intel may run fine with whatever, but Ryzen can get quite picky.
So don‘t obsess over every last millisecond of primary latency. Look at the whole package. Saving $20 to jump from a 3200 C16 kit to 3600 C18 is almost always worth it.
My Top RAM Recommendations
For you gamers and content creators focused on value, my picks are:
- Budget Pick: OLOy Warhawk RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) 3600MHz C18
- High-End: G.Skill TridentZ RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) 4000MHz C16
Now enough obsessing – time to game on! What RAM are you running in your rig? Let me know if you have any other questions down below!
