CL17-3600Mhz or CL14-3200Mhz

[D!egoSnow]

The title is very self-explanatory, which model should I go with? I am trying to decide which RAM module to buy a CL14 with 3200Mhz frequency or a CL17 with a 3600Mhz frequency. Can someone help me?

[BetterThanLife]

CL14-3200Mhz

[mxk]

If it's Ryzen, CL14 3200 is my pick.

[Jurrunio]

Only reason to buy the 3200MHz CL14 kit is because you're using Ryzen and you're too lazy to set your own timings (as in, even the primary timings which has 5 to 7 values). Ryzen simply can't make 3600MHz profiles work without manual interference on most boards (and those that do will have horrible secondary and tertiary timings that make you lose performance and waste money).

 

Otherwise you should get the 3600 CL17 kit, it's a higher bin than 3200 CL14 so OC potential is higher. The performance difference with their XMP profiles on Intel is negligible (3600 CL17 has higher bandwidth, 3200 CL14 has lower latency), but Ryzen's design on linking memory frequency with uncore (infinity fabric) frequency makes 3600 CL17 perform better than 3200 CL14 at their rated settings respectively.

 

Oh, and the best value memory ratings is still 3000MHz CL16 because they are so cheap.

[Fasauceome]

The cl14 kit has lower real time latency and diminishing returns kicks in after 3200 for Ryzen so yeah 3200

[BigDamn]

Frequency > CAS latency

 

The theoretical latency on the 3200mhz is lower, but you will achieve better performance out of the 3600mhz set. Best case scenario is you get 3600mhz and can tighten up the timings.

[DailyProcrastinator]

CL14-3200Mhz

[mxk]

1 minute ago, BigDamn said:

Frequency > CAS latency

CL timings matter quite a bit on Ryzen.

[BigDamn]

29 minutes ago, mxk. said:

CL timings matter quite a bit on Ryzen.

Frequency gives you a higher performance ceiling. Out of the box performance will be negligible between the two. Tighten timings on the 3600mhz set and you'll be better off.