Future proofing, RAM upgrade worth it?

[Kickflapper]

I7 4790k 4.6 OC'd

24 GB DDR3 RAM @ 1600hz

Samsung 850 evo SSD

EVGA 980ti 

 

My RAM came from an existing system. It is cheap RAM. Would it be worth downgrading to 16gb @ 2400hz vs keeping 24gb @ 1600hz with the I7's extra cache and higher OC? I could resell the old and buy the newer, faster RAM around the same price. I mostly game, multitask, and would like to keep it current. Yes I have seen Linus' comparison, so please let me know if you have personal experience. Ultimate Question should I get 16gb 2400hz RAM vs 24gb 1600hz? I never really use all the RAM.

 

[manikyath]

i did some testing on my laptop (quadcore i7) with cpu/ram heavy tasks between it's stock 6GB 1600MHz ram, and an 8GB kit 1333MHz ram, and the conclusion more or less was that the extra ram far outweighed the hilareously little extra performance gotten from 1600MHz over 1333MHz (we're talking within margin of error in terms of difference here)

 

TLDR: while 2400MHz *may* benefit your system's performance, it's not worth the money, nor the time.

[Praesi]

When you upgrade ure CPU and switch to DDR4, than you can go for faster  RAM. In your case now, its not necessary.

[ThomJV]

I'd recommend wating with upgrading your RAM until you find that your current RAM is causing problems during usage. If the RAM is fine as it is currently, leave it. Only change it when necessairy, as RAM will get better and better and cheaper as well. At least those are my thoughts

[faziten]

Ram speed ONLY makes a difference in situations where your CPU is 100% use. 

You won't put that i7 to 100% easily.

 

BUT!

 

Your ram configuration is weird (is it 3x8GB? 1x16GB + 1x8GB?). At least i can guarantee you are not in dual channel configuration since there are no 12GB nor 6GB modules out there and that CPU can only work up to 2 memory channels... so you are already loosing 50% of memory bandwidth. I'd start to remove the odd one (if 3x8GB) and install the ram in a Dual Channel array (follow your Motherboard's manual). THAT alone will give you more extra bandwidth than any frequency of DDR3 you can think of. In the other hand if you have a 16GB module and 8GB module you can sell them and buy a dual channel kit. But this won't change the fact mentioned above. Ram Speed only benefits when CPU is at 100% and even then it's not a lineal increase. 

 

For educational purposes do a quick memory bandwidth test before and after you set it to dual channel, you will see a huge improvement (Spoiler: 2X speed). 

 

cheers!

 

 

[smokefest]

I would stick to ur 24 GB