How much does CAS latency matter?

FuzzyLogic · July 31, 2017

I'm considering Team T-Force Dark or Corsair RAM, clocked at 3000MHz. Does CAS latency 14 give you any noticeable performance increase from C16? Lastly, which spec matters more: Frequency or latency?

ARikozuM · July 31, 2017

Both matter. I'd get the 3000/14 if the cost isn't too far off, i.e. no more than $30 or so.

Edit: Then again, you could just choose which looks better for your build.

FuzzyLogic · July 31, 2017

Well, I've found some reasonably priced Team RAM, but it's lowest latency is C15 at 3000MHz. Should I keep searching for C14 Ram or is C15 fine? BTW, it's going in a Ryzen system.

Jonathan Lemmens · July 31, 2017

15 minutes ago, thegreengamers said:

Well, I've found some reasonably priced Team RAM, but it's lowest latency is C15 at 3000MHz. Should I keep searching for C14 Ram or is C15 fine? BTW, it's going in a Ryzen system.

At the same speeds Lower latency will always be better, though beyond 3000-3200Mhz the law of diminishing returns can hit pretty hard, depending on your use case, and getting the rated timings working can be a bit finicky.

I think that CL14 vs CL 15 at 3000Mhz makes a negligible difference, if the price difference is equally small I'd go for the CL14 kit.