Worth upgrading RAM from CL11 to CL9 ?

Hi Guys. I run DDR3L 11-11-11-28 modules for now.
Found this. Should I upgrade? What kind of performance increase should I expect?
I do RAW processing and BF4.
Thanks.

 

Best guess: none.

(or, at least nothing worth 4x $81.99 + shipping and taxes worth).

 

Moving to dual channel from single channel alone, gave me a 9% CPU boost (in any CPU test) and a 5fps increase in BF4 (from 60 to 65 in a predefined bench).

I know moving from CL11 to CL9 will speed up things, but how much?

 

No doubt it did - but you now have 4x 8GB Sodimms right?

Your gain will not even be worth the shipping costs (and yeah: I know that it can be 'free shipping').

 

See this. The tests conducted demonstrate performance increases both, when increasing memory clock and while keeping the clock constant and changing timings.

As you can see, there is not much difference, definitely not worth upgrading if your current SODIMMs are perfectly fine and even if you have to purchase new modules, purchasing those with better CL ratings would be warranted only if the price is not significantly higher.

This is probably because most of today's commercial programs are written such that the CPU hits in L1 close to 90% of the time. That way, the memory only comes into play on cache misses.

 

Excellent reading maverick, thank you.

 

On BF4 there will be little to no difference. Now working on RAW files could be an issue. But this is only if the amount of current ram is limiting you. As mentioned earlier the cas difference is worth it only if cost is a minimal increase..................

 

Sure thing. Actually, this is a more up-to-date (and relevant) article on the same topic.

 

maverick1989,

Thanks for that last link (post #8) - that is where I was basing my input from (but couldn't find/remember where from).

As the OP is considering switching PC12800 Sodimms with PC12800 Sodimms with the only difference being the subtimings; I still think the cost is not worth it.


Unless he/she can tweak the ram modules in the system's BIOS (and maybe with the Asus G750JX, it's possible) to get more MHz and lower subtimings, together.




...

 

Take a look at this article. If you put CL9 DDR3L in the system will it even run it at CL9?

 

I would've thought memory bandwidth is equally important with RAW processing. The problem with most memory modules with non-standard JEDEC timings is that they have the advertised profile as an XMP setting which most laptops cannot access. The default profile is almost invariably 1333mhz CL9. You first have to determine if your machine can enabler XMP profiles, secondly, if you are to do a memory upgrade, I would go the full hog for something aggressive like 2133mhz CL11 (the new G.Skill kits) otherwise it isnt really worthwhile.

 

Have you considered lowering the timings with Thaiphoon Burner? Might be able to get to CL10 or even CL9 without much trouble...