I. Preface
A while ago, I shared a gaming performance comparison between DDR5-6000 and DDR5-8400. At that stage, DDR5-6000 was gradually being phased out by the market, with mainstream builds generally starting at DDR5-7200.
However, things change unpredictably. Today, the price of DDR5 memory has skyrocketed to a high point, forcing many users to reconsider last-generation processors and DDR4 memory—a rather awkward situation. Given this context, this article will share a gaming performance comparison between DDR4-2666 and DDR4-3200 for those who are interested.
II. Test Platform Configuration
The primary specifications are as follows:
- CPU: Ryzen 5 5600X
- Motherboard: GIGABYTE AORUS Master B550
- RAM: 32GB DDR4-2666MHz vs. 32GB DDR4-3200MHz
- GPU: GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
- Storage: ADATA XPG S40G 512GB
- OS: Windows 10
III. Gaming Benchmarks
We tested seven games at 1080P settings. In the data below, the left values represent the DDR4-2666 platform and the right values represent the DDR4-3200 platform.
1. Cyberpunk 2077
- DDR4-2666: 68 FPS (Avg), 49 FPS (1% Low), 16.8ms Frametime, 74% CPU Usage, 51% GPU Usage.
- DDR4-3200: 71 FPS (Avg), 51 FPS (1% Low), 13.7ms Frametime, 73% CPU Usage, 61% GPU Usage.
- Analysis: CPU usage was nearly identical. However, the DDR4-3200 platform saw 10% higher GPU usage. The average frame rate increased by 3 FPS with a 3ms reduction in frametime—a small but noticeable advantage.
2. Spider-Man 2
- DDR4-2666: 102 FPS (Avg), 65 FPS (1% Low), 12.2ms Frametime, 69% CPU Usage, 56% GPU Usage.
- DDR4-3200: 109 FPS (Avg), 70 FPS (1% Low), 12.5ms Frametime, 68% CPU Usage, 62% GPU Usage.
- Analysis: CPU and RAM usage were equal. The DDR4-3200 platform offered 7 more FPS on average and a 5 FPS increase in 1% lows, showing a clear performance lead.
3. Battlefield 2042 (Battlefield 6)
- DDR4-2666: 107 FPS (Avg), 76 FPS (1% Low), 10.0ms Frametime.
- DDR4-3200: 106 FPS (Avg), 71 FPS (1% Low), 8.9ms Frametime.
- Analysis: Both platforms performed essentially the same here. The DDR4-3200 platform was actually 1 FPS slower on average, resulting in a functional tie.
4. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- DDR4-2666: 86 FPS (Avg), 71 FPS (1% Low), 10.2ms Frametime, 46% CPU Usage, 72% GPU Usage.
- DDR4-3200: 91 FPS (Avg), 76 FPS (1% Low), 10.3ms Frametime, 46% CPU Usage, 78% GPU Usage.
- Analysis: With a 5 FPS lead in both average and minimum frame rates, the DDR4-3200 platform shows a distinct advantage.
5. Silent Hill f
- DDR4-2666: 72 FPS (Avg), 43 FPS (1% Low), 11.8ms Frametime.
- DDR4-3200: 76 FPS (Avg), 45 FPS (1% Low), 11.6ms Frametime.
- Analysis: CPU usage was identical, but the DDR4-3200 platform maintained a consistent 4 FPS lead.
6. Mafia: The Old Country
- DDR4-2666: 84 FPS (Avg), 57 FPS (1% Low), 11.1ms Frametime, 72% CPU Usage, 84% GPU Usage.
- DDR4-3200: 92 FPS (Avg), 64 FPS (1% Low), 10.6ms Frametime, 72% CPU Usage, 91% GPU Usage.
- Analysis: The DDR4-3200 platform saw a significant 8 FPS increase. Higher GPU usage (91% vs 84%) suggests the faster memory helped the GPU work more efficiently.
7. The Last of Us Part II
- DDR4-2666: 101 FPS (Avg), 61 FPS (1% Low), 7.7ms Frametime, 88% CPU Usage, 78% GPU Usage.
- DDR4-3200: 116 FPS (Avg), 74 FPS (1% Low), 7.3ms Frametime, 88% CPU Usage, 84% GPU Usage.
- Analysis: This game showed the biggest gap, with the DDR4-3200 platform leading by 15 FPS on average and 13 FPS in minimums.
IV. Conclusion
Based on the data from these seven games, we can draw the following conclusions for a Ryzen 5 5600X and RTX 5060 Ti build:
- Performance: While the jump from DDR4-2666 to DDR4-3200 isn’t “transformative,” it provides a perceivable and significant boost in most titles.
- CPU Impact: CPU usage remained nearly identical across both platforms. However, the DDR4-3200 setup consumed slightly more power (2–6W), which is a normal result of the memory controller operating at a higher frequency.
- GPU Impact: In most games, the DDR4-3200 platform resulted in higher GPU utilization. This indicates that faster memory reduces the data bottleneck between the CPU and RAM, allowing the RTX 5060 Ti to perform closer to its full potential (reducing the “starvation” of the GPU).
- Memory/VRAM: RAM usage varied slightly with no clear pattern, likely due to game engine optimization. VRAM usage remained consistent, showing that memory frequency does not affect VRAM demand.
Final Verdict: If you are planning to build a system with a Ryzen 5000 series processor, it is strongly recommended to use DDR4-3200 or higher. It allows the platform to fully unleash its performance, making the small price difference well worth it.
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