Ever since I started my gaming journey, I have always wanted to find ways to improve my gaming experience. Well, one of the ways is to simply increase FPS. We know about the importance of GPU overclocking, but we rarely hear about overclocking the RAM. So, if you have ever wondered whether OC your memory increases FPS, you are at the right place.
In this article, I will give my best to provide you with an informative and easy-to-understand answer about the relationship between RAM and FPS.
After doing some really extensive research, I came to the following conclusion:
Overclocking RAM can potentially increase FPS in certain scenarios, particularly when games are CPU intensive. However, the impact on FPS may vary depending on the game, hardware, and baseline RAM speed. In most cases, you will see a 2-15% FPS increase when OC the RAM.
Now, let’s dive a little deeper, shall we?
Relationship between RAM and FPS
As a computer geek, I’ve always been fascinated by the relationship between RAM and FPS. I mean, who doesn’t want to have a smooth gaming experience with high FPS? Over the years, I’ve talked with fellow gamers about their experiences and how RAM has influenced their gaming performance.
RAM is like your computer’s short-term memory, temporarily storing data for quick access by the CPU. It’s essential for multitasking and running memory-intensive applications like games. On the other hand, FPS is a measure of how smoothly a game runs, with higher FPS numbers indicating better performance.
A guy had a budget gaming rig and struggled with low FPS in some games. He had just 8GB of RAM, and after upgrading to 16GB, he noticed a significant improvement in FPS and overall gameplay. This is a prime example of how insufficient RAM can lead to poor gaming performance, especially in modern games that demand more memory resources.
But what about the speed of the RAM? Another guy I know had a high-end gaming PC with fast RAM, but he was curious if overclocking his RAM could squeeze out even more FPS.
After some research and testing, he discovered that overclocking his RAM did improve FPS in certain games, particularly those that were more CPU-bound or relied heavily on memory bandwidth.
However, the gains were not always consistent, and the impact on FPS varied depending on the game and other hardware components.
One thing we all learned is that while RAM can indeed influence FPS, it’s not the only factor at play. The performance of the CPU and GPU are often more critical in determining gaming performance. So while upgrading or overclocking RAM can potentially help increase FPS, you have to consider other bottlenecks in the system as well.
Potential overclocking limitations
Now that we know how these two relate to each other, let’s see what limitations could stand in your way to successfully OC your RAM.
I will start with the motherboard. The motherboard is like the central hub of your computer, connecting all the components together. For example, when you’re overclocking your RAM, the motherboard plays a vital role because it determines the supported RAM types, speeds, and configurations.
As you might assume, different motherboards come with different specifications, and some might have more advanced options for overclocking than others.
For instance, some motherboards feature specific BIOS options that let you tweak RAM settings, like voltage, frequency, and timings. These options can vary between manufacturers and models. High-end motherboards, often marketed as gaming or overclocking-oriented, typically have more advanced settings and better power delivery systems, which can provide a more stable overclocking environment.
On the other hand, if you have an older mobo that is capped at 2133Mhz, but your RAM can go beyond that (let’s say 3200), you cannot OC the RAM. This is why we always recommend checking your motherboard’s RAM compatibilities.
After mobo, there is another potential limitation called CPU. The CPU is your computer’s brain. It processes instructions and performs calculations. Regarding RAM overclocking, the CPU’s integrated memory controller (IMC) is crucial.
The IMC is responsible for managing the communication between the CPU and the RAM. Different CPUs can handle different RAM speeds, and the maximum supported RAM speed is usually listed in the CPU specifications.
If you’re using some lower-end CPU, you might not see much benefit from having high-speed RAM. For instance, if your CPU supports RAM speeds up to 2666 MHz and you have a 3200 MHz RAM module, your RAM will only work at 2666 MHz. You won’t be able to run it at full speed, let alone overclock it. Similarly, if your CPU supports up to 3200 MHz RAM and you have a matching 3200 MHz module, your RAM will work at its full speed, but overclocking won’t yield noticeable improvements.
However, if you have a high-end CPU, the story is quite different. You’ll likely experience tangible performance gains when you overclock your RAM. But even then, there’s a limit to how much you can push it. For example, if your CPU supports RAM speeds up to 4267 MHz and you have a 3200 MHz module, your RAM will operate at its full capacity. Overclocking will yield performance benefits, but only up to a point.
As you reach the upper limit of your CPU’s supported RAM speed, the benefits of overclocking will gradually diminish. If you manage to overclock your RAM to 4267 MHz, pushing it further would not only be pointless but could also compromise your system’s stability and lifespan.
Additionally, the quality of the IMC can vary between individual CPUs, even among those with the same model number. This phenomenon is known as the “silicon lottery.” So, while one person might be able to push their RAM to a higher speed, another person with the same CPU might not have the same luck.
Finally, not all RAM modules are made equal. In fact, they are mostly different. For instance, different brands optimize their RAM differently, which means that if you try combining them, you might run into some issues. Moreover, some RAM kits are specifically made for OC and come with high-end chips that can handle these high speeds. Contrary, other RAM kits may not achieve the same OC results.
Overclocking RAM results
To find some actual numbers, we first had to go to JayzTwoCents. He did an amazing job of comparing FPS performance with stock RAM vs XMP.
Here are the results:
| Game | Stock RAM | XMP |
| SOTTR | 135 FPS | 162 FPS |
| Far Cry 5 | 133 FPS | 164 FPS |
| Wildlands | 93 FPS | 96 FPS |
Looking at the data from these three popular games, it’s clear that enabling XMP and overclocking RAM can have a positive impact on FPS. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider (SOTTR), we see a significant jump from 135 FPS with stock RAM settings to 162 FPS with XMP enabled. This improvement demonstrates the potential benefits of optimizing RAM for gaming performance.
Similarly, Far Cry 5 experiences a substantial boost in FPS when XMP is enabled, going from 133 FPS with stock RAM to 164 FPS. This further highlights the value of tweaking RAM settings to get the most out of your gaming rig.
In the case of Wildlands, the performance gain is more modest, with FPS increasing from 93 to 96 after enabling XMP. While the improvement may not be as dramatic as in the other two games, it still showcases the potential benefits of RAM overclocking.
Also, as we can see in this video, increasing RAM speed will usually give you more FPS. For instance, here are some numbers taken from this benchmark:
| Game | 2133 MHz | 2666 MHz | 3200 MHz |
| Forza Horizon 4 | 161 FPS | 169 FPS | 176 FPS |
| Kingdom Come Deliverance | 107 FPS | 119 FPS | 129 FPS |
| Battlefield V | 102 FPS | 110 FPS | 114 FPS |
| Hitman 2 | 82 FPS | 93 FPS | 101 FPS |
| Far Cry New Dawn | 106 FPS | 113 FPS | 116 FPS |
Analyzing the data from these five games, we can draw some interesting takeaways regarding the relationship between RAM speed and FPS:
In Forza Horizon 4, increasing RAM speed from 2133 MHz to 2666 MHz results in an 8 FPS gain, while further increasing to 3200 MHz adds another 7 FPS. This demonstrates a consistent improvement in performance as RAM speed increases.
Kingdom Come Deliverance sees even more significant gains with higher RAM speeds. The jump from 2133 MHz to 2666 MHz results in a 12 FPS increase, and moving up to 3200 MHz adds another 10 FPS.
Battlefield V also benefits from faster RAM, with a 2133 MHz to 2666 MHz increase yielding an 8 FPS boost and a further increase to 3200 MHz adding 4 more FPS.
Hitman 2 shows a substantial FPS improvement as RAM speed increases. The difference between 2133 MHz and 2666 MHz RAM results in an 11 FPS gain, and going up to 3200 MHz adds another 8 FPS.
In Far Cry New Dawn, there is a 7 FPS increase when moving from 2133 MHz to 2666 MHz, while the jump to 3200 MHz results in a more modest 3 FPS gain.
These results highlight the positive impact of faster RAM on gaming performance across various titles. While the magnitude of improvement may vary, it’s evident that higher RAM speeds can contribute to better FPS in different gaming scenarios.
For those eager to dive into the world of overclocking, the Patriot Viper 4400MHz CL19-19-19-39 or a comparable kit from G. Skill are our top-notch choices. These memory kits boast premium Samsung B-die memory chips, offering lower latency and superior overclocking capabilities compared to other DDR4 types.
Samsung B-die chips come in 8GB per rank, and it seems there aren’t any 16GB modules with this specification. However, if you’re seeking dual rank and have four memory slots available, you can simply purchase two kits. I would also note that you might need to fine-tune the settings a bit to achieve stability with four sticks. But as an overclocking enthusiast, you’re likely prepared to make those adjustments to optimize your system’s performance.
In case you have a Samsung B-die RAM, listen up. When overclocking them, watch your temperatures. Namely, these memory modules are very sensitive to heat, and maintaining tight timings can become challenging if temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
So, if you find yourself struggling to overclock your RAM, try placing a fan directly over the modules for some active cooling. This little trick can help you keep temperatures in check and potentially stabilize your overclocked RAM.
Manual overclock vs enabling XMP
These are the two methods of optimizing your RAM for higher performance. However, there are key differences between the two approaches:
Manual RAM Overclocking
In this method, you manually adjust the RAM settings in the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) of your motherboard. You can tweak parameters such as memory frequency, timings, and voltage to achieve higher performance. This process requires a good understanding of the RAM’s capabilities and some trial and error to find stable settings that improve performance without causing system instability.
Pros:
- Greater control over RAM settings, allowing for potentially higher performance gains.
- Fine-tuning settings can lead to better compatibility with other hardware components.
Cons:
- Requires a deeper understanding of memory parameters and hardware limitations.
- Risk of system instability or damage if settings are not carefully optimized.
Enabling XMP
XMP is a feature provided by Intel and supported by many motherboard manufacturers. It’s an easy way to overclock RAM without manually adjusting settings. XMP profiles are preset configurations stored in the RAM module by the manufacturer, allowing for faster speeds and optimized timings at the push of a button. By enabling XMP in your motherboard’s BIOS or UEFI, you can automatically apply these profiles to achieve improved performance.
Some people do not consider enabling XMP overclocking. I would agree. Technically speaking, you are setting your RAM like it is advertised to do, nothing more.
Pros:
- Simplifies the overclocking process, making it more accessible to users with limited technical knowledge.
- Offers stable, manufacturer-approved settings.
Cons:
- Limited control over individual RAM parameters.
- Potentially lower performance gains compared to manual overclocking.