In our last article talked about the GPU core clock for gaming. Today, we focus on memory clock speed and its importance for gamers. Some will say it is all about the core clock, while others may say memory is crucial. What is it? Good question.
We will cover the following:
- Is the VRAM clock important for gaming?
- Core clock vs memory clock for gaming
- What is a good memory clock for gaming?
- Does overclocking VRAM increase fps?
- How to safely OC your memory clock for gaming
That being said, whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to the scene, buckle up and join me on this insightful journey as we explore the nitty-gritty of GPU memory and its significance in leveling up your gaming adventures.
Does the VRAM clock matter for gaming?
In simple terms, the VRAM clock is the speed at which the memory on GPU operates. VRAM is the memory used to store and handle images, textures, and other graphical data for games and applications.
The faster the VRAM clock, the quicker the GPU can access and process this data, resulting in better performance in visually demanding tasks like gaming. This is especially true for games with high-resolution textures or detailed models and when playing at higher resolutions or with higher settings.
Ok, which one is more important, the core or the memory clock?
Short answer: it depends on the game.
Look, you can overclock the core clock without even touching the memory. However, I would recommend maintaining the balance between the two to optimize performance; otherwise, you can experience a bottleneck. Here is the analogy.
Imagine your graphics card as a water pipe. If you gently squeeze the top of the pipe, you’ll observe that the water flows with greater pressure (core clock speed), but the volume of water remains unchanged. Only the force is different.
Now, if you expand the pipe’s diameter (memory clock speed), a larger volume of water can flow through. When you apply pressure to the pipe in this scenario, you’ll notice that more water is being released at a higher pressure.
In short, to achieve the best gaming performance, you must balance both core and memory clock speeds to maximize data throughput and avoid potential bottlenecks.
I noticed that some people are mixing VRAM clock with VRAM bandwidth. They are not the same things. GPU memory clock speed refers to the speed at which the memory modules on the graphics card are clocked, or how many times per second they can transfer data. It is typically measured in MHz or GHz.
On the other hand, memory bandwidth is the amount of data that can be moved between the GPU and the VRAM in a given amount of time and is usually measured in GB/s. It is affected by a combination of factors, including the GPU memory clock speed, the memory bus width, and the memory type.
So, now that we know the VRAM clock does matter for gaming let’s see what would be a good memory clock for this purpose.
What is a good GPU memory clock speed for gaming?
If you are asking this question, you are asking for two possible reasons: you are looking to buy a GPU and wonder what VRAM speed you should go for, or you just want to know how much you should OC your VRAM clock.
It’s impossible to pinpoint a specific memory clock speed that is considered “good” for gaming since various factors contribute to GPU performance. These include the GPU’s architecture, core clock speed, the number of processing units, and the type of VRAM (e.g., GDDR5, GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM2).
As of my knowledge, GDDR6 memory is the most popular memory type among GPUs, with memory clock speeds ranging from 12,000 to 16,000 MHz effective (3,000 to 4,000 MHz base).
As a result, you will find it in various graphics cards from both NVIDIA and AMD, including popular models like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series and AMD Radeon RX 6000 series.
| VRAM Type | Base Speed | Effective Speed |
| GDDR5 | 1250-2000 MHz | 5000-8000 Mhz |
| GDDR6 | 3000 – 4000 MHz | 12,000 – 16,000 MHz |
| GDDR6X | 4750 – 5250 MHz | 19,000 – 21,000 MHz |
Does overclocking VRAM increase fps? (test results)
As we know, FPS is a measure of the number of frames per second your game can render the images on your display. The higher it is, the smoother your experience will be.
While overclocking VRAM will typically produce more FPS, it is not always the case.
As we said before, some games are more VRAM-sensitive than others. So, if you overclock VRAM in one game, you might not see any difference; in another, you may see a noticeable change.
Here are some tests.
Test 1)
In the first test, we have a comparison of VRAM overclocking results on two cards: RX 480 and GTX 1060.
Witcher 3 VRAM overclocking comparison
| GPU | Stock Clock / FPS | OC Clock / FPS |
| RX 480 | 8000 MHz / 78 FPS | 8700 MHz / 82 FPS |
| GTX 1060 | 8000 MHz / 76 | 9400 MHz / 83 FPS |
*Resolution: 1080p
*Game Settings: Ultra NO HW / NO HBAQ+
Rise of the Tomb Raider VRAM overclocking comparison
| GPU | Stock Clock / FPS | OC Clock / FPS |
| RX 480 | 8000 MHz / 57 FPS | 8700 MHz / 59 FPS |
| GTX 1060 | 8000 MHz / 52 | 9400 MHz / 56 FPS |
*Resolution: 1080p
*Game Settings: Very High preset + Very High Purehair + Very High Specular
GTA V VRAM overclocking comparison
| GPU | Stock Clock / FPS | OC Clock / FPS |
| RX 480 | 8000 MHz / 61 FPS | 8700 MHz / 64 FPS |
| GTX 1060 | 8000 MHz / 64 | 9400 MHz / 68 FPS |
*Resolution: 1080p
*Game Settings: Ultra No MSAA
As we can see, overclocking VRAM increases FPS, even without core overclock.
Test 2)
GPUs tested: GTX 1070 and GTX 980 Ti
This guy did an wonderful analysis of comparing core clock OC vs memory clock OC vs OC both.
GTX 1070 4K gaming
| GTX 1070 | Average FPS |
| Stock | 77 FPS |
| Core OC | +2.5 FPS |
| Memory OC | +1.5 FPS |
| Both | +4 FPS |
GTX 980 Ti 1440p gaming
| GTX 1070 | Average FPS |
| Stock | 97 FPS |
| Core OC | +3.5 FPS |
| Memory OC | +1.22 FPS |
| Both | +6.6 FPS |
Based on the data provided, we can make the following observations and conclusions:
- Overclocking the core clock, memory clock, or both results in an increase in average FPS for both the GTX 1070 (4K gaming) and GTX 980 Ti (1440p gaming) when compared to their stock configurations.
- Overclocking the core clock alone appears to significantly impact the average FPS more than overclocking the memory clock alone for both GPUs.
- Combining core clock and memory clock overclocking leads to the highest FPS gains, with the GTX 1070 gaining an average of 4 FPS and the GTX 980 Ti gaining an average of 6.6 FPS.
This data suggests that while overclocking both core and memory clock speeds can lead to noticeable performance improvements, core clock overclocking has a more substantial impact on the FPS compared to memory clock overclocking alone.
The combined overclocking of both core and memory clocks provides the best overall performance gains, indicating that a balance between the two is essential for maximizing gaming performance.
However, it’s important to note that these results may vary depending on the specific game, system configuration, and other factors.
How to safely increase memory clock for gaming
To increase the VRAM clock speed of your GPU safely, follow these steps:
- Research your GPU model
Before starting, familiarize yourself with the specifications and limitations of your GPU. Look for information on safe overclocking ranges and known issues that might be specific to your GPU model.
- Backup your data
Overclocking may cause system instability, so it’s a good idea to back up any critical data before proceeding.
- Update your drivers
Ensure that you have the latest GPU drivers installed, as they can contain important updates and optimizations for overclocking.
- Use reliable overclocking software
Choose reputable overclocking software, such as MSI Afterburner, EVGA Precision X1, or ASUS GPU Tweak II, to adjust your GPU’s memory clock speed.
- Monitor temperatures
Keep an eye on your GPU temperatures while overclocking. It’s crucial to ensure that the temperatures stay within safe limits, usually below 85°C (185°F) for most GPUs.
- Incremental adjustments
Increase the memory clock speed gradually in small increments (e.g., 50-100 MHz at a time). After each adjustment, test the stability and performance of your GPU.
- Game testing
Test the overclock in actual gaming scenarios to ensure that it provides the desired performance improvements without causing any issues.
During the stability tests, watch for visual artifacts, such as flickering, odd colors, or graphical glitches. These could indicate that the memory clock speed is too high and needs to be reduced.
- Adjust as needed
If your GPU passes the stability tests and shows no artifacts, you can try increasing the memory clock speed further. However, if you encounter issues, lower the memory clock speed until you find a stable setting.
Remember that every GPU is different, and your results may vary depending on your specific hardware and system configuration. Since overclocking can have inherent risks, such as potential hardware damage or reduced lifespan, proceed with caution and at your own risk.