Browsing Benchmark and Productivity Testing with Overclocked RAM
This is a browsing benchmark that emulates real-world applications such as applying photo filters, file management, data protection, and other tasks that users typically do online. The test results show a score of 256 on overclock settings, which is slightly higher than the stock setting of 250.
The next test was a 40-second 4K render video on DaVinci Resolve, an editing software similar to Adobe Premiere. Under stock settings, the test took 1 minute and 3 seconds to complete, while with overclocked RAM, it completed in just 59 seconds, demonstrating a small but noticeable benefit from using overclocked RAM.
For productivity tests, we ran how long it took to compile code for our website, Hardware Sugar (hw.sugar.ph), with non-overclocked RAM taking 11.4 seconds, and with overclocked RAM, it only took 10.5 seconds. This shows a small but noticeable improvement in performance from using overclocked RAM.
Another productivity test was conducted with the Black Magic benchmark, which simulates working with 8K videos. The stock setting resulted in 26 FPS, while the overclocked RAM setting increased to 28 FPS, demonstrating an improvement of two frames per second.
For our final productivity test, we used WinRAR to compress files with a total size of 12.8 gigabytes. Under non-overclocked conditions, it took 9 minutes and 54 seconds, while with overclocked RAM, it completed in just 8 minutes and 21 seconds, showing an advantage of 15% in terms of performance.
Gaming Performance with Overclocked RAM
When it comes to gaming, there is a clear advantage to using overclocked RAM. We tested this with various games, including Valerant, which showed significant performance gains ranging from 10 to 40 FPS. The exact results varied depending on the game and settings used, but overall, overclocking RAM provided noticeable improvements in gameplay.
While we do not recommend pushing frame rates beyond what is supported by your monitor's refresh rate (e.g., 60 FPS or 120 FPS), having faster frames per second can still provide a sense of smoothness and responsiveness. If you have the hardware to take advantage of higher frame rates, overclocking RAM can be a distinct advantage.
Choosing Overclocked RAM Settings
When it comes to choosing overclocked RAM settings, there are two options: using XMP profiles or manually configuring settings. In general, the XMP profile is sufficient for most users and provides most of the performance gains that can be achieved from overclocking RAM.
However, for those who enjoy tweaking and experimenting with their hardware, manually configuring settings can provide more control over performance. This requires a significant amount of time and effort to find the optimal settings, as even small variations in frequency, timing, and latency can affect performance. Some people may enjoy this process, but it is not recommended for casual users.
Recommendations
Based on our testing, we recommend using overclocked RAM with XMP profiles for most users. This provides a balance between ease of use and performance gains. For those who want to push their RAM to its limits, manually configuring settings can provide more control over performance. However, this requires significant expertise and time.
Additionally, buying an SSD or more RAM is often a better option than fiddling with the speeds of your current RAM. Upgrading your storage or increasing the amount of RAM you have installed can provide more noticeable benefits in terms of performance and responsiveness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, using overclocked RAM can be beneficial for certain types of applications, such as gaming, where it provides significant performance gains. For productivity apps, while there is some benefit to using overclocked RAM, it may not be noticeable for most users. However, buying an SSD or increasing the amount of RAM installed is often a better option than tweaking RAM settings.