{"id":65230,"date":"2026-06-22T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=65230"},"modified":"2026-06-22T14:32:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T13:32:43","slug":"optimising-ddr5-memory-timings-for-maximum-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/optimising-ddr5-memory-timings-for-maximum-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Optimising DDR5\u00a0Memory Timings for Maximum Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s time for some overclocking! Today, we\u2019re explaining how to optimise DDR5 memory timings and boost your gaming PC\u2019s performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DDR5 memory has become the new SDRAM standard over the past few years, and delivers roughly double the bandwidth of its predecessor, DDR4. But, with many gamers looking to access higher memory speeds without investing in new RAM, sometimes a bit of overclocking is necessary! Join us as we explain the intricacies of DDR5 memory timings, and how they can be optimised to boost PC performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Are DDR5 Memory Timings?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When your processor requests data, there will be a delay in clock cycles between the request being made and when the data is received. This is called memory timing, and DDR5 RAM currently offers the quickest clock speeds, allowing for much faster theoretical data transfer than previous generations.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A faster clock speed, though, also means an increase in latency. That said, a RAM with speedier clock speeds will be able to negate this increase in real-world latency simply because the requests for data (clock speeds) are much more frequent.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A DDR4 RAM kit has a lower latency, somewhere around the CL14 mark, compared to a DDR5 RAM kit, which is usually around CL30.\u00a0In terms of real-world latency, you can expect 10ns delays from CL16 to CL30, with a CL36\u00a0proving to be lower at 12ns, and CL 38 providing slightly less\u00a0real-world\u00a0latency at 9.5ns.\u00a0But,\u00a0as\u00a0DDR5 RAM will have a higher clock speed than DDR4, this type of RAM will be quicker. This is why many overclockers\u00a0focus a lot of their efforts\u00a0on boosting\u00a0clock\u00a0speeds, because doing so can overcome the\u00a0real-world\u00a0latency\u00a0hurdle.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Identifying Primary Timings\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are four primary timings to concentrate on. These include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n