Recently, I wrote some pieces about DDR5-5600 memory, which honestly, were meant as a joke, just a fun story to entertain the readers and lighten the mood.
Unexpectedly, this backfired and sparked a debate in the comment section. Some readers think that DDR5-5600 memory is too outdated and performs poorly, even saying “Not even a dog would want it.” Others took it more seriously, asking about the actual performance of DDR5-5600 memory and how it compares to DDR5 memory with higher operating frequencies, wondering about the extent of the performance differences.
The situation has become quite awkward to the point where fiction turned into reality, and now I need to address and answer this question seriously.
As the saying goes, “Since it has come to this, let us settle here” and “Regard life and death lightly, stand up to confrontation,” so since there’s interest, I will arrange a gaming performance comparison between DDR5-5600 and DDR5-6400 memory for everyone’s reference.
01
Test Platform Configuration
The main configuration is as follows:
- CPU: Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Motherboard: MSI MPG X670E CARBON
- GPU: GeForce RTX 4090
- Storage: 2 Samsung 970s
- OS: Windows 11
02
Real-World Game Testing Between DDR5 5600 and DDR5 6400
Below are tests for seven games, all using 1080P at the highest quality settings. The series of images shows the DDR5-5600 memory platform on the left and the DDR5-6400 memory platform on the right.
① The first game is “Assassin’s Creed Mirage.”
DDR5 5600
- Average Frame Rate: 163 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 112 FPS
- Frame Time: 6.3ms
- CPU usage: 56%
- CPU power consumption: 72W
- CPU temperature: 61 degrees
- Memory Usage: 12.8GB
- GPU usage: 80%
- VRAM usage: 8.8GB
- GPU power consumption: 192W
- GPU temperature: 42 degrees
DDR5 6400
- Average Frame Rate: 171 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 109 FPS
- Frame Time: 6.0ms
- CPU usage: 56%
- CPU power consumption: 72W
- CPU temperature: 61 degrees
- Memory Usage: 12.1GB
- GPU usage: 74%
- VRAM usage: 8.7GB
- GPU power consumption: 177W
- GPU temperature: 41 degrees
On the DDR5-6400 platform, the average frame rate is 171 FPS, the lowest instantaneous frame rate is 109 FPS, frame time is 6.0ms, CPU usage is 56%, power consumption is 72W, temperature is 61 degrees, memory usage is 12.1GB, GPU usage is 74%, VRAM usage is 8.7GB, power consumption is 177W, and temperature is 41 degrees.
In this game, both platforms have equal CPU usage. The DDR5-6400 platform has 0.7GB less memory usage, 6% lower GPU usage, and almost equal VRAM usage.
The DDR5-6400 platform shows a very slight performance advantage, with an 8 FPS higher average frame rate and almost equal lowest instantaneous frame rate and frame time. The overall hardware resource usage, especially GPU, is slightly lower on this platform.
② The second game is “Cyberpunk 2077.”
DDR5 5600
- Average Frame Rate: 149 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 126 FPS
- Frame Time: 6.8ms
- CPU usage: 57%
- CPU power consumption: 72W
- CPU temperature: 61 degrees
- Memory Usage: 11.9GB
- GPU usage: 94%
- VRAM usage: 8.3GB
- GPU power consumption: 285W
- GPU temperature: 47 degrees
DDR5 6400
- Average Frame Rate: 150 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 131 FPS
- Frame Time: 6.1ms
- CPU usage: 57%
- CPU power consumption: 72W
- CPU temperature: 62 degrees
- Memory Usage: 11.9GB
- GPU usage: 92%
- VRAM usage: 8.4GB
- GPU power consumption: 281W
- GPU temperature: 48 degrees
In this game, both platforms have equal CPU and memory usage. The DDR5-6400 platform has 2% lower GPU usage and almost equal VRAM usage, with very close overall hardware resource usage.
The average frame rate and lowest instantaneous frame rate are almost equal between the platforms, with the DDR5-6400 platform having a 0.7ms lower frame time. The performance is almost equal, with a very slight, negligible advantage for the DDR5-6400 platform.
③ The third game is “Red Dead Redemption 2.”
DDR5 5600
- Average Frame Rate: 191 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 111 FPS
- Frame Time: 4.1ms
- CPU usage: 66%
- CPU power consumption: 77W
- CPU temperature: 64 degrees
- Memory Usage: 14.1GB
- GPU usage: 80%
- VRAM usage: 5.7GB
- GPU power consumption: 267W
- GPU temperature: 50 degrees
DDR5 6400
- Average Frame Rate: 197 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 114 FPS
- Frame Time: 4.3ms
- CPU usage: 63%
- CPU power consumption: 76W
- CPU temperature: 63 degrees
- Memory Usage: 13.9GB
- GPU usage: 83%
- VRAM usage: 5.7GB
- GPU power consumption: 258W
- GPU temperature: 49 degrees
In this game, the DDR5-6400 platform has 3% lower CPU usage, 0.2GB less memory usage, 3% higher GPU usage, and equal VRAM usage.
The DDR5-6400 platform has a slightly higher average frame rate of 6 FPS, a 3 FPS higher lowest instantaneous frame rate, and a 0.2ms higher frame time, which are almost equal. The DDR5-6400 platform maintains a very slight advantage.
④ The fourth game is “Forza Horizon 5”.
DDR5 5600
- Average Frame Rate: 217 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 151 FPS
- Frame Time: 5.0ms
- CPU usage: 41%
- CPU power consumption: 66W
- CPU temperature: 62 degrees
- Memory Usage: 12.8GB
- GPU usage: 89%
- VRAM usage: 7.0GB
- GPU power consumption: 190W
- GPU temperature: 42 degrees
DDR5 6400
- Average Frame Rate: 213 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 154 FPS
- Frame Time: 3.9ms
- CPU usage: 39%
- CPU power consumption: 66W
- CPU temperature: 61 degrees
- Memory Usage: 12.8GB
- GPU usage: 88%
- VRAM usage: 7.1GB
- GPU power consumption: 183W
- GPU temperature: 41 degrees
For the DDR5-6400 platform, the average frame rate is 213 FPS, the lowest instantaneous frame rate is 154 FPS, frame time is 3.9ms, CPU usage is 39%, power consumption is 66W, temperature is 61 degrees, memory usage is 12.8GB, GPU usage is 88%, VRAM usage is 7.1GB, power consumption is 183W, and temperature is 41 degrees.
In this game, the DDR5-6400 platform’s CPU usage is 2% lower than its competitor, with equal memory usage, and the difference in GPU usage and VRAM usage is very slight, virtually equal.
In terms of average frame rate, the DDR5-6400 platform is 4 FPS lower than the DDR5-5600 platform, the lowest instantaneous frame rate is 3 FPS higher, and the frame time is 1.1ms lower. The overall performance of both platforms is very close, with scores within the margin of error.
⑤ The fifth game is “The Witcher 3”.
DDR5 5600
- Average Frame Rate: 95 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 79 FPS
- Frame Time: 9.8ms
- CPU usage: 49%
- CPU power consumption: 66W
- CPU temperature: 59 degrees
- Memory Usage: 13.1GB
- GPU usage: 83%
- VRAM usage: 7.5GB
- GPU power consumption: 258W
- GPU temperature: 46 degrees
DDR5 6400
- Average Frame Rate: 105 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 78 FPS
- Frame Time: 9.3ms
- CPU usage: 49%
- CPU power consumption: 67W
- CPU temperature: 60 degrees
- Memory Usage: 14.3GB
- GPU usage: 79%
- VRAM usage: 7.7GB
- GPU power consumption: 236W
- GPU temperature: 46 degrees
In this game, the CPU usage of both platforms is equal, the DDR5-6400 platform has 1.2GB more memory usage than its competitor, 4% lower GPU usage, and 0.2GB more VRAM usage.
In terms of the average frame rate, the DDR5-6400 platform is 10 FPS higher than the DDR5-5600 platform, the lowest instantaneous frame rate is essentially equal, and the frame time is 0.5ms lower, which can be ignored. The DDR5-6400 platform still has a very slight advantage.
⑥ The sixth game is “Hogwarts Legacy”.
DDR5 5600
- Average Frame Rate: 75 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 63 FPS
- Frame Time: 13.4ms
- CPU usage: 32%
- CPU power consumption: 58W
- CPU temperature: 60 degrees
- Memory Usage: 22.2GB
- GPU usage: 60%
- VRAM usage: 10.6GB
- GPU power consumption: 211W
- GPU temperature: 45 degrees
DDR5 6400
- Average Frame Rate: 76 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 55 FPS
- Frame Time: 12.7ms
- CPU usage: 31%
- CPU power consumption: 56W
- CPU temperature: 61 degrees
- Memory Usage: 22.0GB
- GPU usage: 58%
- VRAM usage: 10.8GB
- GPU power consumption: 212W
- GPU temperature: 46 degrees
In this game, the CPU usage of both platforms is essentially equal, the DDR5-6400 platform has 0.2GB less memory usage than its competitor, 2% lower GPU usage, and 0.2GB more VRAM usage.
In terms of the average frame rate, the scores of both platforms are essentially equal. In the lowest instantaneous frame rate, the DDR5-6400 platform is 8 FPS lower than the DDR5-5600 platform, and the frame time is 0.7ms lower. The performance of both platforms is very close, with no clear advantage for the DDR5-6400 platform.
⑦ The seventh game is “Starfield”.
DDR5 5600
- Average Frame Rate: 136 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 104 FPS
- Frame Time: 7.9ms
- CPU usage: 80%
- CPU power consumption: 84W
- CPU temperature: 66 degrees
- Memory Usage: 12.5GB
- GPU usage: 83%
- VRAM usage: 6.4GB
- GPU power consumption: 242W
- GPU temperature: 45 degrees
DDR5 6400
- Average Frame Rate: 136 FPS
- Lowest Instantaneous Frame Rate: 113 FPS
- Frame Time: 6.7ms
- CPU usage: 78%
- CPU power consumption: 83W
- CPU temperature: 67 degrees
- Memory Usage: 14.2GB
- GPU usage: 83%
- VRAM usage: 6.9GB
- GPU power consumption: 249W
- GPU temperature: 47 degrees
In this game, the DDR5-6400 platform’s CPU usage is 2% lower than its competitor, memory usage is 1.7GB higher, GPU usage is equal, and VRAM usage is 0.5GB higher.
In terms of the average frame rate, the scores of both platforms are essentially equal. In the lowest instantaneous frame rate, the DDR5-6400 platform is 9 FPS higher than the DDR5-5600 platform, and the frame time is 1.2ms lower. In this game, the DDR5-6400 platform has a slightly larger advantage.
03
Comparative Conclusion
From a performance perspective, compared to the DDR5-5600 platform, the DDR5-6400 platform does not have a significant advantage; the benefits are very slight but still present and cannot be completely ignored.
The main advantage of the DDR5-6400 platform is that it consumes less overall hardware resources. In most games, its CPU and GPU usage rates are generally slightly lower than those of its competitors.
So, how should everyone view these results and make their purchasing decisions? As a general principle, the higher the memory frequency, the better the performance. If you have a sufficient budget for building a system, or if the price difference is small, then you should opt for memory with a higher operating frequency.
Conversely, this result can also be viewed from another perspective: if your budget is limited, you are not chasing top performance, and you value cost-effectiveness, choosing memory with a lower operating frequency is also acceptable, as the resulting performance difference is very small.
Overall, if you are a personal or home user, the author recommends prioritizing memory of DDR5-6000 or higher.
04
Future Articles
Having read this far, some might still argue: that comparing DDR5-5600 with DDR5-6400 is not interesting. A comparison with DDR5-7200 or DDR5-7600 would be more exciting and more valuable.
To this, the editor would like to say: don’t worry, the content you want to see will be available in the future. Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen. —Are you OK?
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- RTX 4060 Ti with DLSS vs RTX 3070: Performance Test
- Core i7 4790K vs i3 14100F: Which CPU is Better for Gaming?
Disclaimer: This article is created by the original author. The content of the article represents their personal opinions. Our reposting is for sharing and discussion purposes only and does not imply our endorsement or agreement. If you have any objections, please contact us through the provided channels.
