When choosing RAM, one of the main attributes to pay attention to is speed. Generally, it’s listed on the packaging in MHz (Megahertz), although some brands, like Kingston, use MT/s (MegaTransfers). This leads to the following questions: Are MT/s and MHz the same? Or what’s the difference?
What is MHz?
MHz stands for megahertz and is the unit of frequency for memory. It indicates the speed at which data moves within and between components. It’s based on clock cycles, with each read and write representing a cycle.
What is MT/s?
MT/s stands for Mega (million) Transfers per second and is a more accurate measure of the effective data rate (speed) of DDR SDRAM memory.
When SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) was introduced in the late 1990s, MHz and MT/s matched because there was one transfer per clock cycle, so the transfer rate and MHz were the same.
In the early 2000s, DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate) memory was introduced. This technology doubled the number of data transfers per clock cycle.
That’s when MHz and MT/s started to differ, because at a given frequency, the memory began to make two transfers. So, in DDR SDRAM, MT/s became exactly double the real frequency (MHz).
However, the term MHz is still used as a measure of memory transfer rate. So, if you find a memory that indicates a transfer rate of 3200MT/s, its actual frequency is 1600MHz. MT/s accurately represents the real number of transfer operations instead of the frequency in MHz.
Why are MT/s important?
MT/s is the unit of measurement for the transfer rate between memory and the processor. It indicates the amount of data per second transmitted between the two.
Luis Pérez, Technology Manager for Mexico and Central America at Kingston Technologies, explains: “It’s extremely important to have memory that matches the processor’s capacity. If a processor supports 3200 MT/s, it’s best to use memory at that speed to optimize performance.”
Most platforms available on the market in DDR4 are 3200 MT/s, so you should choose memory with the same speed. For DDR5, which is growing in sales, the starting frequency is 4800 MT/s.
“To experience the high performance that RAM offers together with next-generation processors, it’s highly recommended to use high transfer rates with either DDR4 or DDR5, considering the whole system,” he added.
Additional considerations
There are two other important parameters to consider when choosing memory. One is latency, which is the response time measured in clock cycles that memory takes to respond to processor requests. This number is linearly linked to MT/s. The lower the latency, the better the performance, as memory responds faster. Latency is especially important in gaming, as video games benefit greatly from the lowest possible latencies.
The other important point is memory channels. PC and laptop processors generally work in what’s known as dual channel. This happens when two identical modules are installed and the processor combines them to work as one, doubling the bandwidth and significantly improving performance, especially in processors with integrated graphics. In some cases, performance can even double by using this DDR memory configuration feature.
Knowing all aspects of your RAM’s speed helps you identify your computer’s performance.
If you want to choose the best memory for your needs and system configuration, it’s important to know the terms, capacities, and composition of these products. For more information about Kingston’s memory solutions, click here.
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About Kingston Technology Company, Inc.
From big data to laptops and PCs, including IoT-based devices like smart technology and wearables, Kingston helps manufacturers integrate solutions used for living, working, and playing. The world’s largest PC manufacturers and cloud storage companies rely on Kingston to meet their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We go beyond our products to have a broader vision, meet our customers’ needs, and deliver solutions that make a difference. For more information about how Kingston is with you, visit Kingston.com.
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