Memory Clock Speed vs Core Clock Speed in a GPU: What’s The Difference?
The GPU or Graphics Processing Unit is a key component of any modern-day computer. it is what allows your computer to render and generate graphics. A high-performance GPU with a high clock speed will help improve the performance of your computer and allow you to run very graphics-intensive tasks at high speeds.
When we talk about GPU speed we are talking about its clock speed. There are two different types of clock speeds in a GPU that work in different ways to benefit performance, which are memory clock speed and core clock speed.
In this article, we will go through the difference between memory clock speed and core clock speed, what they are, and how they improve performance, so I suggest you read all the way through so that you get a better understanding of how these things work.
What is Memory Clock Speed?
Memory clock speed in your GPU is what allows your graphics card to store temporary data, such as textures, and elements in a game or a program that you are running.
When talking about GPU memory we are referring to what is called VRAM.
VRAM stands for (Video Random Access Memory.) and is a key component to making your GPU run faster.
When looking for a GPU you want to find a high amount of VRAM or memory.
GPU memory clock is measured in either MHz (Megahertz) or GHz (Gigahertz). The faster your GPU VRAM the faster it can access your memory.
One way you can increase your GPU VRAM speed is by overclocking.
Overclocking your GPUs memory clock speed will increase the speed and performance at which it is supposed to perform at. This can potentially help increase performance when playing any games or tasks, that require a lot of information to be taken out of the GPUs memory bank.
Overclocking the GPUs memory speed will only increase performance by so much and the difference will be more prevalent depending on what you are using your graphics card for.
Overall, overclocking a GPUs memory speed will have a significant difference in tasks that rely heavily on your GPU VRAM, and tasks that rely less heavily on your VRAM will be less impacted.
Memory clock speed is very important to your GPUs performance, especially for those programs that require a lot of access to temporary data stored on your graphics card.
What is Core Clock Speed?
The GPUs core clock speed is the speed at which the GPU processor can operate. When talking about clock speed this is most likely what everyone is talking about.
Having a fast GPU with a very fast core clock speed is essential for any high-end GPU because it controls the GPUs processor that executes functions, and does calculations, that allow your programs to run.
Again, just like your VRAM core clock speed is also measured in MHz and GHz.
Core clock speed is very important when it comes to video rendering and gaming, which is what most people need a powerful GPU for.
Therefore, it is very important to purchase a graphics card with a very high core clock speed.
However, if you aren’t able to get your hands on a top-tier graphics card or want to improve the core clock speed of your GPU, then you can always overclock.
Increasing your GPUs core clock speed by overclocking is a great way to increase your performance. However, you should also note that you can only increase your core clock speed so far before the effects of overclocking aren’t very noticeable.
You should figure out where this point is in your computer that way, you don’t need to worry as much about an unstable GPU, or it overheating from working too much.
With that being said core clock speed is essential to having a high-performance graphics card and should be one of the most important factors to keep in mind when buying a GPU for high performance.
What’s The Difference Between Memory and Core Clock Speed in a GPU?
Memory clock speed and core clock speed are different because they are the speeds of two different components in the GPU. Memory clock speed refers to the speed at which the VRAM runs, whereas core clock speed refers to the speed at which the GPU processors run.
Both clock speeds are very important to the performance of the GPU and will both have a huge impact on FPS, and overall performance.
However, they work on different processes, which means one will benefit you better depending on the type of tasks you are doing, but both are essential and need to come together to have a GPU that functions properly and efficiently.
Therefore, it is not a matter of which one is better, but a matter of how you are going to use your GPU.
Check out this video which describes the benefits of overclocking memory and core clock speeds.
You might also like: “Why Are GPU Clock Speeds Slower Than CPU Clock Speeds?”
How Does Core Clock Speed Affect Performance?
Core clock speed is one of the most important factors when it comes to the performance of a computer and FPS when gaming.
a higher core clock speed means that a GPU can perform more calculations every second which is essential when you are playing high-intensity games that are constantly changing and where you are constantly moving.
How Does Memory Clock Speed Affect Performance?
For gaming, memory clock speed affects performance a lot less than core clock speed but is still very important when it comes to FPS and performance.
Depending on what games you are playing will determine how much your VRAM affects your FPS, as some games that need a lot more memory will benefit from the increased VRAM speed, and some will rely less on it.
Therefore, you might experience a very noticeable performance difference or just a slight performance difference. This is why it is important especially if you are overclocking to experiment and stress test your GPU to see what affects performance and what doesn’t.
Is Memory or Core Speed More Important?
When the question is whether memory or core speed is more important is asked, the answer really depends on what you are using your graphics card for.
For most people, the core clock speed will be more important because most people use their computer for gaming, and core clock speed is one of the most important things to increase FPS when gaming.
On the other hand, if you are looking to use your graphics card as more of a workstation then a faster memory clock speed will be handier.
