Computer gurus: What's more important- latency or speed rating?
 

Like this, say, would DDR1600 C9 be better than DDR1333 C8?

I usually buy the lowest timings I can afford.. I never realized that before. I'm not sure of why I do that.

As an example, it would seem like the tope one should be a-lot faster memory.... But would what I have now (crucial ballistix) be faster since it's CAS8???

Kingston HyperX Beast
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820104375
DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200)
Cas Latency 11

Crucial Ballistix Low profile
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148658
DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
Timing 8-8-8-24
Cas Latency 8
Voltage 1.35V

11/2400 v 8/1600

0.00458333333333 v 0.005

Kingston HyperX Beast wins.

Raw speed is better than latency.

But you probably don't need to buy anything. If you are running CL8 RAM at 1600 you can almost certainly overclock it to 2400 CL11 at 1.65v like the Kingston in your link.

In general most of these RAM modules are the same, the manufacturers just slow the timings and increase voltages to get them to run faster.

They increase voltage to run them at a higher frequency?

Neither.

I build my systems for maximum speed because I do lots of 3D animation, and I can't say I've ever noticed a difference in anything depending on my RAM choice. The most important thing about RAM is GB, and not all the buzzwords. Those things probably are doing something different, but not enough to notice. You will notice when you run out of RAM though, because you didn't get enough. So fill your motherboard with the max amount it'll take and don't worry about the timings so much.