For those who’re considering of upgrading to AMD’s present AM5 platform, you are most likely researching not simply which CPU to purchase, together with the supporting motherboard, but additionally which DDR5 reminiscence equipment you will want.

So far, we have reviewed and examined virtually all AM5 processors, together with countless 600 and 800-series motherboards. Nevertheless, it has been a while since we checked out reminiscence efficiency, so at present we have a fast replace for you, specializing in G.Ability’s new CL26 reminiscence and DDR5-8000 efficiency.

Why we use DDR5-6000 CL30 Reminiscence for Testing

Because the introduction of AM5, we have been testing with G.Ability’s Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence, utilizing a 32GB equipment that at present prices $110 – a really affordable worth. AMD initially supplied this reminiscence to reviewers for evaluating Zen 4’s efficiency, claiming it enabled optimum outcomes whereas additionally stating that DDR5-6000 was the platform’s candy spot, which definitely held true for Zen 4.

With the discharge of Zen 5, AMD’s messaging grew to become a bit unclear. They continued to say that DDR5-6000 was the candy spot and advisable that reviewers use the identical DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence. On the similar time, they promoted the brand new 800-series motherboards by claiming that X870 boards would supply the perfect efficiency due to assist for DDR5-8000.

This was complicated for a number of causes, most notably as a result of the 800 chipsets have been primarily rebranded 600-series chipsets, refreshed for Zen 5. So, if an X870 motherboard helps DDR5-8000 reminiscence, then the identical must be attainable on an X670 board – and this has since turned out to be the case.

Nevertheless, it will get a bit extra difficult as a result of DDR5-8000 assist is proscribed by the motherboard, not the Zen 5 reminiscence controller or chipset. For instance, when testing every single X870/X870E motherboard, we discovered that about half of the 21 boards examined labored with DDR5-8000, whereas the remainder have been unstable or just did not boot.

This testing was carried out utilizing the identical Ryzen 9 9950X CPU and DDR5-8000 reminiscence, so the limiting issue was clearly the motherboard. It is attainable that a few of these boards may assist DDR5-8000 with a BIOS replace, however we have not been in a position to verify this but.

Because it stands, DDR5-8000 is not perfect for all X870E motherboards, regardless of AMD’s claims. Based mostly on our previous testing, it is also not essentially an optimum configuration for efficiency – however we’ll revisit that at present.

The explanation DDR5-8000 is not at all times quicker – or considerably quicker – than DDR5-6000, regardless of a 33% improve in theoretical bandwidth, comes all the way down to the frequency at which the built-in reminiscence controller within the I/O die can function. When operating DDR5-6000, the reminiscence clock is 3,000 MHz, and this may be matched by the UCLK (Unified Reminiscence Controller Clock Frequency), which units the pace for the reminiscence controller. This enables the reminiscence and controller to run in a 1:1 ratio at 3,000 MHz.

Nevertheless, going past a DDR5 reminiscence clock of three,000 MHz forces the built-in reminiscence controller to run at a 2:1 ratio, as it may well’t exceed 3,000 MHz whereas sustaining stability – no less than for almost all of silicon. So, when utilizing DDR5-8000, which runs at 4,000 MHz, the reminiscence controller defaults to a 2:1 ratio and operates at simply 2,000 MHz – 33% decrease than with DDR5-6000.

That stated, the extra bandwidth provided by DDR5-8000 can generally overcome the penalty of the two:1 ratio, leading to higher efficiency – assuming your AM5 motherboard is secure at that frequency.

To learn the way this performs out, we’re evaluating the Ryzen 7 9700X utilizing DDR5-8000 with a number of DDR5-6000 configurations, together with G.Ability’s new CL26 reminiscence, and we’ll additionally embrace a baseline DDR5-5600 configuration. Lots of you might be most likely curious in regards to the 9800X3D, however we did not embrace that CPU on this testing – it could have added much more work, and we already know it is not notably delicate to reminiscence efficiency. This was most just lately demonstrated with the 9950X3D, so DDR5 efficiency is extra related to the non-3D chips.

Alright, let’s get into the info…

Benchmarks

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Beginning with Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p, we’re seeing as much as a 12% efficiency enchancment when shifting from the DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence utilized in our opinions to the DDR5-8000 configuration, which delivered the perfect outcomes. Nevertheless, it was solely 2% quicker than the brand new DDR5-6000 CL26 reminiscence. Unexpectedly, there was little or no distinction between the DDR5-6000 CL40 and CL30 configurations, and even the DDR5-5600 reminiscence saved up carefully.

When rising the decision to 4K, decreasing the body price to only over 100 fps, the efficiency hole between the slowest and quickest configurations shrinks to only 5%. Nevertheless, the distinction in 1% lows grows, with a bigger 13% margin.

Horizon Zero Daybreak Remastered

The opposite single-player title utilized in our testing is Horizon Zero Daybreak Remastered, the place we noticed a wider unfold of outcomes. The DDR5-6000 CL30 overview reminiscence averaged 169 fps, making it 5% quicker than the official base spec reminiscence. Choosing DDR5-8000 supplied an extra 7% efficiency enhance over the overview reminiscence, reaching 180 fps, although it was simply 2% quicker than the brand new DDR5-6000 CL26 equipment.

Switching to 4K decision, the efficiency margins slender considerably. The DDR5-8000 reminiscence was solely 5% quicker than the DDR5-5600 base configuration. We noticed, at most, a 6% achieve from the DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence to the DDR5-8000 equipment, and only a 1% enchancment in common body price.

Marvel Rivals

For aggressive multiplayer shooters, the place you are extra more likely to cut back GPU load through the use of medium to low high quality settings, reminiscence efficiency tends to have a better influence – notably in CPU-limited situations. Testing Marvel Rivals at 1080p, we noticed a 17% improve in 1% lows when shifting from the bottom DDR5-5600 spec as much as DDR5-8000, whereas common body charges improved by 9%. That stated, DDR5-6000 CL26 reminiscence delivered efficiency similar to the DDR5-8000 configuration.

At 4K, efficiency scaling was considerably uncommon. We solely noticed a drop in efficiency when utilizing the DDR5-6000 CL40 reminiscence, which carried out comparably to the DDR5-5600 base reminiscence.

Counter-Strike 2

Lastly, we now have Counter-Strike 2. Right here once more, the DDR5-8000 and DDR5-6000 CL26 kits delivered almost similar efficiency, and the identical was true of the CL28 reminiscence. We noticed only a 4% enchancment when shifting from the CL30 overview reminiscence to the high-end DDR5-8000 equipment. The DDR5-6000 CL40 and DDR5-5600 CL38 reminiscence additionally produced comparable outcomes, falling solely barely behind – by a number of p.c.

At 4K, the outcomes have been almost totally GPU-limited, with all configurations attaining over 450 fps.

Reminiscence Choices and Pricing

So there you’ve it – as anticipated, when CPU-limited, DDR5 reminiscence can enhance the efficiency of AMD’s newest technology Zen 5 processors. Nevertheless, primarily based on what we have seen right here, Zen 5 would not seem like as memory-sensitive as earlier generations of Ryzen processors.

For instance, the brand new CL26 reminiscence supplied at most a 9% uplift over the CL30 reminiscence utilized in our Zen 5 evaluations. That is a notable enchancment, however normally, the good points have been within the 4 – 5% vary. DDR5-8000 was as much as 12% quicker, however general, there was little or no efficiency distinction between DDR5-6000 CL26 and DDR5-8000 CL38.

Reminiscence efficiency (at this stage) solely issues in situations the place you are enjoying aggressive shooters or video games that are usually extra CPU-limited than GPU-limited.

Once more, reminiscence efficiency actually solely issues in situations the place you are enjoying aggressive shooters or video games that are usually extra CPU-limited than GPU-limited. In GPU-heavy single-player titles – comparable to Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle, Alan Wake 2, and Horizon Zero Daybreak – premium reminiscence sometimes gives little or no in the way in which of additional efficiency. In these instances, you are higher off sticking with sweet-spot reminiscence, which we have persistently discovered to be DDR5-6000 CL30.

Wanting completely at 32GB kits, it is clear that DDR5-5600 is not well worth the financial savings. A good equipment will value round $80, whereas a good-quality DDR5-6000 CL30 kit is simply $10 extra. Nevertheless, DDR5-6000 CL28 kits bounce to round $120, and the brand new CL26 kits are priced at $180 or extra – making them laborious to justify when in comparison with CL30.

You are additionally spending round $170 for DDR5-8000, although there could also be occasional kits which are considerably cheaper, they’re nonetheless rather more costly than DDR5-6000 CL30.

As has been the case since Zen 4… we advocate pairing your Ryzen AM5 processor with DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence.

So, as has been the case since Zen 4, we advocate pairing your AM5 processor with DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence. As a aspect be aware, we have beforehand examined many extra reminiscence configurations utilizing the Ryzen 7 7700X in eight video games with the RTX 4090 and located comparable outcomes. The DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence utilized in our opinions delivered optimum efficiency, and even with handbook tuning utilizing timings from Buildzoid, efficiency solely improved by an additional 4% on common.

As for the brand new low-latency DDR5-6000 CL26 reminiscence, we hope to see it change into extra competitively priced within the close to future. There are some efficiency good points available, however in the intervening time, the premium far outweighs the advantages.

We’re additionally about to start testing each single AMD B850 motherboard, so it will be attention-grabbing to see how DDR5-8000 assist holds up throughout that lineup. For now, that wraps up this fast replace.

Buying Shortcuts:

Source link