Overclocking is an artwork that has existed all through the historical past of the PC — who wouldn’t wish to extract extra efficiency from a chunk of {hardware} they’ve already bought? Overclocking your CPU or graphics card normally will get all the eye due to the numerous efficiency good points you get from overclocking. Nonetheless, reminiscence overclocking also can produce noticeable advantages in the event you’re keen to place within the work.
DDR5 introduced many thrilling enhancements over DDR4, together with efficiency, bandwidth, and capability uplifts, when it debuted with Intel’s Alder Lake. As you’d think about, the next-gen chips, like Raptor Lake and AMD’s Ryzen 7000, will even assist the brand new reminiscence, so you will see loads of new choices in the marketplace quickly.
The one caveat is that DDR5 is within the early levels of its life cycle, so it isn’t fully on the identical stage as high-performance DDR4 reminiscence. That is smart since DDR4 has been out for some time now. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply we are able to’t overclock DDR5 to squeeze extra efficiency out of a reminiscence equipment. There’s all the time a threat when working {hardware} outdoors the producer’s specs, and product warranties don’t cowl overclocking, both. Nonetheless, overclocking doesn’t impression your {hardware}’s well-being if achieved appropriately and inside affordable limits.
Many fans and informal customers alike will merely use their reminiscence kits’ in-built XMP profile, which is an automatic methodology of overclocking reminiscence. In the event you’re curious about utilizing that method, head to our How you can Allow XMP article. In the event you’re trying to extract much more efficiency, this is our information to wringing the utmost efficiency out of your DDR5 reminiscence equipment.
Know Your DDR5 ICs
Totally different built-in circuits (ICs) behave otherwise, and it’s the identical scenario for DDR5. Whereas some ICs could also be extra outstanding to hit increased frequencies, others are higher when aiming for low timings. The massive producers, together with Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix, have launched their preliminary ICs for DDR5. Nonetheless, DDR5 continues to be moist behind the ears, so we don’t have a big selection of ICs.
No two ICs are the identical, even when they’re from the identical model and product lineup. So, for instance, even when a sure “X” IC can overclock past DDR5-6000, that doesn’t imply that every one “X” ICs have the potential to take action. So, finally, there may be nonetheless a bit of silicon lottery concerned.
Thaiphoon Burner was an ideal utility to learn the SPD on DDR4 reminiscence modules to find which ICs they carry with out taking the warmth spreader aside. Sadly, as a result of lack of documentation from JEDEC, the developer behind Thaiphoon Burner hasn’t been ready so as to add assist for DDR5.
Fortunately, CPU-Z can choose up the IC vendor on DDR5 reminiscence modules even when it can’t pinpoint the precise IC mannequin. For the second, the function is useful since there aren’t lots of ICs from the identical firm. Nonetheless, as soon as producers have a couple of IC in the marketplace, CPU-Z gained’t be any assist in any respect except the developer finds some strategy to detect the particular ICs.
| IC Vendor | IC Half Quantity | Die Revision |
|---|---|---|
| Micron | MT60B2G8HB-48B, MT60B1G16HC-48B | A-die |
| Samsung | K4RAH086VB-BCQK | B-die |
| SK hynix | H5CG48MEBDX014, H5CG46MEBDX015 | M-die |
Within the DDR4 days, Samsung B-die ICs had been the golden normal for tight timings. With DDR5, we discover that SK hynix M-die can run comparable timings to B-die. Based mostly on our expertise with totally different DDR5 reminiscence kits, SK hynix’s M-die ICs have the very best overclocking potential. For instance, we have been in a position to get M-die as excessive as DDR5-6600, equally overclock a DDR5-4800 M-die reminiscence equipment, and discover stability at DDR5-6000.
Once more, we have now to emphasise that these are simply our preliminary observations with the present technology of ICs. The scenario may change as time goes by and the ICs mature, or new ICs hit the market. However, at the least for now, we rank the ICs on this order for overclocking: SK hynix M-die, Samsung B-die, and Micron A-die.
When overclocking reminiscence, we first attempt to decide the utmost protected voltage we are able to use for the totally different ICs. Samsung advised us that the corporate doesn’t assure an overclocking voltage for its ICs, however the absolute most DC of the drain voltage is 1.4V. We have contacted SK hynix and Micron representatives to inquire about their respective ICs. Sadly, we have not acquired any suggestions on the matter. Nonetheless, we have spoken with varied reminiscence distributors, and the consensus is that 1.4V is the utmost voltage for every day utilization.
Overclocking Course of
1. Set your DRAM goal information charge. Step one is figuring out how far you wish to push your DDR5 reminiscence. There are two approaches: You possibly can select a excessive information charge and work down from there, or you may choose a extra modest information charge and work as much as discover the ceiling to your reminiscence equipment.
For reference, the default ratio for DDR5 is 100:100. Nonetheless, particular information charges are solely obtainable with the 100:133 ratio, akin to DDR5-5333 or DDR5-6666.
Like Rocket Lake, Alder Lake additionally provides the 2 BCLK/DRAM ratios: 100:100 and 100:133. With Rocket Lake, the 100:133 ratio performs higher. Nonetheless, on Alder Lake, the 100:100 ratio provides comparable efficiency.
Alder Lake has three gear modes for reminiscence, however Gear 2 is the one setting that actually issues for enthusiast-level DDR5 overclocking. The reminiscence and reminiscence controller run on the similar frequency in Gear 1(1:1), whereas Gear 2 lets the reminiscence function twice as quick because the reminiscence controller (2:1). Lastly, Gear 4 runs the reminiscence 4 occasions quicker than the reminiscence controller (4:1).
Gear 1 would not work with DDR5 because the default configuration is Gear 2, and Gear 4 will not come into play till you in all probability hit information charges as excessive as DDR5-8000 and above. As such, you need to solely use Gear 2 for almost all of DDR5 reminiscence overclocking, although excessive overclockers utilizing liquid nitrogen would possibly have to step as much as Gear 4.
2. Tweak reminiscence timings. This step is the trial-and-error a part of the overclocking course of and will be time-consuming. DDR5 has the identical 4 main reminiscence timings (CAS Latency, tRCD, tRP, and tRAS) as DDR4. The trick is to make use of child steps, rising the person timings by one or two clock cycle increments after which testing for stability.
We suggest you begin along with your reminiscence equipment’s marketed timings and go from there. In case your overclock is unstable, add one clock cycle to the timings. If it is secure, you may strive lowering one clock cycle on the timings to optimize your overclock.
You can even strive enjoying with the command charge in the event you’re feeling adventurous. For DDR5, the default command charge is 2T; nevertheless, 1T is feasible relying on the IC. We have been in a position to get Samsung and SK hynix ICs to run at 1T however did not have a lot luck with Micron ICs.
Reminiscence overclocking is extra than simply enjoying with the 4 main timings: You may get vital efficiency good points from tweaking secondary and even tertiary timings. Nonetheless, that is past the scope of this text, so we cannot go down that rabbit gap.
3. Enhance voltages. There are fairly a number of voltage settings that have an effect on reminiscence overclocking, however the common consumer can get by with tweaking 4 of them. You possibly can depart the opposite voltages on the discretion of your motherboard.
DRAM VDD: This voltage is among the most crucial because it powers the reminiscence chips. For on a regular basis use, we suggest maintaining it under 1.4V for protected measure.
DRAM VDDQ: The voltage feeds the reminiscence chip’s I/O. VDD and VDDQ usually go hand-in-hand. Nonetheless, in some circumstances, desynchronizing the voltages and working the next VDDQ (50 mV – 100 mV) will help stabilize reminiscence overclocks.
CPU VDDQ: The voltage that goes to the processor’s reminiscence controller. 1.2V is adequate for DDR5-4800 to DDR5-6000, whereas 1.4V needs to be excessive sufficient for DDR5-6200 and past.
VCCSA: That is the voltage for the system agent however helps for reminiscence overclocks. It is one of many extra delicate voltages, so use small increments. For instance, 1.25V to 1.35V is adequate for many reminiscence overclocks. It is best to maintain VCCSA beneath 1.4V.
4. Take a look at overclock stability. Whereas some customers run stress checks for a number of hours, others run them in a single day. It’s a must to resolve simply how vital reminiscence stability is to your system and the way a lot time you are keen to spend money on testing. As well as, totally different packages use totally different algorithms for catching errors. As an alternative of counting on a single program, we suggest you employ a mixture of two or extra to check for stability.
At any charge, do not get too fixated on punishing your DDR5 reminiscence. When you’re happy along with your overclock, every day utilization is finally one of the best stability check.
5. Save your overclock. Again within the outdated days, you both should memorize your reminiscence overclock settings or jot them down on a chunk of paper. DDR5 arrives with the brand new XMP 3.0 normal, pushing the entire variety of reminiscence profiles to 5. Two of those profiles can be found to the consumer, so we suggest utilizing them. As soon as you’ve got discovered your secure reminiscence overclock, do not forget to reserve it to your DDR5 reminiscence module. The choice varies per motherboard, however you may normally discover the function within the DRAM part.
Stability Testing Software program
There are lots of choices for testing reminiscence overclocks, however we have compiled a small record of essentially the most prevalent and sensible instruments. Lots of them are free, however some require a license.
- Memtest86: That is old-school software program for testing reminiscence however it’s nonetheless top-of-the-line choices. This system will boot off a USB pen drive so you may check your overclock’s stability with out having to enter Home windows.
- HCI MemTest: The software program picks up reminiscence errors fairly shortly. The optimum means is to open one occasion per CPU thread and divide the reminiscence into equal components for testing.
- Google Aggravating Software Take a look at (GSAT): In the event you’re a Linux individual, there isn’t any higher utility for reminiscence testing than GSAT. Google makes use of this software program to check its machines.
- Karhu RAM Take a look at: The software program is nice at what it does and helps as much as 8TB of reminiscence. Sadly, it is not free and requires a $10 license.
- TestMem 5: This light-weight and stable piece of software program helps customized configurations. The Anta777 Excessive configuration is at the moment the preferred and extensively used preset.
Optimized DRAM Timings
There are not any shortcuts to hitting your most reminiscence overclock. Nonetheless, we have put collectively a small desk with potential optimized configurations on current DDR5 reminiscence kits. These aren’t magic formulation that you could plug into your motherboard with out testing, although — keep in mind that each reminiscence equipment is totally different regardless if they’ve the identical IC. Nonetheless, these primary configurations can function a stepping stone for you, and you may go from there. Do not be afraid to strive different combos.
We caught to the extra normal information charges yow will discover in the marketplace, like DDR5-4800, DDR5-5200, and many others. Nonetheless, it’s also possible to experiment with different unusual information charges, like DDR5-5066.
| Knowledge Price | Timings | Voltage |
|---|---|---|
| DDR5-6400 | 40-40-40-90, 42-42-42-90, 44-44-44-90 | 1.35V – 1.40V |
| DDR5-6200 | 32-38-38-77, 36-36-36-77, 36-38-38-77 | 1.35V – 1.40V |
| DDR5-6000 | 36-36-36-77, 36-38-38-77, 38-38-38-77 | 1.35V – 1.40V |
| DDR5-5600 | 36-36-36-77, 36-38-38-77, 38-38-38-77 | 1.30V – 1.35V |
| DDR5-5200 | 36-36-36-77, 36-38-38-77, 38-38-38-77 | 1.20V – 1.30V |
| DDR5-4800 | 34-36-36-77, 36-36-36-77, 36-38-38-77 | 1.10V – 1.20V |
