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If you happen to’re pondering 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 package you may want.
So far, we have reviewed and examined nearly all AM5 processors, together with countless 600 and 800-series motherboards. Nevertheless, it has been a while since we checked out reminiscence efficiency, so in the present day we have got 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 package 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 actually held true for Zen 4.
With the discharge of Zen 5, AMD’s messaging grew to become a bit unclear. They continued to assert that DDR5-6000 was the candy spot and really helpful 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 one of the best efficiency because of help for DDR5-8000.
This was complicated for just a few causes, most notably as a result of the 800 chipsets had been basically rebranded 600-series chipsets, refreshed for Zen 5. So, if an X870 motherboard helps DDR5-8000 reminiscence, then the identical ought to be attainable on an X670 board – and this has since turned out to be the case.
Nevertheless, it will get a bit extra sophisticated as a result of DDR5-8000 help is restricted 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 had 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 might help 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 preferrred for all X870E motherboards, regardless of AMD’s claims. Primarily based on our previous testing, it is also not essentially an optimum configuration for efficiency – however we’ll revisit that in the present day.
The rationale DDR5-8000 is not all the time sooner – or considerably sooner – than DDR5-6000, regardless of a 33% enhance in theoretical bandwidth, comes right 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 might probably’t exceed 3,000 MHz whereas sustaining stability – not 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 mentioned, the extra bandwidth provided by DDR5-8000 can typically overcome the penalty of the two:1 ratio, leading to higher efficiency – assuming your AM5 motherboard is steady 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. A lot of you might be most likely curious concerning the 9800X3D, however we did not embrace that CPU on this testing – it might have added much more work, and we already know it is not significantly delicate to reminiscence efficiency. This was most 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 transferring from the DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence utilized in our critiques to the DDR5-8000 configuration, which delivered one of the best outcomes. Nevertheless, it was solely 2% sooner 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 stored up carefully.
When rising the decision to 4K, decreasing the body fee to simply over 100 fps, the efficiency hole between the slowest and quickest configurations shrinks to simply 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% sooner than the official base spec reminiscence. Choosing DDR5-8000 supplied a further 7% efficiency enhance over the overview reminiscence, reaching 180 fps, although it was simply 2% sooner than the brand new DDR5-6000 CL26 package.
Switching to 4K decision, the efficiency margins slim considerably. The DDR5-8000 reminiscence was solely 5% sooner than the DDR5-5600 base configuration. We noticed, at most, a 6% achieve from the DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence to the DDR5-8000 package, and only a 1% enchancment in common body fee.
Marvel Rivals
For aggressive multiplayer shooters, the place you are extra prone to scale back GPU load by utilizing medium to low high quality settings, reminiscence efficiency tends to have a higher affect – significantly in CPU-limited eventualities. Testing Marvel Rivals at 1080p, we noticed a 17% enhance in 1% lows when transferring from the bottom DDR5-5600 spec as much as DDR5-8000, whereas common body charges improved by 9%. That mentioned, 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 practically similar efficiency, and the identical was true of the CL28 reminiscence. We noticed only a 4% enchancment when transferring from the CL30 overview reminiscence to the high-end DDR5-8000 package. The DDR5-6000 CL40 and DDR5-5600 CL38 reminiscence additionally produced related outcomes, falling solely barely behind – by just a few p.c.
At 4K, the outcomes had been practically solely GPU-limited, with all configurations attaining over 450 fps.
Reminiscence Choices and Pricing
So there you have got 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 look 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 usually, the beneficial properties had been within the 4 – 5% vary. DDR5-8000 was as much as 12% sooner, however general, there was little or no efficiency distinction between DDR5-6000 CL26 and DDR5-8000 CL38.
Reminiscence efficiency (at this degree) solely issues in eventualities the place you are enjoying aggressive shooters or video games that are typically extra CPU-limited than GPU-limited.
Once more, reminiscence efficiency actually solely issues in eventualities the place you are enjoying aggressive shooters or video games that are typically extra CPU-limited than GPU-limited. In GPU-heavy single-player titles – corresponding to Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle, Alan Wake 2, and Horizon Zero Daybreak – premium reminiscence usually provides little or no in the way in which of additional efficiency. In these circumstances, you are higher off sticking with sweet-spot reminiscence, which we have persistently discovered to be DDR5-6000 CL30.
Trying solely at 32GB kits, it is clear that DDR5-5600 is not well worth the financial savings. A good package 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 taking a look at spending round $170 for DDR5-8000, although there could also be occasional kits which can be considerably cheaper, they’re nonetheless way more costly than DDR5-6000 CL30.
As has been the case since Zen 4… we suggest pairing your Ryzen AM5 processor with DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence.
So, as has been the case since Zen 4, we suggest pairing your AM5 processor with DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence. As a facet word, we have beforehand examined many extra reminiscence configurations utilizing the Ryzen 7 7700X in eight video games with the RTX 4090 and located related outcomes. The DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence utilized in our critiques delivered optimum efficiency, and even with handbook tuning utilizing timings from Buildzoid, efficiency solely improved by an extra 4% on common.
As for the brand new low-latency DDR5-6000 CL26 reminiscence, we hope to see it turn into extra competitively priced within the close to future. There are some efficiency beneficial properties 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’s going to be attention-grabbing to see how DDR5-8000 help holds up throughout that lineup. For now, that wraps up this fast replace.
