With the release of the twelfth generation of Intel processors known as Alder Lake-S, third-party technology companies opened the door wide to the new generation of fifth-generation DDR5 memory. We have already seen what this new generation offers compared to the previous generation in terms of features and better performance, but the price factor may be significantly higher. After that, we talked about the features provided by the new memories in some detail, but we did not address in detail one of the most important points of this generation, which is overclocking.
Today our article will be a little different, as we will not only look at the ability of the new generation to overclock, or even the basic jailbreak settings provided by the new generation only. But we will not go into many details about the manual overclocking process in particular, as it will need an article in itself.
Overclocking RAM is one of the most intuitive processes when it comes to the concept of overclocking in general. The Intel Z690 platform supporting the DDR5 memory standard offers many new features and overclocking capabilities for those who aren’t afraid to delve into the BIOS. If you’re the kind of person who wants to get the most out of a new generation system, then memory overclocking is something to consider.
And you don’t need to worry too much dear reader, overclocking your RAM is safe and fun, and can give you up to 20% performance boost for some tasks. But it’s not always a simple process, and the reason for this is usually the process of setting memory timings, which is usually very tedious if you don’t have a reference or guide to follow. So, in this article, we will at the very least explain some of the basics of overclocking the memory, and give you the tips and steps you will need to get started.
The differences between the DDR5 memory generation and previous generations?
Before we get into too much detail, we want to take a minute to highlight some of the key differences between DDR4 and DDR5 memory. You may have noticed, dear reader, that the generational changes between successive generations of memory, such as DDR3 to DDR4, for example, were usually focused primarily on increasing the frequency. Generation leaps usually mean lower energy use, higher density, and higher latency. However, when it comes to DDR5 memory, we don’t simply see an increase in frequency (only) like the leaps of previous generations, it’s more than just that. The reason for this is that this generation has seen a redesign of the entire data bus, the architecture of memory channels and power delivery systems. As expected, the new memory also delivers what we’re used to like higher die density, lower power usage, and better timing.
In order not to go into again the technical differences in full between the fourth and fifth generation, you can review the technical differences in full from this article. But we want to highlight only an important point, which is the rank structure.
It is the changes in functional architecture that make DDR5 unique against all other memory versions. Until now, a single memory chip was on a single internal memory channel. Which meant that if you wanted to run dual-channel memory eg Dual-Channel, you would need two memory sticks. Motherboards, such as Intel’s Z590, had a maximum of two DIMMs per channel (DPC). So, if you have 2 or 4 modules installed on your motherboard, then you are running or exploiting Dual-Channel to its full potential.
In contrast, the new generation of DDR5 memory contains two memory channels within a single unit, or DIMM. This simply means that if you have two memory modules on your new Z690 motherboard, you get Quad-Channel memory. Of course, some may ask about the usefulness of this feature, and the simple answer is that more memory channels significantly increase performance for memory-intensive workloads. Mainboards still only support 2 DPCs, but now that means you’ll be running 4 channels with 2 or 4 memory cards.
What are the steps to overclock a DDR5 memory?
First, determine the IC of the memory
To always get the best overclocking result, you need to understand your gear. So, knowing what kind of DDR5 IC you’re dealing with is the first step in the overclocking process. There are several ways to determine the IC. The simplest way is to open the special memory tab in CPUz, which will tell you the brand of memory, but not more than that. You simply cannot try to overclock without this software, so download now if you don’t already have it installed. For a more detailed look at your memory, we recommend Thaiphoon Burner.
This program reads the SPD values, and shows the memory template type, PCB layout style, and the rank structure we just talked about. It should be noted here that the information you receive via such tools or software depends on the SPD being properly programmed from the factory, which is not always the case. However, Thaiphoon Burner is not compatible with DDR5 at this time, but we will be able to see updates soon.
One of you may now ask what is the point of all this nonsense? What is the point of knowing the brand name of the IC for the male; How does that even help me?
Well, below is a table with some basics that will help you understand what can be accessed in case of overclocking with each type of memory IC. Please keep in mind that the information below is not a general state but is the result of experiments with current memory, and may change significantly as we move into the later stages of DDR5.
The same overclocking process
Memory Overclocking Profile, or XMP
If you’re reading this guide and trying to overclock your memory, you likely have an XMP 3.0 rated memory stack; Not all DDR5 memory comes with support for these files. However, when the memory is first installed, it will run at JEDEC standard speed. For most DDR5 UDIMMs at launch, their JEDEC frequency rating is 4800MHz with CL40-40-40 standard timings. JEDEC standard with all platforms and all possible configurations of platforms without the need for any modifications or changes in the BIOS of the device.
But despite the extreme ease of standard settings, the drawback of this excellent compatibility is that the memory speed is slow. So, you need to overclock this memory or overclock it to get faster speeds with different programs and applications, to feel the real difference of the new generation in terms of frequency. To do that, your first step is to apply XMP profiles.
All you have to do is enter the BIOS window and then enable the XMP profile that you will find in front of you, and you can learn more about this point from this article. Then login to your operating system, open CPUz, and check the new memory speed using the “Memory” tab. If the XMP rating is 5200Mbps, and CPUz shows a DRAM frequency of 2600MHz, don’t worry; This is the correct value. Let me make it clear to you.
The DDR you find in the RAM description stands for “dual data rate,” which means that data transfers occur on both the up and down edges of the memory’s frequency pulse. In other words, the actual frequency of 2600MHz is 5200MHz. You can learn more about this from this article.
Stability test
There is no doubt that the process of overclocking any part of your computer through overclocking is great, and you can also bypass the overclocking provided by XMP files if you do it manually. But to manually turn off XMP, overclocking, or timing, you’ll usually need to test every change you make after each step. Whether it’s the last minutes of a fight in your favorite game or a virtual video job interview, the last thing you want is your PC to crash due to unstable memory overclocking.
The testing process is critical, so don’t neglect this step. So, in case you intend to create your own XMP file and dive further with the overclocking process, don’t forget this point. The way here would be by making one change in the BIOS and then going back to the operating system and doing a simple memory stress test, and then you go and change the settings again and come back to the test, and so on… This process will definitely help you make sure that some of your memory profiles are working properly However, when performing a quick stress test, the fracture may fail (by stopping or freezing the device). Therefore, overclocking experts usually recommend that you run the AIDA64 stress test with the “Stress system memory” option enabled for about 10 minutes.
You should keep in mind that just because your memory profile has passed the 10-minute AIDA64 stress test, it usually doesn’t mean that your memory is fully stable! this is of course possible but not certain. So, the next step to confirming the stability of the crack will be with the final test of your memory by running the antique MemTest software. There are several different versions of this old software, but we’ll focus on what can be done quickly in the operating system.
We recommend that you download and run HCI MemTest, a free software that rigorously tests memory, putting an exceptional amount of load on memory and the CPU memory controller. So if there are any issues with memory overclocking, they should be apparent within the first 20 minutes of running this stress test. As shown in the example attached below, the severe overclocking failed within the first minute of the MemTest test.
How does Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 memory take advantage of these criteria?
Kingston’s new memory took the standards of the new generation to approach its current peak in terms of supporting its own features, without the company giving up its own standards in terms of premium price and powerful performance. Although DDR5 memory may be more expensive at the present time than the last generation, and this is very logical with a new generation of memory launched amid conflicting global crises, the company has largely maintained its new memory at a very reasonable price compared to other companies.
The second thing is the specification of the memory itself. As we indicated in the review, the design of this memory is distinctive, and it provides a great ability to overclock. The memory has Micron ICs and can reach frequencies of 6000Mhz according to the company’s pre-overclocked files. This is in addition to the CL38 timings as well and the included heat sink that makes the process of overclocking or applying pre-overclocked files from XMP 3.0 easy and secure at the same time.
So, on the practical side, Kingston’s new DDR5 memory will be able to provide outstanding overclockability compared to new generation solutions, with excellent timings up to CL38 and frequencies up to 6000Mhz. All this with the provision of distinctive fifth generation technologies, such as the PMIC power regulation circuit that works to better regulate the power of memory. Combined with ODECC (on-die ECC) error detection technology, support for 32-bit dual sub-channels, all with lower voltages to save power and more scalability for overclocking.
Overclock your memory at your own risk
Before we end this interesting meeting, an important point must be made clear to the followers. The wrong manual overclocking process may lead to the loss of the warranty for the memory or the memory itself if you make an incorrect step or something goes wrong, so it is always recommended to use the memory files supplied by the manufacturer. And in case you want to exceed those limits set by the company, do so at your own risk!
