How important is high memory frequency?

For cheap Celeron and Pentium processors, relatively expensive high-frequency memory is not only inappropriate in price, but also useless in performance. The built-in Intel memory controller is relatively picky and provides low latency (delays). As a result, even low—frequency RAM (RAM) is enough for dual-core Celeron and Pentium — if not 2133, then 2400 MHz for sure.


Another thing is the older Intel processors (to a lesser extent Core i3, i5, to a greater extent i7, i9) and all AMD Ryzen. The more cores, the more memory bandwidth (PSP) is required. AMD's memory controller is less perfect than Intel's, so it is more dependent on high frequency. The most frequency-sensitive RAM are AMD APUs: Ryzen 3 2200G, Ryzen 5 2400G and Athlon 200GE models. In their case, the memory bus is divided not only between processor cores, but also by the powerful integrated Vega graphics.


Installing a paired number of RAM modules (two or four) activates a two-channel operation mode, which gives a greater increase in PSP than a high frequency in a single channel. Therefore, if the low-cost is limited, it is more reasonable to purchase two half-volume low-frequency memory strips than one high-frequency one. In addition, ready-made memory sets of two or four modules are made of identical memory chips (manufacturer, process technology, current leakage coefficient), which usually accelerates better than the bars purchased separately at different times.

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GOODRAM IRDM X DDR4 2x8Gb IR-XR3000D464L16S/16GDC 
 
High frequency potential, low-profile radiator, five colour options, no annoying backlight.
 
 
The same timings for all frequencies (can be lowered manually).
 
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IRDM X is the senior series of "gaming" RAM of the Polish brand Goodram (Wilk Elektronik company), which includes both separate modules with a volume of 4, 8 and 16 GB, and sets of two slats with a frequency from 2666 to 3200 MHz. The bars with base frequencies of 2133 and 2400 MHz are included in the junior IRDM series without the "X" suffix, but with the same design.

"Gaming" is now called memory, which used to be called "overclocking" — with a high frequency potential (and as a result, high performance, including in games) and metal radiators that perform both a cooling and a decorative function. It's just that the epithet "gamer" is now more recognizable than "overclocker".

IRDM X radiators are prudently made thick-walled (this is not aluminium foil, like the cheapest RAM strips), but low-profile, so as not to interfere with the installation of massive tower processor coolers. There are five colour options available to choose from: black, red, blue, white and "pockmarked" (a combination of white, grey and red a la winter camouflage). It is the latter option that looks the most original. There is no LED backlight, lo and behold, and this is just a godsend against the background of the ubiquitous dominance of RGB.

You can scold IRDM X except for the same standard timings for all frequencies. If the delays of 16-18-18-18-36 for the frequency of 3200 MHz are an excellent indicator, then for 2666 MHz it is clearly too much. However, this minor flaw is easy to solve by reducing the timings manually. Otherwise, Goodram IRDM X is a good—quality, guaranteed high-frequency RAM with an elegant design, for which they ask not much more money than for the simplest radiatorless memory.

GOODRAM RAM

Configuration of the test bench

Overclocking instructions

Unlike CPU overclocking, where you just need to find a balance between frequency and supply voltage, the process of memory overclocking is a little more complicated, because you have to find an equilibrium point between three parameters: frequency, voltage and timings. By the way, there are as many as five of these timings, and this is not counting more than a dozen sub-timings, which, however, are usually not touched, leaving the standard ones.


We will tell and show the overclocking process using the example of a set of two 8-gig Goodram IRDM X memory modules with a claimed frequency of 3000 MHz, an AMD Ryzen 2200G processor and a Biostar B450MH motherboard. The percent and the motherboard are tested in advance to support RAM overclocking to at least 3466 MHz.

And so, to start overclocking RAM, you need to restart the PC and press the Delete key, after which you will be taken to the BIOS menu. Overclocking functionality is available on motherboards on AMD B350, B450 and higher chipsets, as well as Intel Z270, Z370 and Z390. Unfortunately, neither memory, nor processor, nor integrated graphics can be overclocked on younger chipsets.



There are three ways to overclock RAM: automatic overclocking by activating the XMP settings profile sewn into memory; manual frequency increase, albeit with a forced increase in delays; and manual reduction of timings at a constant frequency. The simplest, of course, is the first method — auto overclocking. That is why it makes sense to buy obviously high-frequency memory, like Goodram IRDM X 3000 MHz, and save time on manual selection of parameters. However, there may be nuances here.

The fact is that some motherboards, such as our Biostar B450MH, cannot set intermediate memory frequencies. So, it supports 2400, 2666, 2933 and 3200 MHz, but does not support 2800 and 3000 (and our memory is just like that). For this reason, it was not possible to use the Goodram IRDM X XMP profile. But as they say, everything that happens is for the best: by manually adjusting the memory frequency, it was possible to increase to 3200 MHz.

To do this, the supply voltage was increased from the base 1.2 to 1.35 V (voltage up to 1.4 V for overclocking DDR4 memory is considered safe), and the timings are set to 16-18-18-18-36. Simply put, we saved ten dollars by turning 3000 memory into 3200 MHz. Theoretically, higher-frequency memory from the factory could be accelerated even more, say, up to 3466 MHz. But considering that Goodram IRDM X, at least the instance of it that came to us for testing, is based on Nanya A-die chips, overclocking over 3200 MHz seems unlikely. Higher frequencies are usually taken only by chips of more modern generations — Samsung B-die, Micron H-die or Hynix M-die.



You can measure the increase in memory bandwidth before and after overclocking using the AIDA64 application (a free trial version is available) by selecting the menu item "Service – Cache and Memory Test". Thus, overclocking from the base 2666 MHz to 3200 MHz increased the speed of reading, writing and copying RAM from about 35 to 45 GB/s, that is, by 28 percent. Latency decreased from 84 to 74 nanoseconds, that is, by 13 percent. In the same AIDA64 ("System Stability Service Test"), you can and should thoroughly warm up the PC after overclocking to make sure it is trouble–free. If the test gives an error, or the computer freezes or restarts, try to slightly (by 0.05 V) increase the voltage or raise the timings.

But overclocking by reducing timings (from 16-18-18-18-36 to 14-14-14-14-34) at a constant frequency of 2666 MHz did not give much effect: memory speed increased by only 2 percent, and latency decreased by 6 percent. But this method still takes place, because not all motherboards overclock memory well, some especially unsuccessful models do not take a frequency higher than 2800 MHz.

Conclusions

As you could see, RAM overclocking is not the easiest process (unless, of course, memory is not with an initially high XMP frequency), but the performance gain from it is clearly worth the time spent. There is no need to be afraid, nothing will definitely break, because modern computer components are well protected from the "curvature" of the user's hands and in case of excessive interference they go into short-term protection, after which they reset the settings to standard. If you have an AMD Ryzen or Intel Core processor and a motherboard with a chipset suitable for overclocking. then be sure to try it. Well, the owners of the AMD APU with powerful built-in graphics overclocked memory, as they say, the doctor himself prescribed.