MSI's Memory Extension mode has brought up to 21% performance improvement on Intel's Core Ultra 200 CPUs by reducing memory latency.
MSI's Memory Extension Mode, Designed For Intel's Core Ultra 200 CPUs, Brings In Impressive Performance Enhancements
For those unaware, with the release of Intel's newest desktop CPU, MSI unveiled a unique feature for its 800-series motherboards called the "Memory Extension Mode," which comes in three different presets: Performance Mode, Benchmark Mode, and Memtest Mode.
MSI's newest feature can pick up the best memory configurations based on the processor's integrated memory controller (IMC) and memory overclocking capabilities, ultimately allowing the optimal performance experience, depending upon your workload.
MSI has now shared benchmarks with us, looking at how the Memory Extension mode helps in improving the performance of systems, and by the looks of it, there are considerable performance uplifts. MSI managed to test out an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K system with both DDR5-7200 and DDR5-8200 memory modules and over standard XMP configurations, MSI's Memory Extension mode under "High-Efficiency" mode managed to drop memory latency by 12%-16%, based on findings from AIDA64 memory latency benchmarks. The following system configuration was used:
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
- Motherboard: MSI MEG Z890 ACE
- Memory: Galax DDR5-7200 16GBx2 & G.Skill DDR5-8200 24GBx2
- Graphics Card: MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X 24G
- SSD: Kingston SNV2S/2000G
- CPU Cooler: MSI CORELIQUID I360
- Power Supply:MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5
- Operating System: Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.2033 (Power Mode: Best Performance)
- Game Settings: Black Myth: Wukong - High, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II - Balanced; all other games set to maximum quality
Moving onto gaming performance, MSI tested both DDR5-7200 and DDR5-8200 memory with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4090 GPU onboard.
By using both XMP and High-Efficiency Mode, MSI was able to witness a 6%- 14% increase in 1080p gaming performance across titles such as Black Myth: Wukong and Red Dead Redemption 2. However, in some instances, with DDR5-7200 memory and XMP + High-Efficiency Mode, the performance gains reached up to 21% compared to default settings.
The Memory Extension Mode is undoubtedly a great addition by MSI when it comes to improving system performance through a software-based implementation. Here's how you can enable the feature on your MSI motherboard, given that it is 700 series and above:
Starting with the 800-series motherboards, MSI introduces the new Click BIOS X, providing a more user-friendly interface. To activate Memory Extension Mode, enter BIOS (defaulting to EZ Mode), switch to Advanced Mode by pressing F7, and locate the Memory Extension Mode option on the Overclocking page. Select the desired mode from the menu to apply.
Intel itself is also working to address the gaming performance of its Core Ultra 200S Desktop CPUs through a series of Windows Updates, BIOS patches, and microcode updates which should roll out around the end of November or December. More on that here.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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