DDR5 Gear 2 performs better than Gear 4 memory settings in both latency and performance departments on Intel Z890 motherboards.
High memory frequency with DDR5 CUDIMM on Intel and AMD platforms doesn't favor performance or latency
In recent weeks, we have seen a plethora of CUDIMMs being launched. Corsair, G.Skill, Colorful, and many more manufacturers introduced their own CUDIMM DDR5 memories for Intel's Z890 and AMD X870/X870E platforms that seek to enhance the overall performance of the system.
Some overclockers already broke world records by breaking the 10000 MT/s and 12000 MT/s marks, but as we said previously, we are yet to see the real-world impacts of these incredibly high transfer speeds. Fortunately, we did get one from none other than a ROG Engineer himself, who tested and compared CUDIMMs at different frequencies as well as a UDIMM.
The platform used was the ROG Maximus Z890 Apex motherboard, which is a world record holder for the Core Ultra 9 285K overclock. With different DRAM Frequency Ratio, he tested 5 different CUDIMM speeds and 1 UDIMM(Bypassing the CKD on the CUDIMM). If you are aware, ASUS Z890 motherboards have set the DRAM Frequency Ratio to Gear 4 by default or 1:4. This is done to improve the performance out of the box as previously announced by ASUS itself.
However, there is an option in the BIOS that lets users change the DDR5 ratio to 1:2, also known as Gear 2. As per the memory-oriented tests, it was found that Gear 2 yielded not only better performance than Gear 4 but also lower latency. CUDIMM clocked at 9000 MT/s at CL42 with Gear 2, resulting in the highest Read/Write speeds at a latency of just 76.1 ns. On the other hand, CUDIMM clocked at 9600 MT/s at CL46 with Gear 4 yielded a bit lower Read/Write score at a much higher latency of 85.6 ns.
The difference in latency is a staggering 12.48%, but what's more surprising is that at DDR5 8800 MT/s CL42, without the CKD, the memory performed much better than the Gear 4 9200 CL42 settings, delivering a good 12.2% lower latency and higher Read/Write performance. This shows that even UDIMMs can easily outperform high-frequency CUDIMMs, and it's also clear that the Gear 4 isn't necessarily a better option for performance.
ASUS's in-house overclockers, such as SAFEDISK, have demoed Gear 2 DDR5 memory speeds up to 9400 MT/s which are possible with the higher-end Z890 motherboards.
We don't know if ASUS will revert to Gear 2 settings, but since the results are officially from the company itself, it's possible that ASUS may now recommend putting the DRAM Frequency Ratio at 1:2.
News Sources: 林大餅Bing, @9550pro
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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