pro z690 A DDR5 RAM question

[glenntidbur156f02e4]

Just wondering, when the spec page gives info for how fast you can run your ram, depending on how many sticks you're using......is it actually potentially still ok to run above that number?

Basically, I have the pro z690 A DDR5 mobo, and just upgraded my RAM to 2x16GB G.Skill 6400Mhz CL32 kit.

Because I'm running 2 sticks, the spec page says 5400+Mhz.

at 5400Mhz, I'm finding that I can use CL26 timings, giving a latency according to the calculator of 9.62962962 ns.

I can push it up to 5800Mhz with CL28 timings, and it seems stable so far, and gives slightly higher latency of 9.65517241 ns.

Given that both these options appear stable so far, which should I choose?

Is the extra 400Mhz worth it, or should you generally choose the lowest latency you can?

Is it worth it to go slightly above the recommended 5400Mhz for this board? or will that likely produce instability eventually?

Also, is there likely to be any updates going forward to improve stability at higher speeds with more than 1 stick of ram?

 

[RemusM]

at 5400Mhz, I'm finding that I can use CL26 timings, giving a latency according to the calculator of 9.62962962 ns.
I can push it up to 5800Mhz with CL28 timings, and it seems stable so far, and gives slightly higher latency of 9.65517241 ns.

Is it worth it to go slightly above the recommended 5400Mhz for this board? or will that likely produce instability eventually?

Also, is there likely to be any updates going forward to improve stability at higher speeds with more than 1 stick of ram?

In most of the real-world scenarios, 5400MHz with CL26 is better than 5800MHz with CL28.
Talking about DDR5, anything faster than 4800MHz is overclocking and the results are not guaranteed by anyone (MSI, Intel, G.Skill).
Future BIOS updates might improve things, but they won't give you higher speeds.
And that's because the main limitation comes from the CPU IMC (and when you run above the specs that's silicon lottery).
If the BIOS is not buggy, the motherboard is almost irrelevant here.

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/intel-12th-gen-cpus-alder-lake-ddr5-support.373119/

 

[glenntidbur156f02e4]

ok, cheers. I'll stick with the 5400cl26 then.

 

[citay]

DDR5-6400 is causing lots of problems on the motherboards with four RAM slots. That's on the upper end of what the signal quality currently allows for on DDR5, unless you pump in ungodly amounts of voltage or use other tricks that are not the best for a daily system. Watch this spot in the video here where buildzoid talks about that issue.

DDR5-6400 (and certainly above) might only work properly on boards with two RAM slots, because the signal quality is better there. And of course it also depends on the CPU's IMC, some just cannot run stable DDR5-6400 either. In that case, you have to try manually setting the DRAM frequency to DDR5-6200 or lower.

See my RAM thread for further explanations.

As for the performance scaling, read here, https://www.techpowerup.com/review/ddr5-memory-performance-scaling/

 

[starlord36815ed02eb]

Hi, I have purchase the MSI z690 unify motherboard and was wondering if there will be any issues if I were to get the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-5600 CL36 Memory? I've been reading a lot of ddr5 ram issues on certain motherboards and am seeing if there is a bit of tweeking in the bios I need to do when enabling XMP?

 

[RemusM]

Hi, I have purchase the MSI z690 unify motherboard and was wondering if there will be any issues if I were to get the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-5600 CL36 Memory? I've been reading a lot of ddr5 ram issues on certain motherboards and am seeing if there is a bit of tweeking in the bios I need to do when enabling XMP?

Again, anything faster than 4800MHz is overclocking and the results are not guaranteed.
MSI guarantees 2x16GB at 5600MHz for this motherboard, but Intel (your CPU) does not.
So if you're lucky with your CPU IMC, it will run out of the box.
If not:
- raise the voltages
- relax the timings
- try 5200MHz
In other words, be prepared for gambling.