Gear mode on DDR5 7200MT/s C34

OxSteve · Nov 21, 2023

Hello everyone,

I noticed yesterday on my BIOS the parameter "CPU IMC : DRAM Clock" with 3 options Gear 1, Gear 2 and Gear 4.
BY default it is on Gear 2 , which reads that speed of RAM with the memory controler is halved.
I tried to change to Gear 1 (1:1) but the PC would not boot.

My CPU is a 13900K, the RAM 2X16Go Corsaire vengeance 7200 C34, MB is MI PRO Z790 P WIFI.

My question : IS there's a way to have my memory run @ Gear 1, and futhermore does it even exist RAM/ CPU with high speed and gear 1 enabled ?

Thanks !
Steve

Wirko · Nov 21, 2023

7200 is far above what's achievable in Gear 1, it's approaching the limits of Gear 2 actually (around 8000), so the answer would be no.
RAM itself isn't affected by gear ratio, it's the memory controller that can't be pushed higher.

OxSteve · Nov 21, 2023

Thanks for the answer. So nothing to worry about...

ir_cow · Nov 21, 2023

For Intel Gear 1 doesn't work in DDR5. It will NEVER work even if you set it to DDR5-3600. Gear 1 is for DDR4 only.

Secondly Gear 4 is currently broken. I've never been able to get it to work on multiple Motherboards and CPUs, nor have I seen a single posting of it working. Even some MBs have removed it in later BIOS revisions since the 1700 socket launch.

You don't what gear 4 anyways. It would effectively make your DDR5-7200 perf like DDR5-4800 or worse.

OxSteve · Nov 27, 2023

Thanks for the comprehensive answer.
Does it mean that DDR5 are not so much faster than DDR4 at the end ? I need to find benchmark i guess !

ir_cow · Nov 27, 2023

OxSteve said:
Does it mean that DDR5 are not so much faster than DDR4 at the end ?

DDR5 has higher latency and but much higher bandwidth. You can find benchmarks in the memory reviews here on TPU.

dgianstefani · Nov 27, 2023

OxSteve said:
Thanks for the comprehensive answer.
Does it mean that DDR5 are not so much faster than DDR4 at the end ? I need to find benchmark i guess !

You have to be 7200/7600 MT or better to start getting comparable latency numbers to decent DDR4.

OxSteve · Nov 27, 2023

Indeed, i read the DDR4 VS DDR5 review here, and the DDR5 6000 was close to DDR4 3200 in most of the benchmarks.

Processor	i9 13900K
Motherboard	MSI Pro Z790 -P Wifi
Cooling	Be quiet! Silent Loop 2
Memory	Corsair Vengeance 2x16 Go 7200MT/s CL34
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio
Storage	2To980 Pro, 2x2To 970 EVO, 1 To NVME OEM Samsung, 1To HDD 7200Tr/min
Display(s)	LG Ultragear 32GR93U-B IPS 32" 4K 144Hz / Asus VG248QE 24" TN 1080p 144Hz
Case	Be quiet! Shadow Base 800FX
Power Supply	Be quiet! Pure Power 12M 1000W (Gold)
Mouse	Zowie
Keyboard	Ducky TKL

Processor	i5-6600K
Motherboard	Asus Z170A
Cooling	some cheap Cooler Master Hyper 103 or similar
Memory	16GB DDR4-2400
Video Card(s)	IGP
Storage	Samsung 850 EVO 250GB
Display(s)	2x Oldell 24" 1920x1200
Case	Bitfenix Nova white windowless non-mesh
Audio Device(s)	E-mu 1212m PCI
Power Supply	Seasonic G-360
Mouse	Logitech Marble trackball, never had a mouse
Keyboard	Key Tronic KT2000, no Win key because 1994
Software	Oldwin

Processor	i9 13900K
Motherboard	MSI Pro Z790 -P Wifi
Cooling	Be quiet! Silent Loop 2
Memory	Corsair Vengeance 2x16 Go 7200MT/s CL34
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio
Storage	2To980 Pro, 2x2To 970 EVO, 1 To NVME OEM Samsung, 1To HDD 7200Tr/min
Display(s)	LG Ultragear 32GR93U-B IPS 32" 4K 144Hz / Asus VG248QE 24" TN 1080p 144Hz
Case	Be quiet! Shadow Base 800FX
Power Supply	Be quiet! Pure Power 12M 1000W (Gold)
Mouse	Zowie
Keyboard	Ducky TKL

Processor	i9 13900K
Motherboard	MSI Pro Z790 -P Wifi
Cooling	Be quiet! Silent Loop 2
Memory	Corsair Vengeance 2x16 Go 7200MT/s CL34
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio
Storage	2To980 Pro, 2x2To 970 EVO, 1 To NVME OEM Samsung, 1To HDD 7200Tr/min
Display(s)	LG Ultragear 32GR93U-B IPS 32" 4K 144Hz / Asus VG248QE 24" TN 1080p 144Hz
Case	Be quiet! Shadow Base 800FX
Power Supply	Be quiet! Pure Power 12M 1000W (Gold)
Mouse	Zowie
Keyboard	Ducky TKL

System Name	Silent
Processor	Ryzen 7800X3D @ 5.15ghz BCLK OC, TG AM5 High Performance Heatspreader
Motherboard	ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I, chipset fans removed
Cooling	Optimus AMD Raw Copper/Plexi, HWLABS Copper 240/40+240/30, D5, 4x Noctua A12x25, Mayhems Ultra Pure
Memory	32 GB Dominator Platinum 6150 MHz 26-36-36-48, 56.6ns AIDA, 2050 FLCK, 160 ns TRFC
Video Card(s)	RTX 3080 Ti Founders Edition, Conductonaut Extreme, 18 W/mK MinusPad Extreme, Corsair XG7 Waterblock
Storage	Intel Optane DC P1600X 118 GB, Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB
Display(s)	32" 240 Hz 1440p Samsung G7, 31.5" 165 Hz 1440p LG NanoIPS Ultragear
Case	Sliger SM570 CNC Aluminium 13-Litre, 3D printed feet, custom front panel with pump/res combo
Audio Device(s)	Audeze Maxwell Ultraviolet, Razer Nommo Pro
Power Supply	SF750 Plat, transparent full custom cables, Sentinel Pro 1500 Online Double Conversion UPS w/Noctua
Mouse	Razer Viper Pro V2 Mercury White w/Tiger Ice Skates & Pulsar Supergrip tape
Keyboard	Wooting 60HE+ module, TOFU Redux Burgundy w/brass weight, Prismcaps White & Jellykey, lubed/modded
Software	Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 19053.3803
Benchmark Scores	Legendary

Gear mode on DDR5 7200MT/s C34

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