Gear mode on DDR5 7200MT/s C34

[OxSteve]

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]

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]

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

 

[ir_cow]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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