Perfect's RAM Overclocking Guide (Intel)

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Perfect's RAM Overclocking Guide (Intel)
This is a guide to overclocking RAM on Intel platforms for users who want to tune their memory to the max.
This guide will describe all the information I have learned recently and am ready to share with you. Overclocking RAM is very important because you can
maximize the performance of your system in programs and games by increasing the clock frequency and fine-tuning the timings of your RAM
My friends discord server with useful information on configuring Windows / Overclocking
Software
● Asrock Timing Configurator - Utility to view timings from under Windows (Z170 / Z270 / Z490 / Z590 / Z370 / Z390)
● TM5 (Extreme Anta777 Config) - this test is often enough to fully test your memory for stability (voltage / timings / frequency)
● OCCT - another stability test, which we will use to test SA / IO voltages (SSE + Large + Extreme + Variable)
● GSAT - I recommend this test for correct setting of RTT WR / PARK / NOM resistors and memory voltage setting
● Rufus - utility is needed to write GSAT to flash drive (I recommend using MBR + FAT32)
● Thaiphoon Burner - program for viewing RAM chips and PCB type
● HWINFO - view temperature / voltage sensors, we are only interested in Dram Voltage / SA Voltage / IO Voltage
● AIDA64 - use to test changes in timings / frequency, run the memory test and look at the change in throughput / latency
Also don't forget to update your motherboard BIOS to have full functionality, you can find updates on your motherboard manufacturer's website.
BIOS Settings for RAM
BIOS settings needed to overclock the RAM to provide comfortable conditions:
Dram Voltage - voltage on your RAM. To change the frequency / timings, a higher voltage is recommended especially on Samsung B-Die chips, because
the timings on this memory respond directly to changes in voltage
● For green dies without heat sinks, recommended maximum voltage - 1.35V
● For RAMs with heatsinks, the recommended maximum voltage - 1.42V / 1.45V (On Samsung B-Die - 1.5 V, if the RAM temperature is ~30-40°)
● You can set the voltage to 1.60V for the RAM which is under the fan (it is necessary to monitor the temperature of the RAM).
Don't forget that memory overheating or lack of voltage can cause test errors or instability, be sure to look up the maximum voltage of your chips on the
Internet, because there are chips that degrade from a voltage above 1.35V, such as the Samsung C-Die
CPU SA / IO Voltage - Voltage to the processor north bridge (ring bus) and IMC memory controller
Maximum recommended SA / IO voltage for RAM overclocking (Do not forget that high SA / IO voltages, can also kill stability):
● Coffee Lake Refresh - 1.35V / 1.35V
● Comet Lake - 1.40V / 1.35V
● Rocket Lake - 1.45V / 1.35V
● Alder Lake - 1.35V / 1.45V
On Alder Lake there is no CPU IO voltage, I recommend not exceeding 1.35V for SA, VDDQ can reach 1.45V on memory with two ranks.
I recommend before overclocking, to maximize the SA / IO voltage, in order to remove potential problems with startup and passing POST / overclocking
stabilization. Double ranked memory (chips are soldered on both sides) requires more voltage to the IMC, at the very end we will lower the voltage to the
memory controller to improve stability
MRC Fast Boot / Memory Fast Boot - Disabled
This parameter is turned off to ensure that the memory controller is trained for the new RAM settings
MCH Full Check (Asus) - Enabled
The option performs a full memory check, always enable it to ensure the stability of the system
Dram Ref Clock - 133 (If motherboard Z390 / Z590 Gear Mode 1)
Anta777 recommends setting the memory multiplier to 133 to create comfortable conditions for your processor's memory controller
https://discord.gg/q8M5hqKTvY
https://download.asrock.com/Utility/Formula/TimingConfigurator(v4.0.3).zip
http://picx.xfastest.com/nickshih/asrock/AsrTCSetup(v4.0.10).rar
https://download.asrock.com/Utility/Formula/TimingConfigurator(v4.0.4).zip
https://mega.nz/file/vLhxBahB#WwJIpN3mQOaq_XsJUboSIcaMg3RlVBWvFnVspgJpcLY
https://www.ocbase.com/
https://forums.overclockers.ru/viewtopic.php?p=17452918#p17452918
https://rufus.ie/ru/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TRBZ6ggjxpfn6sZdgQkQZrTkanqNojF7/view?usp=sharing
https://www.hwinfo.com/
https://www.aida64.com/downloads
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/809711088337420328/918229400829444146/unknown.png
RAM Overclocking
Go to this step after you have set all the settings from the BIOS Settings
You should understand that you alone are responsible for overclocking. Changing the clock frequency or voltage may void any product warranty
and reduce the stability, performance and life of the processor and other components.
Memory - is a table that consists of rows and columns, and the table is divided into banks in which it takes time to write the rows (in tacts)
Primary Timings
● tCL - the time between issuing a read command and the start of data transfer
● tRCD - the time required to activate the bank line
● tRP - the time required to close the line, after which you can activate a new
● tRAS - time of line activation and filing to close
Information about other timings (RU)
Start OC:
1. Set the primary timings to 19-22-22-42 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) and set tCWL = 18, since most motherboards like an even tCWL.
2. After setting tRRDS-tRRDL-tFAW = 4-6-16, on most RAMs this combination of timings works stable and speeds up testing your RAM, in my
experience only Hynix MFR could not work stable on tFAW = 16, also you can try to set tRRDL = 4, if you do not lose stability. Don't forget that
tFAW = tRRDS * 4
3. Try to run at higher frequencies, increasing frequency in increments of 133Mhz, once found the maximum frequency at which we have a launch,
start testing the memory with TM5, loading config Extreme Anta777, I recommend testing the memory for more than 2 hours, if you have found
errors, then try a frequency of 133Mhz lower, running the test again until you find the correct operating frequency.
Once we have found the correct frequency, we move on to setting the primary timings tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS
1. Start decreasing tCL until there is no stability in the test, after you have found a working tCL go to tRCD-tRP tuning, also do not forget that
tCL=tCWL, or tCL=tCWL + 1
2. Decrease synchronously tRCD-tRP by one until instability appears. On most chips tRCD-tRP is greater than tCL, except Samsung B-Die, you can
do for example 16-16-16, or +1 of tCL (Depends on the luck of the chip). On ASUS motherboards, tRCD and tRP are marked as one timing, on
other boards setting different values of tRP and tRCD will put the highest value of them. If you set tRCD to 18, but tRP to 19, both will run at a
higher time of 19
3. Set tRAS = tCL + tRCD + 4(2), on most RAMs this will be the correct formula, this is because setting values less than this can lead to loss of
performance
Integralfx’s Voltage Scaling Research
https://www.overclockers.ua/memory/timings/
Secondary Timings
Moving on to setting secondary timings
1. Set tWR = 16 and tRTP = 8, because at frequencies above 4000Mhz+ low tWR can cause instability associated with loss of memory data, if you
are at lower frequencies, you can try these values tWR and tRTP = 14 and 7, or 12 and 6
● tWR - the minimum time between the end of the write operation and the command to precharge the string for one bank.
● tRTP - the minimum interval between the read command and the precharge command.
Jedec tWR = tRTP * 2
2. tCCD - minimum time between two CAS commands, set tCCDL = 7 and tCCDS = 4, these timings are related to tertiary timings. Integralfx
writes that tCCDL = 8 helped him with stability above 3600Mhz (ASUS boards do not have this timing)
3. tRFC - the minimum time between the command to update the string and the activation command, find the lowest operating value of tRFC, then
multiply it by 1.04 and round it up to a number that is a multiple of 8, too low a value can cause instability, you can also set by the formula ns *
ddr_freq/ 2000 (Influences the temperature, related to tREFI)
Table tRFC by Reous v25
4. tWTR - minimum time between end of write and read command in one rank, tWTRS and tWTRL are set via tertiary timings tWRRD_sg/dg, so
you set them later.
Recommended values tWTRS = 4, tWTRL = 8
5. tREFI - timing is responsible for the memory refresh rate, the higher the value, the higher the performance, it affects the temperature of the
memory, you can put any value, the lower you have the memory voltage, the higher you can put tREFI.
The maximum value of tREFI is 65535
6. tCWL - is the delay between the command to write and the DQS signal, analogous to tCL, but for writing, set tCWL = tCL, or tCWL = tCL-1, on
most motherboards I recommend to keep it even, also tWRRD_sg/dg, tRDWR_sg/dg depend on it
7. tRC- this is a hidden timing (only on Gigabyte boards), in AUTO it is set by the formula tRP + tRAS, correct memory overclocking is relevant
only when tRC <=64, underclocking may lead to instability, so check
http://www.softnology.biz/pdf/JESD79-4B.pdf
Tertiary Timings
1. tRDRD_sg/dg/dr/dd = 7/4/7/7, timing depends on tCCDL and tCCDS
2. tRDWR_sg/dg/dr/dd = 12/12/12/12, at higher frequencies may require higher tRDWR values
3. tWRWR_sg/dg/dr/dd = 7/4/7/7, timing depends on tCCDL and tCCDS
4. tWRRD_sg/dg=6+CWL+WTRL(S), I recommend setting tWTRL = tRTP, for example when tCWL = 16 value tWRRD_sg = 30 and tWRRD_dg =
26, then set tWRRD_dr = 7 and tWRRD_dd = 7
Timings ending in _dr are only needed for memory with two ranks, so you can set them = 1(0), and timings ending in _dd are only needed for four
RAM tiles, so you can also set them = 1(0)
Timings Formula’s:
● tCWL = tCL, либо tCWL = tCL - 1
● tCCDL = tRDRD_sg = tWRWR_sg
● tWRRD_sg/dg = 6 + tCWL + tWTRL(S)
● tWR = tRTP * 2
● tRAS = tCL + tRCD + 4(2)
● tFAW = tRRDS * 4
● tWRPRE = 4 + tCWL + tWR
● tRDPRE = tRTP
● tRDPDEN = tCL + 5
● tWRPDEN = 4 + tCWL + tWR
● tRC = tRP + tRAS
● tWTRL = tRTP
● tRDWR = tCL - tCWL + 10 / 11
● tRFC = ns * ddr_freq / 2000
Trying to Make Command Rate = 1
Command Rate - is the time required for the controller to decode commands and addresses. At 1T the command is recognized 1 clock cycle, at 2T it is
recognized 2 clock cycles. CR1 is approximately equal to 133Mhz in performance, for example 4000 CL15 CR1 = 4133 CL15 CR2
On Z490 boards it is not so easy to start CR1 and not every motherboard is able to do it, also you may have to add SA / IO voltages to start CR1. On ASUS
boards we set N:1 / N to 1 ratio = 1, logically N:1 is different from 1N and requires less SA / IO voltage
A few parameters to help make CR1:
1. Trace Centering - Enabled this setting is only available on ASUS ROG boards and helps to make CR1 on A2 printed circuit board RAM, I
recommend to test the Disabled and Enabled values of this option, Enabled can degrade the overclocking potential of your RAM
2. Dllbwen - 0 / 2 is the signal resistance from memory controller to RAM, on ASUS boards setting the value equal to 2, helped me to start CR1 on
memory with two ranks and stabilize overclocking. On other boards Anta777 advises to set DLL Bandwidth = 0-1-2-2, also when setting Dllbwen
value CPU voltage should not be in adaptive mode. Usually it is enough to leave the value Auto for overclocking.
3. Rank Margin Tool - Enabled (If Dual Rank memory) provides automatic memory reserve testing and is used to determine DDR reserve at the
ranking level. The test is built into the memory reference code (MRC) and runs if enabled, in addition it limits the DDR Vref and Timing parameters
on the CPU and DIMM modules using load patterns with results output to the serial port. This option helps to start CR1 and achieve higher
frequencies on dual-ranked memory, for single-ranked memory it is recommended to turn it off
4. Vref Voltage CPU to RAM signal voltage, set as a multiplier, the default on ASUS Z490 boards - 0.600X, also related to Rank Margin Tool, Vref
voltage determines the high or low signal, I recommend setting it if you are stumped by the capabilities of your memory controller
5. Maximus Tweak - Mode 2 These are the preset parameters / memory algorithms for RAM overclocking (Setting is available only on ASUS ROG
boards), in Auto the board puts Mode 2
6. Late Command Training - Enabled (Late memory training), in some cases it helps to do CR1 and correct RTL-IOL training, also try switching
Early Command Training to achieve the maximum memory overclocking result, PhoenixMDA writes that for tCL = 16 he found early training
helpful and for tCL = 17 late, also for tCL = 17
RTL-IOL Control
RTL-IOL Block Setting / Memory Training
● IOL (I/O latency) is the time it takes RAM to send a response after a request is received.
● RTL (transmit-receive delay) - the time required to send the signal into memory, plus the time required to receive an acknowledgement from
memory of this signal
An example of proper IOL training:
5-5 / 5-6 / 6-6 / 6-7 / 7-7 (I prefer to do equal IOL A and B channels), at frequencies above 4000 can be and IOL 8-8, no need to chase low IOL, at
frequencies above 4000Mhz+ I recommend to do IOL 7-7, or 8-8
Ways to configure the RTL block:
1. You can turn on Round Trip Latency (in the memory algorithm settings) and raise SA / IO Voltage, trying to catch the right workout (Relevant on
systems that do not apply manual RTL-IOL tuning)
2. Decrease IOL Offset to the minimum operating value, then add the resulting IOL and IOL Offset and subtract 21 from it, then set the resulting
channel IOL and block RTLs / put IOL Offset = 21
On ASUS boards, enabled Round Trip Latency prevented the PC from starting due to too hard training, also due to low RTL-IOL instability is possible.
Training can be disabled via Memory Fast Boot - No Training / Enabled. On Rocket Lake / Alder Lake IOL latency is hidden, just turn on Round Trip Latency
for RTL training
Useful sources on setting up an RTL (RU):
● Odvolk's post about the RTL
● I2HARD Overclocking Hynix DJR, RTL setup timecode - 11:30
● My post about RTL block configuration on Gigabyte boards
● Post xalexiv
An example of a proper workout on a MSI motherboard
https://forums.overclockers.ru/viewtopic.php?p=17071751#p17071751
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ABijaycYv8
https://forums.overclockers.ru/viewtopic.php?p=17555154#p17555154
https://forums.overclockers.ru/viewtopic.php?p=17541594#p17541594
Stability Test
After you have done all of the previous steps, move on to the voltages and system stability tests
1. For memory stability test run TM5 with Extreme Anta777 config and pass it completely (For 16GB RAM test runs for 2 hours / 32GB runs for 4 hours
/ 64GB runs for 8 hours). Timings with which most of the errors are associated - tCL / tRCD / tRFC / tREFI / Command Rate = 1, also a huge number
of errors when running the test can be associated with a hard training RTL-IOL
2. Go to reduce SA / IO, for this use OCCT, test CPU + SSE + Large + Extreme + Variable for 30 minutes, I believe that this is the best test of memory
controller stability, as during the test is a heavy load on the IMC, which allows faster to choose the correct values SA / IO voltage. Next,
synchronously decrease SA / IO by 30 mV, for example, if it was 1.30V / 1.25V, then put 1.27V / 1.22V, then continue to reduce to the lowest stable
values
Skew Control (ODT)
RTT Wr / Park / Nom (ODT) resistance setting
This step is for enthusiasts only and should only be done after you have completely set up your memory
● RTT - is the time taken to send the signal and the time to acknowledge the signal
● RTT Wr - dynamic impedance of the termination / on-chip recording
● RTT Park - total resistance of the on-chip termination
● RTT Nom - nominal on-chip terminating resistance
If RTT Nom = 0, RTT Park will be higher, also RTT Park helps prevent loss of signal integrity. Anta777 advises to keep RTT Park at a minimum of non-zero.
Adjusting the ODT greatly helps to lower the memory voltage and in some cases allows you to increase the frequencyof your RAM. To set the resistances
you will need a GSAT written to a flash drive via Rufus (Settings standard, MBR / FAT32). To run the test, select Compatibility Mode - CSM and Select Boot
Option 1 - USB Key
RTT Park and RTT Nom can be - 240/120/80/48/40/34/0
Resistance selection:
1. Go into the BIOS and set all resistances to Auto
2. Find the minimum voltage at which errors appear in GSAT (Note the number of errors)
3. After starting to pick up resistances, I recommend keeping RTT WR > RTT PARK > RTT NOM
4. Go through all options with RTT WR = 80, increasing with instability RTT PARK, start with resistances - 80/34/0
5. Set the resistances with the least or no errors, if there are several such resistances, then select the resistances with the lowest RTT Park / RTT
Nom
6. Then we add 40 mV to the Dram Voltage, for example if we tested the resistors at 1.38V, we set 1.42V
There are rare cases where RTT NOM > RTT PARK, also sometimes you need to test starting with RTT WR = 120
Munternet Skew Control
Running GSAT under Windows
https://www.overclock.net/threads/the-importance-of-skew-control-for-memory-overclocking.1774358/?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=pmd_RzPU_XMXEwonu6EcyPDuVheTQOl1yPLFFx26gLuKUWw-1632522925-0-gqNtZGzNA1CjcnBszQrl
https://www.overclock.net/threads/running-gsat-in-windows-10-with-windows-subsystem-for-linux-wsl.1747674/
Tips And Tricks
Some tips / tricks for overclocking RAM on Intel platforms:
1. PPD - power off with precharge
Disable Power Down Mode in MSI BIOS setup, for other boards set PPD = 0, if your BIOS can't disable PPD, use ASUS MemTweakIt to disable the
parameter. Disabling PPD will make tXP / tCKE timings inactive, also you need to enable Real Time Memory Timing option in BIOS for changing settings
from under Windows
2. On MSI motherboards ODT Finetune / Rx,Tx Equalization can achieve stability at high frequencies, one forum member wrote that Rx Equalization = 31
and ODT Finetune = 14 helped him to stabilize at high frequencies, i have not tested the setting of these options, try different values with GSAT, maybe you
can find the best stability
3. On ASUS motherboards, if you are above 4400Mhz+ try these resistors to stabilize overclocking:
RTT WR / PARK / NOM:
80 / 48 / 48
80 / 48 / 40
80 / 48 / 0
4. Disable unused RAM slots in your BIOS and turn off the RGB backlight, this can help reduce the memory voltage and stabilize overclocking
5. When choosing RAM, I recommend buying the boards with revision A2, according to Sieger this revision of the printed circuit board has the lowest latency
- 13.13ns.
Sieger Handbook
Information about PCB DRAM
6. Do not use high CPU IO voltages as error correction can affect your gameplay and performance, also respect the temperature of your memory sticks, this
can also affect your gaming experience.
7. The best stability test on Intel platforms is Linpack Extreme, I recommend it after overclocking RAM + CPU. Make sure you have a small difference in
Gflops, usually after overclocking RAM you need to pick up the right SA / IO voltages for perfect stability.
8. On Asus Apex XII use BIOS 0088 to overclock memory. Only on this version, I helped one member of the forum to do this version 4500 CL15 CR1 Dual
Rank. Use the custom BIOS from Danske with the motherboard parameters unlocked.
Link Danske BIOS 0088 (Use BIOS Flashback):
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13sU2H9Fm5Y1dhWWwjYWK_x_oC2XxVACS?usp=sharing
9. On Gigabyte motherboards, to stabilize high frequencies, you must set the bus termination voltage VTT = DRAM Voltage / 2 + 20mV.
https://github.com/sieger/handbook/
https://www.reddit.com/r/overclocking/wiki/ram/ddr4#wiki_pcbs
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13sU2H9Fm5Y1dhWWwjYWK_x_oC2XxVACS?usp=sharing
Useful Links
Links to resources that helped me find a lot of useful information:
Integralfx DDR4 OC Guide:
https://github.com/integralfx/MemTestHelper/blob/oc-guide/DDR4%20OC%20Guide.md
Jedec DDR4 SDRAM:
http://www.softnology.biz/pdf/JESD79-4B.pdf
TweakTown Ultimate Intel Skylake Overclocking Guide:
https://www.tweaktown.com/guides/7481/tweaktowns-ultimate-intel-skylake-overclocking-guide/index.html#GIGABYTE-Z170-Overclocking:-Z170X-SOC-For
ce
Forum Hardwareluxx:
https://www.hardwareluxx.de/community/threads/intel-ddr4-ram-oc-thread-guides-und-tipps.1230518/
Forum HWBOT:
https://community.hwbot.org/
Forum IXBT:
https://forum.ixbt.com/
Forum Overclockers.ru (Anta777):
https://forums.overclockers.ru/index.php
I2HARD:
https://www.youtube.com/c/i2hard
Forum ASUS ROG:
https://rog.asus.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?127-ROG-Discussion
Forum Overclock.net:
https://www.overclock.net/
Ivan Babenko (Asus Apex 4400 CL17 CR1 Dual Rank Stream):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eIk84mF9tE&t=8595s
OC Guide PDF HWBOT:
https://hwbotdownloads.s3.amazonaws.com/downloads/text_storage/ocguide0722c.pdf
Buildzoid:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ActuallyHardcoreOverclocking
https://github.com/integralfx/MemTestHelper/blob/oc-guide/DDR4%20OC%20Guide.md
http://www.softnology.biz/pdf/JESD79-4B.pdf
https://www.tweaktown.com/guides/7481/tweaktowns-ultimate-intel-skylake-overclocking-guide/index.html#GIGABYTE-Z170-Overclocking:-Z170X-SOC-Force
https://www.tweaktown.com/guides/7481/tweaktowns-ultimate-intel-skylake-overclocking-guide/index.html#GIGABYTE-Z170-Overclocking:-Z170X-SOC-Force
https://www.hardwareluxx.de/community/threads/intel-ddr4-ram-oc-thread-guides-und-tipps.1230518/
https://community.hwbot.org/
https://forum.ixbt.com/
https://forums.overclockers.ru/index.php
https://www.youtube.com/c/i2hard
https://rog.asus.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?127-ROG-Discussion
https://www.overclock.net/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eIk84mF9tE&t=8595s
https://hwbotdownloads.s3.amazonaws.com/downloads/text_storage/ocguide0722c.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/c/ActuallyHardcoreOverclocking