Overclocking - DDR4 RAM

Impact of RAM OC on Intel

Guides

Integral's guide
  • In my opinion, this is the most simple straightforward guide for overclocking RAM.

RAM Stability Tests

Below is a list of stability tests sorted in order of how good they are based off other users' data:
  • TestMem5
    • Download the extreme config by anta777
    • Run the application and load the anta config by clicking "Load Config & Exit"
    • After the application closes, restart the application and leave it running until it completes, or finds 1 error.
  • OCCT (Beta)
    • Run the Memory stress test for 30 minutes to 1 hour between changes in timings, and at least 2 hours for daily stability.
    • AVX seems to be the best test for finding issues with too low VDIMM.
  • Stressful Application Test
    • Note: This is only for Linux distributions, but can be run on Windows using WSL (not WSL2).
    • Run stressapptest -W -M 14000 -s 3600 --pause_delay 3600 between changes in timings.
    • Run stressapptest -W -M 14000 -s 7200 --pause_delay 3600 for a daily profile.
    • Note: Replace 14000 with around 90% of your available memory.
  • Karhu
    • Note: This stress test is not available for free and requires a license.
    • Ensure CPU Cache is enabled in the settings.
    • Run this test to around 10,000% coverage when changing timings.
    • Run this test to around 24,000% coverage for daily stability.
  • HCI MemTest with MemTestHelper
    • In my experience, this is far slower than the other tests, but may pick up errors that Karhu doesn't.
    • Download the memtest executable and the MemTestHelper archive.
    • Extract the archive and move the memtest executable into the extracted folder.
    • Run the memtesthelper executable and for the memory amount, enter the amount of RAM available divided by the number of threads your CPU has.

Notable 8GB Memory ICs

Samsung B-Die

  • This is the best memory IC for DDR4.
  • Frequency can be pushed really high, upwards of 4000MHz.
  • tCL scales well with voltage up to 1.5V.
  • tRCD and tRP can go lower than tCL provided the kit and IMC can handle it.
  • Bad B-Die bins exist and may not overclock well at all.
Common B-Die bins (at XMP):
Frequency (MHz) Voltage (V) tCL tRCD-tRP tCL Latency (ns) tRCD-tRP Latency (ns) Average Latency (ns)
3200 1.35 14 14 8.75 8.75 8.75
3600 1.35 15 15 8.33 8.33 8.33
3600 1.35 16 16 8.89 8.89 8.89
3866 1.35 18 19 9.31 9.83 9.57
4000 1.35 19 19 9.50 9.50 9.50
4266 1.40 19 19 9.19 9.19 9.19
4400 1.45 19 19 9.19 9.19 9.19

Micron Rev E

  • This is usually the best price:performance memory IC for DDR4.
  • This memory IC is lighter than most others on the IMC.
  • Frequency can be pushed really high, in some cases above 5000MHz.
  • tCL can go as low as Samsung B-Die, if not lower.
  • However, tRCD(RD) is usually only stable when loose and tRFC is high (500+ cycles).

Hynix DJR

  • This is a great price:performance memory IC for DDR4.
  • Frequency can be pushed really high, in some cases above 5000MHz.
  • tCL can go moderately low.
  • tRFC is moderate (400+ cycles).
  • However, tRCD(RD) is usually only stable when loose.

Hynix CJR

  • This is a good price:performance memory IC for DDR4.
  • Frequency can't be pushed really high whilst maintaining a decent latency.
  • tCL can go moderately low.
  • tRFC is moderate (400+ cycles).
  • At the same frequency, Hynix CJR is better than Micron Rev E.