13700k paired with four DDR5 DIMMs reaches a maximum of 4800 MHz
13700k paired with four DDR5 DIMMs reaches a maximum of 4800 MHz
My system functions properly with XMP activated, provided I add just one RAM kit. When I install two kits (four modules), it limits boot speeds to around 4800 MHz. The Intel i7 13700K (MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI) with the latest BIOS supports up to 5600 MHz according to the mainboard specs. The manual mentions priority settings for A2 and B2, which is why I placed the larger modules there. Intel claims up to 5600 MHz should be achievable. I followed the manual instructions, setting timings and voltage at 1.4V, and gradually increased the memory multiplier until it failed. Raising SA and VDDQ beyond 1.3V didn’t help. Switching from Gear2 to Gear4 didn’t change the outcome. Who is responsible? Could be the RAM type or configuration. I’m considering a 64GB setup instead, with four 16GB modules. That would save about 100€ but might cause problems too. Some users manage to run at 6000 MHz or higher with four modules, while others report issues. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
It's quite typical for DDR5 to cap at around 4800MHz when four DIMMs are used. Many users have encountered this problem before.
Gear 4 faces significant issues across several BIOS updates, especially concerning memory limitations and stability. Many configurations struggle with memory constraints, particularly when trying to validate frequencies beyond certain thresholds. The setup appears highly sensitive, with performance heavily dependent on channel allocation and die type compatibility. While some users manage success with specific combinations, overall reliability remains questionable, especially under higher clock demands.
You're wondering if a 32|32|16|16 setup could let you push higher clock speeds. I believe the first 16GB would likely stay in dual-channel mode, which might limit performance even further. Since both configurations work well separately, you could manually adjust timings for each bank. There might be additional BIOS tweaks that go beyond basic sub-timing adjustments, especially when dealing with different memory chip generations. I doubt it will match the gains you'd see with 4800 + dual channel or 6400. With similar settings, I noticed performance improvements of 5-15%, which isn't insignificant. Thanks for clarifying—I feel less isolated now. I'm frustrated because I expected more from the advertised speeds and didn't realize adding modules later would be tricky.
Theoretically yes. I still highly doubt you'll get up to 6400, or even 5600, but 5200 might be a bit more likely to work in that config. You would, but it's with the first 64GB of RAM that runs in flex mode, the last 32GB would be at single channel. The issue isn't with the subtimings you can set in BIOS, it's the memory controller timings that are figured out in memory training and inaccessible in the BIOS. It would be faster in the first 64GB and slower at the last 32GB. Realistically if you need to use more than 64GB, you stop caring about speed and only really care as long as there's the speed for it. Yeah, realistically the second slots per channel shouldn't exist with DDR5, they cause more issues than they're worth and limit the max memory frequency.