13th Gen Ram OC topic discussion
13th Gen Ram OC topic discussion
Intel and ASUS specialists, gather around! In short, I’m dealing with a micro stutter. I’m trying to boost my 1% lows to fix it. Finding the right terms for ASUS motherboard voltages has been tricky—especially since the 12th and 13th gen chips don’t seem to support VCCIO anymore. AMD keeps dropping new info, which is a bit overwhelming. For overclocking on a 13th Gen Z790 board with an ASUS TUF PLUS WIFI D4, I’m struggling to get reliable DDR4 recommendations. After weeks of troubleshooting, I’ve narrowed it down to RAM upgrades and timing tweaks, but I’m unsure about safe overclock settings that won’t damage the memory controller. My stutter seems tied to those 1% lows that don’t pass benchmarks. Now I’m reaching out for guidance on the exact voltages needed for stability without risking hardware failure. Any expert advice would be greatly appreciated—thank you!
I’ll start by mentioning that most of my experience with 13th gen OEM builds is using DDR5, not DDR4, although I’ve worked with DDR4 and some ASUS hardware, so I should be able to assist. The situation has largely shifted to the VDDQ TX voltage, or what manufacturers refer to as IVR Transmitter. On nearly all boards except ASUS, you adjust it to 1.35V and stop there. On ASUS boards (especially the newer DDR5 models), they prefer a higher value, so try increasing it slightly to see if you can achieve faster performance. For long-term reliability, keep the voltage under 1.45V. Some sources suggest around 1.55V is safe, but that’s more about risk than necessity. The exact setting depends on your specific Hynix model (typically 500–600V for most), and tRFC can be adjusted up to stability limits. Generally, aim for 33k with a good case, 64k with solid airflow, and 128k with optimal cooling and direct airflow. Always stress-test with the GPU running a stress test, as your RAM could be affected too. For precise guidance, check the label above the barcode for the exact Hynix IC or use tools like Thaiphoon Burner to read the specifications. Notably, the MC PLL voltage is important—1.26V is excessive and likely harmful; aim for below 1.1V if possible. VCCSA is usually fine at 1.3V, though some CPUs may not scale well above that. If you need more detail, look directly at the label or use diagnostic software to confirm.
What? I question the diagnosis (and I have DDR4 3600cl14). By the way, did you test Memtest86? Updated February 14, 2024 by leclod
I focused on the RAM because of the viewer issues I encountered after swapping out every component except the memory chip. Additionally, my overall response time was significantly slow for the 3200MHz DDR4 stick I had. After installing the new RAM, the problems disappeared completely. I plan to revisit the issue later to dig deeper, but right now I’m mainly trying to master proper RAM configuration without damaging the controller inside the chip. I understand that optimized RAM can boost performance in small increments, which helps reduce microstutter rather than just increasing frame rates. Since my stuttering is subtle—only noticeable during camera panning—I’m not sure it’s obvious until you see it in action. The only real fix is capping frame rates with tools like Rivatuner. Still, it feels counterproductive to build a system if I end up limiting FPS. Right now I’m learning how to properly configure DDR4 RAM for a 13th-gen Intel processor. I’m more familiar with AMD systems and their OC methods, which differ from what I see for AMD boards. The documentation for AMD RAM is also different due to the chipset. Most guides I find are geared toward DDR5 setups, so they don’t always apply. Also, MemTest86’s four-cycle test won’t catch every possible RAM fault. My replaced RAM passed all tests, but OCCT flagged errors only at default XMP settings. That’s why I changed it—I suspect my current setup is Hynix-based. Even though your initial comments questioned the effectiveness of my approach, I’m open to any advice you can offer. I’m here to improve and value every suggestion.
Additionally, I'm not sure if this extra information from Thaiphoon Burner will be helpful.
You were addressing two issues: micro stutter and errors. You resolved the errors by changing the RAM. I see the connection between micro stutter and low latency around 1%. However, are your reported 1% latencies consistent with what your hardware typically produces? Regarding my overall latency, it was significantly higher than what you expected for the 3200MHz CL16 RAM you used. How do you measure this? I wasn’t satisfied with the results either and believe there isn’t a satisfactory latency target. Could you share how you measured it? I think you might be targeting the wrong goal. Have you checked any relevant forums?
My Aida64 latency was initially over 70 nanoseconds. After testing several options with the new RAM, it dropped to around 54 ns. Still feels quite high. Before testing games, I wanted to verify the RAM's stability and needed more knowledge about overclocking. So far, I haven’t confirmed if microstutter disappeared. In specific games like Cyberpunk, I previously experienced low frame rates near 60 FPS even with path tracing and frame generation. Now, with the upgraded RAM, my performance is around 35 to 40 FPS at 1% lows during testing. That’s a significant improvement. At this stage, I’m mainly seeking overclocking advice rather than troubleshooting stutter. However, I’m open to suggestions on what might have caused the microstutter and can confirm whether I’ve addressed it. I assume my BIOS and chipset are up to date, drivers are current, I swapped the motherboard and CPU to the same model, upgraded the PSU for better efficiency, and changed to a more efficient AIO cooler. I slightly undervolted the CPU but only by -0.04 Vcore adaptive. I’ve tried various SSDs and ensured proper slot configurations. All my specifications are listed here for convenience. If this fixes the microstutter, I don’t care about the details. At this point, I’ll do whatever it takes. Thank you for taking the time to respond honestly. So far, this forum has been the most helpful, with replies indicating I’ve already tried many solutions.
I haven't purchased Aida, so I'm unable to attend that meeting. Have you checked those discussion boards?
I'll take a look at that. Also, I'm curious if the Samsung B Die GSKill 3600 CL14 RAM is what you're after. It might fit perfectly. No need to make any changes.
It looks like you own this item, but I wouldn’t suggest purchasing it. I didn’t see any noticeable benefits after buying it. I’m not claiming it’s inferior, but I don’t think it’s a problem for me. This is just my personal take from the information I’ve read.