Comparing Samsung DDR4 B-die and C-die RAM for laptops.
Comparing Samsung DDR4 B-die and C-die RAM for laptops.
My laptop comes with a 4GB soldered module plus an additional 4GB (M471A5244CBO-CRC). It uses C-die as confirmed by Thaipoon's analysis. To improve performance I purchased a 16GB DDR4 RAM from Amazon India for Rs. 2700, which is a B-die model (M471A2K43BB1-CRC). The C-die variant (M471A2K43BB1-CRC) was priced around Rs. 4500. I looked up the differences between these two types, but found no detailed comparison on Laptop RAM sources. Some suggested B-die is preferable for overclocking, though my laptop doesn’t support it. On the Samsung Semiconductor site, B-die models are marked as EOL. After installing the new RAM, Thaipoon Burner reported B-die chips are 20nm and C-die 18nm. I think smaller sizes mean better performance. Could I still use the B-die instead of a C-die? Might it cause bottlenecks or other issues? P.S. The price for C-die RAM dropped to Rs. 2900 now.
Generally, a smaller component provides better power efficiency. For desktops, I remain confident that B-Die is the least problematic on AM4. I can't comment on laptops though.
Just go for the bdie it should automatically adjust key components like trfc close to what the chip can handle. Based on my x58 boards and the different RAM options I've had—from dogshit D9QBJ to high-end Hyundai CFRS—I've seen performance range from 2800c11 up to over 3200, though the limit is around 3100. With the D9QBJ it usually settles near 300TRCF since it's a 4Gbit chip and won't run at 2000 below 250TRCF. Hyundai CFRS tends to auto-set between 80-120 at stock speeds, but at 1600 it can go up to 3200. If you push it to 2800 on the CFRS, it might hit around 250TRCF, but you’ll need to manually set 120 for it to work. As a laptop, it doesn’t support XMP or manual RAM tuning, so if you upgrade to a better chip the BIOS should fine-tune timing automatically compared to older models like the Samsung CDE. With a chip that’s not unbinned, timing differences between devices might not be huge, but since you’re mixing with CDE it’s likely the worst of both worlds. It would be a different situation if you got a more consistent or less inconsistent chip, especially one with better OEM parts. Microns matter, but right now it’s just a messy comparison.
Actually Thaipoon wasn't mentioning the soldered RAM during tests. It seems like it might be a C-die, though I'm not sure. The system will have 20GB total memory. I don't want to worry about my laptop. I'm just upgrading the RAM mainly to lower the virtual memory usage. It's annoying seeing the Task Manager show over 70% RAM usage with only 8GB available.