DDR5 bank groups
DDR5 bank groups
Hello everyone, I’m planning to set up a new rig in December using the upcoming AM5 platform. We already have a good idea of the RAM it will support—it seems to be limited to DDR5 only. I’ll need about 16GB of memory, and I’ll run it in dual-channel mode, which makes sense since I’m not trying to overkill. I’m mainly going to play games, and I’m currently 15 years old, so I won’t be using professional software that demands a lot of RAM. I saw some online discussions about 8GB DDR5 modules, but they seem to have issues because they have fewer bank groups, which reduces bandwidth. I’m not sure how this works or whether spending more for a 32GB package would be worth it. Any advice would be appreciated!
Hold off until the platform launches and reviews are published. Understanding the required RAM doesn’t guarantee every chip will perform perfectly. This is especially true for cutting-edge technology where only developers can test it fully. According to what I know, even Intel’s Alder Lake has encountered issues with certain components.
ddr5 isn't useful at all, honestly. I wouldn't pay more for it compared to a 3600 cl36 DDR4 setup. The issue with 8GB DDR5 sticks is they only have four chips instead of eight, which limits bandwidth and causes poor performance. For 8GB DDR5 RAM, you get a system with just four modules. The real choice will come later when Raptorlake and AM5 release their boards, so I recommend waiting to see the actual prices and availability.
he’s facing an issue because he can’t use DDR4 since he’s working with AM5, which means the idea that DDR5 is useless isn’t a big deal. In my opinion, it’s better to focus on 12th generation components and a solid D4 slot, even though DDR5 isn’t great whether it has four or eight chips. Everyone’s approach is different.
From now on, I’ll aim to support my claims with concrete data. Pricing for the newest products tends to be higher, which has been consistent since DDR1 was introduced. This doesn’t mean the memory is useless; rather, performance depends heavily on frequency. Generally, fewer components can lead to simpler issues, though you need to be aware that PCB designs for these chips differ significantly—often around 15 to 20 variations, with certain models being more popular than others. If you’re looking for a solid DDR5 kit, the Trident Z5 6000mhz CL 36 is a strong choice and outperforms most DDR4 options. However, performance should be evaluated through multiple tests, not just benchmarks like Cinebench. When making strong assertions, it’s important to back them with factual information rather than vague statements.
True but the chips do determine bandwidth too, theres a reason why gn back on their dell gaming system review hated the rams, this is also why dual rank performs better than single rank and also why im going 4x4 when i go ryzen, i think its ~20% performance increase dual rank vs single rank Good ddr5 is just expensive asf, the meta is the same as ddr4, go buy some cheaper or straight up baee pcb oem sticks with the same ics as good sticks and overclock them to match or surpass the good sticks performance, iirc 4800 ddr5 = 3200 cl16 ddr4 and 5400 ddr5 = 3600 cl18 ddr4, havent really payed much attention to ddr5 as its mostly irrelevant at this time, maybe later when am5 launches. If 5400 ddr5 is only as good as 3600 cl18 ddr4 then rip ddr5 Also really good bin samsung b die can do 5000 cl16 at ~1.7v, when ddr4 starts matching the speed of ddr5 then ddr5 just straight up loses here, even the average in comparison ballistix which usually only does ~4600 cl18/17 for average bin stuff is still able to wipe alot of ddr5. Compare ddr5 to non overclocked <4000 ddr4 and yea ofc ddr5 is faster by just brute speed, but when some ddr4 kits overclocked go upwards of 5000mhz then that brute speed advantage just vanishes, esp when ddr4 times better Although ddr5 does still have the benifit for 16gb single rank, sure ballistix matches that but top bin ballistix max is really pricey and im pretty sure 32gbit chips will become a thing and now ppl that for whatever reason need 64gb of ram can also enjoy ludicrous ram speeds. Eventually ddr5 will get better but like literally everyone else says just wait a year or 2 for it to be worth it and actually be mostly faster than ddr4 also im pretty sure those oem bare pcb sticks once mainstream ram speeds start going up will plunge in price so if you can score one with good ics while being at a reasonable price then that also makes ddr5 worth it, basically just like those cheap bare pcb ddr4 that can be oced to normal 3200/3600 bin or for some ics can be oced well past 4000mhz (particularly samsung and micron ics but samsung is more common and usually the cheapest)
I bought a set for $80 containing Crucial Ballistix Max RGB 16gb (2x8) DDR4-4000 memory with a compact form factor. This low-latency, high-speed DDR5 package delivers strong performance relative to its cost, outperforming the priciest DDR5 options.
Stock or boost? Both can reach over 5200 depending on the situation, but aiming for 5000mhz is realistic. For a 1.7V VTTDR, expect around 800MHz, though I’d avoid exceeding 1.65V due to cooling limits and possible minor performance drops. Going beyond 5000mhz demands massive cooling—this is evident in my Nanya DRAM kit (1066C6 DDR2 style). The 1480 7-9-9-10 at 2.2V runs fine without fans, but pushing past 1500 quickly becomes tough without proper heatsinking. At 1520 7-9-6-9 at 2.38V you’ll need dual fans to keep it stable. For reference, BuildZoid has useful OC guides and the micron tuning thread can help you fine-tune. If you hit at least 4600MHz, most DDR5 setups will perform well.