Good 8Gb DDR4 RAM suitable for around 4400 MHz is available.
Good 8Gb DDR4 RAM suitable for around 4400 MHz is available.
found a reasonably priced B350 gaming K4 that appears to be quite reliable, possibly due to past issues but still functional. I plan to purchase it soon using some leftover funds from family gifts and my birthday. Most ASRock boards before the B550/x570 lineup are built with a topology design, so I’m considering a 32GB configuration (4x8). I don’t expect it to exceed 4400 MHz just yet, mainly to find a chip that supports tight timings since I previously struggled to source one for a similar 6GB/24GB build on the X58 TIG. The D9QBJ has terrible TRFC and requires 2V for 2040MHz, which is a real setback. I’d prefer some input here so I don’t end up buying something subpar again. I’ll stick to bare PCBs since you can see the details directly; they’re usually cheaper and often come with codes. I’m aiming for a Ryzen 5 5500 CPU because the 5600 series is overpriced (about $50 more), and I don’t think an iMX should be an issue. Voltage limits are manageable—aiming for under 1.7V, preferably around 1.7V to stay safe. Running CL and TWCL a bit loose with excess voltage into TRFC is fine; I’ll add a fan or two over the RAM sticks. Currently, I’m eyeing the Hynix 8GB DDR4 DRAM (DJR) for better timing performance, especially in TRFC, and it’s available on various sites like hma81gu6djr8n. It offers solid timing and good voltage scaling, though it’s around $1.7k. Micron 8GB DDR4 is another option, with c9BZ or c9BHS variants in the 2666 series, which are reliable but a bit less refined than the DJR. The micron revision is decent but not as competitive. I’m leaning toward the DJR for its balance of price and performance, assuming it meets my timing needs.
No, the OEM B die is really bad. Even the "better" ones are terrible and act like C die. They usually work best when voltage stays above 1.35V, but overall they’re a poor choice from an overclocking standpoint. If you need something better, opt for a solid kit like 3600 CL17-18-18 or 4000 CL19-19-19. Anything else is mainly for JEDEC standards. DJR AFAIK varies a lot, but it’s not much better than B die. It’s unclear how OEM categories are defined—clearly they aren’t strictly divided. Most should handle at least DDR4 4000, though timing specs aren’t impressive compared to other kits. They’re fine for everyday use but don’t match high-end builds like a G.Skill unit of the same class. A good alternative is the OEM Samsung 4Gb E die, which reliably supports DDR4 5000 (around 2V, closer to 4200 at ~1.5V) with timings similar to decent B die, except for some primary issues and a few subtimings. Just avoid it if you’re aiming for 32GB RAM—like a dual-rank setup would need four 4GB modules—but you can still get by with 16GB most of the time. Another choice is the Samsung D die, which performs consistently and behaves almost like Rev.E, making it a solid pick if you find it reasonably priced.
Essentially the die is just more stable but without any big hiccups, you can still get decent timing even with higher voltages. I’ll be tweaking the voltage and keeping subtimings tight. Running CL and TWCL will be loose so I can lower the voltage requirement. I’m also curious about 4Gbit—seems it could match E Die performance and there are some Hyix options out there. I’m okay with cutting to 24GB, but I don’t know how well it’ll handle Quad Rank or even Curse Tri Rank. I’m not sure if running at 1.4v vsoc is a good idea unless it’s necessary. It’s not better than any of the mediocre rev bins like C9BJZ, though. I’m not too worried about rev performance affecting TRFC, but I’m unsure how it’ll affect Quad Rank. I don’t have much to post right now, just hoping I can find something interesting when I get more funds. Probably need to decide between building a BGA rework station or a phase change loop first.
I understood you were referring to Ron, and I'm happy to proceed.
It's still somewhat flexible where high-quality B dies can achieve a 16 tRCD, while E dies need at least 24. There are a few other timing options that are a bit less precise, but E dies remain the third best IC after B dies and 16Gb Rev. B, and they're at least workable in OEM configurations compared to B dies. It aligns with what Rev. E does. Spoiler: https://www.hardwareluxx.de/community/th...d.1268891/ Most other options after B die will deliver only average tRFC performance. It also adapts to voltage variations depending on the components, which is sufficient for a regular daily system. The same applies to Rev. E—it's adequate.
I’ll need to check the boards’ frequency features before making any purchases. I’ve got a low-quality 4GB 1x16 stick available, so I’ll start with that first. Will it match the performance of four sticks or actually lag behind when using just one? It seems likely that having fewer sticks will slow things down compared to running in a 1x2 setup. Regarding the ICs, if the CEZANNE IMCC can handle over 4400V with reasonable voltages (around 1.4V), that should be the top choice. I see someone with a dual-rank 4533 running at just 1.27V vsoc—though I’m not sure what voltage requirements are needed for a 5000 single rank board. For a quad rank, I’m uncertain about the exact Vsoc needs, so I don’t know how much more voltage is required. If the board isn’t available or too demanding in quad rank, I’ll probably go with a rev or dual die next. For now, I’ll stick with REV or DUAL dies and keep the IC options simple.
Varies by board design. Many favor 1DPC but still sync to the moon in 2DPC, such as my Z87X-OC along with other Z87/Z97 models. Others stick to 2DPC only, like the Gigabyte Z370/Z390 boards. I haven’t tried an X370 ASRock unit, so I’m unsure what it handles. In Gigabyte’s 6-layer daisy chain boards, they reliably clock four DIMMs, though I haven’t tested a Cezanne chip on my X570 Master to verify. It can definitely support 4000 DIMMs in four slots and 4800 with two single-rank chips is straightforward for Vermeer at least.
I’m familiar with Gigabyte’s solid RAM setup on their B550/x570 models. Regarding the lower-end options like the B550 Aorus Elite, I’m curious about their performance if you purchase two separate boards. You mentioned interest in 1DPC MATX boards and saw someone get 5000 on a B550 MH—there are many budget-friendly 1DPC B550 and A520 units available. If you can crossflash an A520 to a B550, you might find a board that excels in clock speed for around $50 new. It seems the best approach could be testing multiple boards yourself rather than relying on resale value.