Ryzen overclock
Ryzen overclock
I've received information from a trustworthy source about improving performance by adjusting BIOS settings. The suggestion was to enable Gear Down mode and disable Power Down mode. This advice was originally recommended for a Ryzen 3rd generation processor, but I'm checking if it applies to a 2nd generation model as well.
GDM is activated by default when using memory speeds above DDR4-2667, as defined in the DDR4 specification. It enables RAM to operate with a clock that is half of the actual DRAM frequency for latching purposes on command or address buses. This cautious approach may support higher clock speeds, wider compatibility, and improved stability. For overclockers, Geardown Mode will also be important since it instructs the memory subsystem to ignore the BIOS-set command rate. Although 1T command rates can boost performance, they are challenging to sustain, so the effectiveness of running GDM depends on whether the target memory speed is attainable.
This impact is limited mainly to memory performance and relies on specific RAM configurations, so you should experiment yourself. Test the benchmark with different settings to find the best result.
Gear Down Mode is typically turned on by default, which makes it puzzling why it's off on your system. However, as Mike mentioned, the performance gain is minimal. (If your memory is set to 2T, enabling gear down might slightly reduce RAM speed.) Power Down Mode doesn't necessarily boost performance, but it can enhance memory stability. I would keep it disabled if you're heavily overclocking your RAM. Since RAM doesn't consume much power, and this feature feels unnecessary for my desktop setup.
I followed the rule to reduce speed only when it also permits a 1T with tighter timing. If not, skip it. Gear down or gear up doesn't improve performance—it's just about what it enables. Additionally, it seems many timings are rounded to an even number of clocks.
GDM is activated by default when memory speeds exceed DDR4-2667 as defined in the DDR4 specification. It enables RAM to operate with a clock that’s half of the actual DRAM frequency for latching purposes on command or address buses. This cautious approach may support higher clock speeds, wider compatibility, and improved stability. For overclockers, Geardown Mode will also be important since it instructs the memory subsystem to ignore the BIOS-set command rate. While 1T command rates can boost performance despite challenges, the chart suggests evaluating whether GDM remains advantageous for reaching the target memory speed.