Intel's 12th generation Core processors, in addition to a significant leap in performance, also opened the next generation of memory platform replacement. The new DDR5 memory has many new features in addition to higher frequencies. DDR5 memory overclocking and use experience is also a matter of concern to everyone, let's take a look at the CORSAIR Platinum Ruler RGB 5200 16×2 memory set on Intel's 12th generation Core platform overclocking performance and related applications.
More frequencies and more features, and a big replacement of next-generation memory
The most intuitive change in DDR5 memory over DDR4 memory is the significant increase in frequency. The JEDEC standard of DDR4 memory is only 3600MHz at the highest, and the DDR4 memory specifications of this standard rarely appear on the market, most of which are still 2133MHz and 2400MHz products, running at higher frequencies by overclocking. The JEDEC standard of DDR5 memory has reached 4800MHz at the beginning, and most of the products sold on the market start at 5000MHz, directly reaching the frequency of the DDR4 overclocking flagship, and the improvement in data bandwidth is still relatively large.
In addition, the power management of DDR5 memory has been moved from the motherboard to the memory module itself, and the power management PMIC chip and design of memory selection will largely determine the overclocking ability of memory.
The Intel XMP3.0 specification brings many new features
While supporting DDR5 memory, Intel has also brought players a new XMP3.0 specification (Intel Extreme Memory Profiles). In XMP3.0, the configuration file has been increased from the previous two groups of 1.0/2.0 to five groups, of which three groups are factory presets, and the other two groups are open for players to customize and modify, and the gameplay is more. To prevent error control, XMP3.0 also adds CRC error checksum. At the same time, the file name of the configuration file is also opened to 16 characters, and the storage space is expanded to 384 bytes. At present, mainstream memory manufacturers have fully supported XMP3.0, including corsair memory that is to be overclocked and experienced today.
Other features of DDR5 memory such as BankGroups, internal bandwidth, On Die ECC, etc. are not intuitive for players, and we will not repeat them here.
The top flagship light bar, the first to support XMP3.0
Corsair Platinum Ruler RGB DDR5 memory maintains the design language of the previous DDR4 version of Platinum Ruler RGB, with a high degree of recognition. In terms of material, the forged aluminum structure is combined with the precision die-casting process, and the anodized treatment is carried out, which is very delicate, and the design of the black matte throughout the body gives people a deep and restrained feeling. In terms of heat dissipation, it has corsair's patented CORSAIR DHX cooling system, so players do not need to worry about heating problems at high frequencies of DDR5 memory.
Corsair Platinum Ruler RGB DDR5 memory is equipped with 12 ultra-bright, individually addressable CAPELLIX RGB LED lamp beads, as well as light guide strip armor made of zinc alloy, which is unique in terms of light effect performance. In order to match the player's DIY personalized lighting performance, the Corsair iCUE software provides dozens of preset lighting options, and players can also make more detailed personalized adjustments to the lights of this memory in a single lamp bead.
In order to match the new features of DDR5 and the new XMP3.0 technology, players can also finely adjust the voltage of this memory in the iCUE software to better meet the overclocking needs of players. At the same time, it will also provide saving XMP3.0 configuration files, which is convenient for players to customize switching for different applications or usage scenarios.
Overclocking combat, easy to run to 5600MHz
Test platform
CPU: Intel Core i9-12900K
Memory: Corsair Platinum Ruler RGB DDR4 DDR5 5200MHz 16GB×2
Motherboard: ROG Maximus Z690 Hero
Operating system: Windows 11 64bit Pro
The specific model of memory used this time is corsair Platinum Ruler RGB DDR5 5200MHz 16GB×2 set, by default, the JEDEC standard frequency of this memory is 4800MHz, and the timing is 40-40-40-78. The memory is automatically overclocked to 5200MHz after the XMP function is turned on, and the timing is 38-40-40-78. In terms of memory particles, the memory uses Micron D8BNJ particles (which is what players call A-Die), which is very stable. P-MIC is from Renesas Renesas for DDR5 memory designed P8911 power management IC, which is also the vast majority of DDR5 memory choice with P-MIC chip, from the disassembly point of view, the US Corsair platinum ruler RGB DDR5 5200MHz memory power management part is still more exquisitely designed, the material is also relatively good.
Let's first look at how this memory behaves by default. In the memory test of AIDA64, corsair Platinum Ruler RGB DDR5 5200MHz memory compared to the common DDR4 3600MHz C16 memory, read performance increased by 45%, write and copy performance by 37% and 33%, respectively. In the WINRAR benchmark and the 7-ZIP benchmark, it improved by 9% and 16% respectively relative to conventional DDR4.
After overclocking to 5600MHz, the reference performance is greatly improved
In terms of overclocking, we turn on XMP directly in the BIOS of the ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboard, select the 5200MHz profile, then select DDR5-5600MHz directly in the DRAM Frequency option and use the Memory Controller in Advanced Memory Voltages Voltage (memory controller voltage) increased from 1.2V to 1.25V. No modification is required for timing, and 38-40-40-78 is still used. In this way, the set of Platinum Ruler RGB DDR5 5200MHz memory of the Corsair in our hands was relatively easy to overclock to 5600MHz@38-40-40-78 and passed the stability test.
Judging from the test results after overclocking, the read, write and copy in the benchmark test are increased by 11%, 8% and 7% respectively compared to 5200MHz, and the theoretical performance improvement is very obvious. Since the frequency of this overclocking has been increased, but the timing has remained the same as before, the delay has decreased. In the future, after the DDR5 memory matures, the frequency will be further increased, and eventually the latency problems that players are worried about will be better solved.
In addition to overclocking, DDR5 has also added a lot of new features, among which the most popular among players may be custom XMP profiles. If you want to use this function, you may need some supporting software support from memory manufacturers. For example, Corsair put the custom XMP profile function in the well-known Corsair iCUE software.
Because the custom XMP configuration function is still being tested, we need to download the iCUE 4.18 XMP preview version on the corsair website instead of the latest iCUE 4.19 official version. At the same time, after using DDR5 memory, players may find that their corsair DDR5 memory cannot be recognized in the iCUE software, and they need to turn on the SPD DRAM WRITE function in the motherboard BIOS. For example, the ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboard we use, the option in the BIOS is "SPD WRITE DISABLE:TURE", change it to "SPD WRITE DISABLE:FLASE", save the reboot into the system, iCUE can smoothly identify the memory.
XMP profiles are already available in preview of iCUE XMP
In the XMP preview version of the iCUE software, you can see a new XMP option, after entering the player can click to add custom 2 XMP profiles, the configuration can be voltage, frequency, timing and various small parameters for detailed configuration, and save them in the SPD, very convenient. Of course, since this new feature has only just arrived, players may not yet be able to select a new custom XMP configuration in the motherboard BIOS, which will require waiting for the motherboard BIOS update.
iCUE has built-in multiple lighting modes for players to choose from, or they can be customized by a single lamp bead
In addition, as a regular use of iCUE software, Corsair Platinum Ruler RGB DDR5 memory in iCUE software can monitor and adjust lighting effects, heat dissipation, XMP settings and other items. There are a variety of lighting effect types preset in iCUE, and players can choose preset effects according to their preferences and adjust the appropriate speed. Since the memory is equipped with 12 individually addressable ARGB lamp beads, players can even set the color and speed of each lamp bead individually to better personalize the light performance.
Summary: Ultra to high frequency performance is better, XMP gameplay is more abundant
As the first choice for next-generation platforms, DDR5 memory has begun to take over the DDR4 class and become the standard for the next generation of memory. As with every memory transition, players are concerned about the increase in latency. However, through overclocking tests, higher frequency DDR5 memory can further crush the mainstream DDR4 memory in terms of performance, and there is a very huge improvement in bandwidth and read and write speed, and as the frequency grows, the delay will also get a good balance. The custom XMP profile feature is a very interesting feature that will bring more playability and convenience to players in the future. The platinum ruler RGB DDR5 5200MHz memory in this test, as the flagship series of Corsair, has a relatively good performance in terms of design, lighting effects or stability, suitable for enthusiasts. Of course, the DDR5 memory of the Corsair Platinum Ruler series also has higher frequencies of 5600MHz and 6400MHz available for purchase, and friends who pursue the ultimate frequency can also pay attention.