System Memory Bandwidth Performance

System Memory Bandwidth Performance

As explained - Intel has a couple of certified partners for memory to get some sweet Intel XMP (Extreme Memory profiles) 2.0 profiles going. We test memory both at the default SPD/JEDEC 2133 MHz for DDR4 and then with XMP 2.0 enabled at 3200 MHz. The DDR4 memory kit is rated at 3200 MHz. That my friends is configured by enabling XMP in the BIOS, and that's it. All of the sudden, the memory bandwidth numbers will change big-time:

Above - Default clock frequency on CPU / 3200 MHz CL14 on DDR4

Starting with AGESA 1006 it should be more easy to setup your memory up-to 3200 MHz with the newer DIMM DDR4 modules available. We initially tried three kits and all worked and auto-configured by enabling XMP in the BIOS. We ended with an Intel kit I have around for a while now, G.Skill Trident-Z 3200 MHz DIMMs CL14. Now I stated already this review will be a performance overview for Ryzen 7 relative towards memory frequencies and an overclock.

Later on in the article we'll look into compatibility and test close to 15 DDR4 kits to see how they react to the new AGESA 1006 firmware. Let's chart it up memory bandwidth first though:

So in grey we see the Ryzen 7 1700 with memory at 3200 MHZ CL14 (AGESA 1006) - I also added the results for the Ryzen 7 1700 @ 4100 MHz on all cores. The blue scores are all AGESA 1004 from April. As you can see the perf is a notch below the April AGESA 1004 based tests, however we used a different memory kit back then. So that offset is explained by that (and just that).