Any worthwhile changes to memory timings?

JR1911 · February 4, 2021

I recently built a new rig and I'm wondering if there is any noticeable benefit for gaming performance to try tighter memory timings than what I 'm currently using? I've never bothered with memory overclocking so I don't really any experience with it, I've always just enabled XMP and called it a day.

These are the timings I'm currently using and they're stable, they passed Memtest86 without any errors:

The memory is G.Skill Ripjaws V 2x16Gb. Like I said all I've done is enable XMP, though I had to manually set tRC to 58 as that for some reason was still at it's default value of 85. I also manually changed tRFC, tRFC2 and tRFC4 from 631-469-289 to 486-362-223.

ForwardVoltage · February 5, 2021

Looks like could be dual rank 8Gbit CJR. With RAM overclocking, it is dependent (since we know your processor and RAM kit) on monitor resolution, graphical fidelity, and the games you play (since some don't really scale that far with increases in memory speed) on how much performance you will gain. If you have nothing better to do, play an arena shooter like CSGO or Fortnite, or low settings on 1080p, you could benefit mildly to highly with faster memory.

You could tighten tRC, tRP, tRAS, tRCDRD maybe, tRCDWR could go to 8 for the primaries most recognizable. I don't know the specific die (type of memory IC or the quality of the revision of the black wafer soldered onto the PCB), so lowering tRFC is something you could do. Tertiaries could be tightened as well (1-1-1-1-1....etc. is a fun way to impress your online buddies ). I would definitely tighten tFAW and tRRDL if you're diving in headfirst.

If this is already over your head, don't worry! A chunk of people don't even overclock their memory, let alone even XMP/DOCP it. You can do always do it later, and it looks like you don't have a shit die.

freeagent · February 5, 2021

The very first time I powered up my AM4 system to install windows, I didn't go into the bios and change a thing. Ram was at 2133 with a bunch of 21s lol.. I didn't know until I opened CPUZ when windows was done installing two and a half minutes later lol. Felt fine to me.. AMD is pretty impressive these days, gotta hand it to them. They deserve the praise they have received.