Road to XMP stability - DDR5 4x16 (GSkill 6000CL36) on Z690 Formula

[Peazmack]

Looking to share some input as well as try to get some from other, more experienced people in the field of OCing and coping with Z690/DDR XMP issues. So I went ahead of me, and bought 2 kits of GSkill DDR5 2x6 @6000MHz CL36. Of course, like for majority of us I reckon, it does not boot in either of the XMP settings. Now before I give up and switch back to using only 2 sticks instead of 4 which seem to cause more issues, looking for some input on the below. Im using latest bios available as of now for my motherboard (Z690 Formula with 12900K).

Closest to the XMP that I got is 5400 CL36 with VDD and VDDQ left alone at 1.3, System Agent left on auto (1.25 it seems) and Memory Controller on 1.23. That seems to be rock solid, had over 2.5 hours spent in Karhu's RAM Test without any errors the other night. VDD and VDDQ did not really impact the stability here, unless it went over 1.35, then I started getting errors. 1.23 for memory controller was the lowest I could go while being free of errors.

Attempted to go for 5600 CL36 tonight, but hardly any progress. Closest to Stability was VDD and VDDQ at 1.31 (I doubt it made any difference here), System Agent still on Auto and Memory Controller on around 1.29. I could boot no problem, but had constantly first ram error found within first 30 minutes of RAM Test, which I consider a fail. Any advice how to move it forward? Shall I push the Memory Controller above 1.3 threshold and look for stability there? Any other setting I'm missing here?
Additionally, should I settle for 4x16 5400 CL36 quad or switch to 2x16 dual with XMP 6000 CL36? Which would be more beneficial (I know it's rather marginally better) for gaming?

[captaintrips]

I noticed in 0811 bios for my extreme z690 I can at least post in xmp1 (windows bsod's when trying to load). This was first bios update where at least one of the xmp profiles would let me post, so I'm refreshing this forum several times a day waiting for the next bios update lol.

I'm on similar scenario, but adata xpg lancer 4x16gb ddr5. It's 5200mhz rated at CL38 @ 1.25v, but I'm not familiar enough with all these voltages and bios settings for vdd, vdq, etc to understand what I'm doing. I am just leaving all that on auto right now, which gets me only 4000mhz and hope the next bios from shamino comes soon.

[rjbarker]

Have you guys tried going "Manual" and loading the pre-loaded Memory Profiles (skip XMP altogether?

[Peazmack]

Haven't tried to load the mem profiles in bios, I considered them useless anyway, but might give them a try if you think it might yield results. For now though, I will make another attempt at going 5600 with higher Mem Controller voltage. With that said, I'm not sure I have more breathing room there. I need 1.23 mem controller to work in 5400. 5600 - if even possible - will need more than 1.3. Even if I get it stable at 5600 with over 1,3 in mem controller, I doubt I could go any higher without getting into unsafe temps for memory controller there. I will try to see whether I can get XMP on only 2 sticks, so 2x16. If I do, I'll try to OC it further on just two sticks and then try to run some benchmarks between 4x16 @5400CL36 and 2x16@6000CL36 to decide which one is better for gaming.

[captaintrips]

Have you guys tried going "Manual" and loading the pre-loaded Memory Profiles (skip XMP altogether?

I have with a bit of success, strangely with hynix profiles and not the micron ones I should be using. Still get errors in memtest86 with the one that was working best though

[Silent Scone@ROG]

https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthrea...atoes-overview
https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthrea...-when-they-don

[Peazmack]

Yeah, I've seen these Scone, to be honest I was not aware that combining two kits is so problematic. I've had 4 sticks in both of my previous platform on 7700k and 8700k. I will fiddle around 5600 a bit more since I bought them already so a bit of a shame to give up so easily. If unlucky, will try 2x16 instead.

[Chainbold]

Additionally, should I settle for 4x16 5400 CL36 quad or switch to 2x16 dual with XMP 6000 CL36? Which would be more beneficial (I know it's rather marginally better) for gaming?

If you get 4 x 16 GB running at 5400 CL36, without any doubt, I would prefer this over 2 x 16 GB 6000 CL36.

I think, 4 x 16 GB DDR5 running at 5400 CL36 is actually pretty good, considering that DDR5 has just been launched, and is far from "mature".

[Peazmack]

Thanks for the feedback Chainbold, I'm leaning towards that option as well, although I do assume, that if I go with 2x16, I'd be able to squeeze at least 6200 out of it with same cl36 timings, shouldn't be too much of an issue. Additionally, I might jump over to a higher grade DDR5 further down the line as soon as the situation of availability and maturity will clear out a bit. So easier to replace 2x16 than 4x16, especially that those GSkills won't be top anymore (well, they aren't now even). Finding a buyer for my other set of 2x16 will be easier now too.

With that said, I had a hard time going above 5400 4x16 CL36. That is without going beyond 1.31 Mem controller. I'm a newbie, not sure if going more is actually safe there. Dropped the timing to CL38 but still no luck. Boots no problem but throws errors in Karhu Ram Test still.
What I'm doing as I write this though, is that I've placed two sticks which are closest with serial number to each other into A2and B2 slots (the recommended ones for dual action) and threw XMP1 on those. Booted no problem and right now going over 14 minutes in Ram Test without errors. I'll stick around to reach 30 mins, if no errors pop, will try to OC them to 6200-6400. So conclusion, on 811 bios I can boot 2x16 XMP no problem and seem stable without further tweaking. While 4x16 allows for max 5400 CL36. Will see how far OC I can squeeze out on 2x16 and then will do some last attempts at 5600 with CL40 on 4x16.

As a side note, I have just noticed that all my 4 sticks are actually right next to each other with the serials - ending with -45, -46 -47 and -48 which I believe isn't that common when we talk about buying 2 separate sets of 2x16 sticks Either blind luck or seller actually made me a favor.

[Silent Scone@ROG]

Yeah, I've seen these Scone, to be honest I was not aware that combining two kits is so problematic. I've had 4 sticks in both of my previous platform on 7700k and 8700k. I will fiddle around 5600 a bit more since I bought them already so a bit of a shame to give up so easily. If unlucky, will try 2x16 instead.

It becomes more problematic the higher up the obtainable frequency spectrum you go. Concessions to timings need to be made, including sub-timings. It can be quite exhausting to find suitable settings where stability isn't conditional.

This is the rationale as to why binned kits exist in the first place.