Feed: AnandTech
Feed Link: https://www.anandtech.com
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Title: G.Skill Intros Low Latency DDR5 Memory Modules: CL30 at 6400 MT/s

Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:45:00 EDT
Link: https://www.anandtech.com/show/21528/gskill-i...

G.Skill on Tuesday introduced its ultra-low-latency DDR5-6400 memory modules
that feature a CAS latency of 30 clocks, which appears to be the industry's
most aggressive timings yet for DDR5-6400 sticks. The modules will be
available for both AMD and Intel CPU-based systems.

With every new generation of DDR memory comes an increase in data transfer
rates and an extension of relative latencies. While for the vast majority of
applications, the increased bandwidth offsets the performance impact of
higher timings, there are applications that favor low latencies. However,
shrinking latencies is sometimes harder than increasing data transfer rates,
which is why low-latency modules are rare.

Nonetheless, G.Skill has apparently managed to cherry-pick enough DDR5 memory
chips and build appropriate printed circuit boards to produce DDR5-6400
modules with CL30 timings, which are substantially lower than the CL46
timings recommended by JEDEC for this speed bin. This means that while JEDEC-
standard modules have an absolute latency of 14.375 ns, G.Skill's modules can
boast a latency of just 9.375 ns - an approximately 35% decrease.

G.Skill's DDR5-6400 CL30 39-39-102 modules have a capacity of 16 GB and will
be available in 32 GB dual-channel kits, though the company does not disclose
voltages, which are likely considerably higher than those standardized by
JEDEC.

The company plans to make its DDR5-6400 modules available both for AMD
systems with EXPO profiles (Trident Z5 Neo RGB and Trident Z5 Royal Neo) and
for Intel-powered PCs with XMP 3.0 profiles (Trident Z5 RGB and Trident Z5
Royal). For AMD AM5 systems that have a practical limitation of 6000 MT/s -
6400 MT/s for DDR5 memory (as this is roughly as fast as AMD's Infinity
Fabric can operate at with a 1:1 ratio), the new modules will be particularly
beneficial for AMD's Ryzen 7000 and Ryzen 9000-series processors.

G.Skill notes that since its modules are non-standard, they will not work
with all systems but will operate on high-end motherboards with properly
cooled CPUs.

The new ultra-low-latency memory kits will be available worldwide from
G.Skill's partners starting in late August 2024. The company did not disclose
the pricing of these modules, but since we are talking about premium products
that boast unique specifications, they are likely to be priced accordingly.

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