[SOLVED] Reduce CL, Timing, and frequency?

[thinkwired]

I am running a i5 - 10400 on a ASUS Prime B460M-A. I picked up a 16GB Crucial Ballistix Kit (2 x 8GB) DD4 - 3200 because at the time, it was just as cheap as 2666.

As you know, intel set a cap on the ram of the i5 - 10400 of 2666mhz. Since I have a B series board, I can't take advantage of the full 3200mhz -- the bios automatically sets the ram to 2666mhz and locks it.

My question is... can I take advantage of the fact that the frequency is reduced to also reduce the CL and timings? The kit I have is 16-18-18-36.

 

[thinkwired]

I was reading another thread and stumbled upon hwinfo. When I look at the supported module timing I see...

Supported Module Timing at 1600.0 MHz: 16-18-18-36
Supported Module Timing at 1466.7 MHz: 15-17-17-33
Supported Module Timing at 1333.3 MHz: 14-15-15-30


Does that mean I can safely set the timing in the bios to 14-15-15-30?

Also, shouldn't the bios already be doing this? If it auto changes the frequency, does it use the timings for that frequency?

 

[thinkwired]

I am seeing now that hwinfo shows the timing has been set to 19-19-19-43 .... can that be right? Why on earth would the bios automatically do that when reducing from 3200 to 2666?

 

[SamirD]

Bios's only do what's 'safe', not necessarily optimal. You should have no problem running at 14-15-15-30 since the ram is rated for it.

You'll have to manually set all the ram timings in the bios. It should work fine, but in case you run into issues run memtest.

 

[thinkwired]

Bios's only do what's 'safe', not necessarily optimal.

I'd call that a fat sub-optimial.

I wonder how many people getting hosed by the 2666mhz cap have noticed that their timings are also being potentially hosed.

Thanks for the feedback.

I am going to benchmark the system now, update the timings tonight, and run memtest overnight to verify. If everything looks good, I will benchmark again tomorrow.

I have no clue how much of a difference 19-19-19-43 vs 14-15-15-30 will make but, I am ready to find out.

 

[SamirD]

I think you're on a solid path. I know tightening timings a little bit on older generations of ram didn't do too much (dddr2/3), but on ddr4 it might make a world of difference. Can't wait to hear your results.

 

[thinkwired]

Cinebench Before = 7962
Cinebench After = 8116

PCmark10 Before = 5925
PCmark10 After = 6154

That is with secondary timings set to auto. I wonder if Crucial will recommend secondary timings? I feel like RAM manufacturers should put timing conversion tables and xmp profiles in the retail box or make them available online.

 

[Third-Eye]

What is the actual model of the ram kit? It might be capable of CL12 or CL13 timings at 2666.

 

[thinkwired]

What is the actual model of the ram kit? It might be capable of CL12 or CL13 timings at 2666.

BL2K8G32C16U4B https://www.crucial.com/memory/ddr4/bl2k8g32c16u4b

Funny you mention that. hwinfo showed 14-15-15-30 as being supported. When I ran the crucial mod software (for LED and other nonsense) it showed 13-15-15-30 as an option.

Like I said previously, it would be nice if crucial showed supported frequency/timings.