On Tuesday, G.Skill announced their groundbreaking DDR5-6400 memory modules, boasting an ultra-low CAS latency of just 30 cycles. This impressive feat marks one of the industry’s fastest timings for DDR5-6400 RAM. Excitingly, these modules are designed to support both AMD and Intel CPUs.
Every new DDR memory generation often pushes the boundaries on data transfer speeds and sometimes stretches the associated latencies. For most users, the enhanced bandwidth compensates for any performance dip caused by higher timings. Still, there are certain applications where reduced latency makes a substantial difference. However, achieving lower latencies can be more challenging than simply cranking up transfer rates, making these low-latency modules quite rare.
Yet, G.Skill has managed to source suitable DDR5 memory chips and create optimized printed circuit boards to offer DDR5-6400 modules with CL30 timings. This is significantly lower compared to the CL46 timings typically recommended by JEDEC for these modules. Essentially, while JEDEC-standard modules operate with an absolute latency of 14.375 ns, G.Skill’s innovative modules cut this down to just 9.375 ns—a notable reduction of around 35%.
These DDR5-6400 CL30 39-39-102 modules come in 16 GB capacity and will be available as 32 GB dual-channel kits. While the company has remained mum on the voltage specifics, they’re expected to be higher than JEDEC’s standard settings.
For compatibility, G.Skill plans to release these modules for both AMD systems using EXPO profiles (like the Trident Z5 Neo RGB and Trident Z5 Royal Neo) and Intel systems with XMP 3.0 profiles (such as the Trident Z5 RGB and Trident Z5 Royal). These modules particularly benefit AMD AM5 systems, which have practical limits around the 6000 MT/s mark—matching the speed of AMD’s Infinity Fabric with a 1:1 ratio. This makes them an ideal match for AMD’s Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series processors.
However, G.Skill cautions that due to their non-standard design, these modules won’t be compatible with every system. They should function on high-end motherboards with adequately cooled CPUs.
Expect these novel, ultra-low-latency kits to hit global shelves through G.Skill’s partners starting late August 2024. While pricing details remain under wraps, given their unique specs and high-performance nature, one can anticipate a premium price tag.
