Ram performing lower than expected

Alcalhrad · Nov 10, 2016

Hi guys!
So here is what is going on. I was trying to get my computer into the top 500 on r/pcmasterrace. (this link if anyone is wondering, https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/5bmf8n/the_top_500_pcs_of_rpcmasterrace_in_one/)

So while I was looking over the results of the UserBenchmark program I noticed that my memory score is awful. I'm trying to figure out why it is so low.

Userbench provides a nice little graphic suggesting ideas on why my RAM would be performing lower than expected.
http://imgur.com/qViU7k1

First off it mentions the XMP might need to be adjusted. However, as you can see below, messing with these settings gave no improvement, some scores actually went down slightly (probably nothing significant from what I can see).

XMP disabled, DRAM timing mode set to Auto
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/2045139
http://imgur.com/KfifTcM

XMP disabled, DRAM timing mode set to Linked
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/2045415
http://imgur.com/QZsi7ES

XMP disabled, DRAM timing mode set to Unlinked
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/2045784
http://imgur.com/8SAdEba

XMP enabled, DRAM timing mode set to Auto
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/2045031
http://imgur.com/dnOE6C7

XMP enabled, DRAM timing mode set to Linked
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/2045321
http://imgur.com/PH1EDms

XMP enabled, DRAM timing mode set to Unlinked
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/2045496
http://imgur.com/iUSsHPi

All other DRAM settings are defaults. The CPU isn't overclocked either. The only thing I have changed other than my RAM settings are some CPU features such as cool'n'quiet and turned amd turbo core from auto to enabled.

The second bullet point mentions that AMD CPUs might have a lower memory bandwidth than my RAM and then my RAM may appear to be under performing.

I have:
CPU: AMD FX-8150
RAM: G.SKILL Ares DDR3 1600 C9 4x4GB
MOBO: MSI 990FXA-GD80

Is my CPU the issue here?

I'm not sure what the third bullet point is saying as I am not throttling my CPU in any way, shape, or form.

The fourth bullet point mentions incompatible RAM or plugged in improperly. The RAM is all the same, timing, frequency, manufacturer, etc. It was bought in two different dual channel kits so it should work fine from what I understand. I also know it isn't plugged in improperly.

So I'm stumped. What is up here? Do I have a bios setting wrong? Is my AMD CPU just so old it is bottlenecking my memory bandwidth? Is it something else I am not considering?

Thanks for your help and input guys,
Alcalhrad

SinxarKnights · Nov 11, 2016

Look at it with CPU-Z and show us that screenshot.

Tradesman1 · Nov 11, 2016

Yep use CPU-Z and show both the memory tab and the SPD tab. Timings could be off, might need a voltage push, 2x8GB would be better than 4x4, 1600 is on the slower/entry level area

whoratesit · Nov 11, 2016

It's your CPU. The results shown for your RAM are from a mixture of AMD and Intel CPUs. If you look here:
http://www.userbenchmark.com/PCBuilder/Custom/S0-M699vsS51-M699.30314.3534.93762?tab=RAM (your CPU)
And click "load baseline benchmarks". You can see that the average RAM scores for your CPU are all around 45, the same as yours.

Alcalhrad · Nov 11, 2016

Hi SinxarKnights, Tradesman1, and whoratesit. Thank you for replying. As requested here are some CPU-Z screenshots. These are taken with XMP turned off and link set to auto. I can change up bios settings if you guys think it will make a difference.

Memory tab:
http://imgur.com/wCvOK4d

SPD tab:
http://imgur.com/aFDqAVP
I see there are different slots I can choose but figured I would just list out the only difference between all four sticks.
Slots #1 and #2 have Ranks set to Dual.
Slots #3 and #4 have Ranks set to Single.
Everything else is the same between all 4 sticks.

Additionally I am thinking whoratesit is right. I didn't know I could find data like that, but I see that my CPU is probably holding it back. Even Userbench said that AMD CPUs tend to have a lower memory bandwidth that could make it seem like the RAM is underperforming. I would still appreciate it if you guys take a peek at my CPU-Z images and let me know what you think.

Tradesman1 · Nov 11, 2016

It's running at 1600/11 and should be 1600/9 - try changing the timings manually to 9-9-9-24 and set DRAM voltage to 1.55

SinxarKnights · Nov 11, 2016

Yeah see even though you have it set with the XMP profile, it is not being applied for whatever reason. Do what Tradesman1 said and look at it again.

Sorry you said you didn't have XMP enabled for some reason. Yeah try it with the XMP on and look at CPU-Z again.

Alcalhrad · Nov 11, 2016

Hi guys, thank you for the speedy response.

I turned on XMP and bumped my DRAM voltage to 1.554.
Bios
http://imgur.com/I18IBZr

Updated CPU-Z Memory page.
http://imgur.com/aXA40RR

Updated CPU-Z SPD page.
http://imgur.com/j7rHkKW

Score:
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/2053978

After checking out the CPU-Z pages I figured maybe my voltage didn't take so I did the following few bios tweaks.

Bios:
I started by turning off XMP and setting my DRAM Timing to unlinked
http://imgur.com/2lzMRJu

Once it was unlinked I was able to get into Advanced DRAM Configuration
Original settings:
http://imgur.com/aHpvHVe
basically auto all the way down

changed settings:
http://imgur.com/2rNGqtY
http://imgur.com/gihjXi5

Updated CPU-Z Memory Page
http://imgur.com/7ySYiWI

SPD Page didn't change

Score:
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/2054069

Thanks again for your time guys. Any other thoughts?

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Ram performing lower than expected

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whoratesit

SinxarKnights

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Tradesman1

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whoratesit

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Alcalhrad

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Tradesman1

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SinxarKnights

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Alcalhrad

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