Memory Round Trip Latency (RTL)

[TyrAntilles]

Hi everyone. I have a Gigabyte motherboard (P55-UD3), CPU i5-750, and 4Gb of RAM Kingston DDR3 4 GB 1600 MHz KHX1600C8D3K2/4GX (CL8).

Now in order to overclock my CPU to 3400 MHz i set System Memory Multiplier at 8. This allow rising BCLK to 170 while keeping the memory frequency at only 1360 MHz at 7-7-7-20 timings.

One of the Gigabyte motherboard option is called Performance Enhance, i set it on TURBO without causing instability (instability appears at 1600 MHz with 8-8-8-20). This apparently have an effect on Round Trip Latency (RTL) parameter and in my case the difference was clearly measurable in all windows applications.

I pondered a lot between setting RAM at 1600 MHz with 8-8-8-20 and Performance Enhance on STANDARD as many users on different forums recommend, and the above settings.
I underline again: RAM at 1360 MHz at 7-7-7-20 timings with Performance Enhance on TURBO -> windows "feel" much faster and everything is moving smoothly compared with setting RAM at 1600 MHz with 8-8-8-20 and Performance Enhance on STANDARD. I didn't run any memory benchmark but I believe at 1600 MHz (8-8-8-20) you will get higher memory score on benchmarks then 1360 MHz (7-7-7-20), still, on day by day work, the Performance Enhance on TURBO makes the difference.

I found a good article about RTL here: http://www.anandtech.com/show/2869/6

I noticed that performance enhance setting change the RTL parameter as follows:
- STANDARD = 44
- TURBO = 47
- EXTREME = 48

Now, the question is, anybody have any idea what this performance enhance do besides changing RTL?

[Drdeath]

I feel lower frequencies are much better when overclocking. When I find a nice stout overclock I move to the memory and increase frequencies and tighten timings individually till its not stable. Lower memory frequencies should not make it snappier. I guess the tighter timings may.

[TyrAntilles]

Thanks for your replay.
Indeed, I guess you are right. Besides, I found out that memory overclocking have very little impact on games, video encoding, and day by day use of programs, compared with CPU overclocking that really makes the difference. I came to conclusion too that tighter timings and higher CPU clock are the choice for better system performance.

[Drdeath]

Thanks for your replay.
Indeed, I guess you are right. Besides, I found out that memory overclocking have very little impact on games, video encoding, and day by day use of programs, compared with CPU overclocking that really makes the difference. I came to conclusion too that tighter timings and higher CPU clock are the choice for better system performance.