AMD Ryzen 5 1500X and 1600X review

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Performance - System Memory Perf: DDR4 Memory Read / Write

Performance System Memory: Memory Read Test

At launch the Ryzen B350/X370 motherboards support high-frequency memory up-to roughly 3200 MHz with exceptions here and there. This will differ per motherboard manufacturer, but again you can expect support up-to 3200 MHz (dual-channel) and some even a notch higher. We highly recommend you to check what memory is supported with specific motherboards.  

  • Higher frequencies are only supported with two DIMMs. 
  • If you use four DIMMs then at this moment you are looking at a maximum of 2400 MHz.

High frequency memory is working really well for Ryzen - if you want to go for high-frequency DDR4 memory, you are best invested with two 8 or 16 GB DIMMs. We recommend (2 DIMM x 8 GB) 16 GB these days for a nice amount of memory in any high-end gaming OC. Check the qualified vendor list and the supported modules at the manufacturer webpage! Let's have a look at Ryzen series memory performance in a couple of configurations:
 

30179_cpuid

 
Memory frequency sypport can be a very tricky thing on Ryzen (at this time). The Ryzen 5 1600X processor worked with a 3200 MHz kit, you need a bit of luck really. The thesis is that 2933 MHz however should work on most setups.
 

30177_cpuid

 
Memory frequency support can be a very tricky thing on Ryzen (at this time). The 1500X did not work with a 3200 MHz kit, 2933 MHz however was possible.
 

Cachemem

30178_cachemem

 
Obviously after DDR4 2400 MHz these memory kits get increasingly expensive. Whether you decide (or not) if that extra dough is well invested is your call to make. If you build a gaming PC (where the higher memory frequency matters) we advise a nice 2933 MHz kit with normal CL16 latency to be a good balance in-between price and performance. 

Please note that the new BIOS iteration shaves off memory latency. We have been hovering in that 90ns region with the previous reviews. The new AGESA 1004 based BIOSes clearly show improvement. I'll add one more latency result (this one is the latest ASRock BIOS):
 

Asrockcachemem

 
More latency results - allow me to divert from the review for one second and show you this. Above, you can see the new ASRock BIOS running a Ryzen 7 1800X at DDR4 3200 MHz CL16, here the memory latency already dropped to 70ns. So yes, progress is being made in that department. Alright, back to the 1500X and 1600X though. Anyway, let's chart up the memory bandwidth results:

30433_untitled-1

30434_untitled-2

Keep in mind that the higher Core i7 59x0 and 69x0 series are quad-channel aside from the Core i7 7700. Overall Ryzen's single rank dual-channel performance itself is spot on, and performs as expected. 

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