OC RAMs for great value - Hynix C die memory

[Encrypted11]

Preface: This thread is created as a user discussion to highlight the characteristics of Hynix CFR/CJR based memory kits for both Intel & AMD platforms and how they can be a lower cost alternative to Samsung-B kits. Feel free to share your hynix c overclocks with manual tuning!


Seems like 4000MHz memory is no longer limited to samsung b and e die based sticks, Hynix C does it at a significantly lower cost.

Hynix C-die is one of the latest revision of DDR4 SK Hynix ICs (4th gen). It is the only available IC from Hynix that carries a JEDEC DDR4-3200 bin unlike hynix a-die which stops at around JEDEC DDR4-2933. Select modules carried by G.SKILL, Corsair, Kingston, Klevv and a couple of other enthusiast memory makers do sport the Hynix C chips. They're also availabile locally due to lower costs unlike Samsung-B kits.

Spoiler

The special characteristic of Hynix C are that they only operable with relatively loose timings compared to their peers from Samsung. However, you can make up for most of the latency and timing related deficiencies from these ICs at high frequency. As such from a performance standpoint they'd work best with Coffeelake and other platforms derived from Skylake when paired with a motherboard of decent caliber (S$300+ typically with 6 layer + PCBs) due to the brute strength of its memory controller.

A small writeup from Jagat OC is available here (Sniper X 3600 is also Hynix C based).
http://oc.jagatreview.com/2018/07/h...kill-sniperx-ddr4-3600cl19-16gb-kit-2x-8gb/2/

 

[Encrypted11]

Bought a pair of Klevv Bolt X 3200MHz memory earlier this week, just 2 random sticks without cherry picking. I believe there's part interchangeability between A/M and C die for this model, which is a sensible choice since Klevv's the retail memory arm of SK Hynix. On Chiphell, there are reported A die kits but on MSI Z390's comprehensive QVL list this kit is listed as a C die.

The Bolt X come in the JEDEC A2 PCB layout (frequency optimised relative to JEDEC A1).

Spoiler

Thaiphoon burner was unable to decode the full part no. of the IC. But based on SK Hynix's part decoder, it's an IC sorted into Hynix's JEDEC DDR4-2666 bin. As a litmus test, Hynix AFRs don't work well beyond 3466 (boots slightly higher). So i briefly booted these at 1.45v 4133MHz, et voilà. HYNIX CJRs!

After some manual tuning, i arrived at the following google stressapptest (Asus recommended memory tester) stable profile which is pretty remarkable for a non-Samsung IC.
MB: Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac
Settings in BIOS:
i7-9700K (Power Limit 1 / Power Limit 2 at 115W)
(Turbo ratios 50,50,49,49,48,48,47,47, Uncore 43)
VccSA: 1.12V
VccIO: 1.07V
FCLK (System Agent Frequency): 800MHz
VDIMM: 1.41V

GSAT 1H

GSAT 2H

Note: tWTR_L, tWTR_S, IOL/RTLs to be left on auto for BIOS to determine
Profile credits: Raja@asus's kabylake/skylake Maximus Gene/Apex profile, some personal trial and error, hlots123 sifu



While Drams are trending downwards in price tags, you'd notice Hynix based RAMs are quickly reacting with price cuts while Samsungs are trending downward at a lower pace. So if you'd get to find a pair of these CJRs at retail, it's a steal for the speed grade of what these chips can achieve with some manual tuning. The profile I made just a general guideline, there may be some timing margins you can tighten or loosen to fit your setup or specific kit. But overall a Hynix C on an A2 PCB from vendor A and vendor B should still be very similar in timing characteristics.

Some takeaways..
As a yardstick if you want to be remotely close to aiming for high frequency here's a checklist.
-A higher layer count PCB motherboard will have better
signalling margins for keeping high frequencies stable - MSI's Toppc Lin

-Be aware boards on T-topology clock best on 4 DIMMs, daisy chain clocks best on 2 DIMMs.
-Run the FCLK (System Agent Frequency at Intel's default speed), some boards auto OC it from 800MHz to 1GHz but it may hurt your DRAM frequency margins from higher IMC voltage requirements
-Check for memory stability than just booting and expecting it to work like XMP. Unstable memory can wreck your OS.
https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?73665-Our-preferred-memory-stress-test

Good luck

 

[KWSW]

Looks like more Hynix C Die choices, always good for the consumer.

Anyone with Zen+ to try to see if these clock well on Ryzen?

1usmus has a guide on Ryzen memory overclocking and while Samsung B Die is still king, the Hynix C Die on the Sniper X clocks well too.

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Ryzen_Memory_Tweaking_Overclocking_Guide/

I am guessing these are a newer revision since the Sniper X 3600 CL19 shows up to JEDEC 1033 while yours show up to 1333.

Paiseh OT into Ryzen also

 

[Ferolare]

*laughs in mfr*
*also, laughs in no stability test*

 

[Encrypted11]

Looks like more Hynix C Die choices, always good for the consumer.

Anyone with Zen+ to try to see if these clock well on Ryzen?

1usmus has a guide on Ryzen memory overclocking and while Samsung B Die is still king, the Hynix C Die on the Sniper X clocks well too.

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Ryzen_Memory_Tweaking_Overclocking_Guide/

I am guessing these are a newer revision since the Sniper X 3600 CL19 shows up to JEDEC 1033 while yours show up to 1333.

Paiseh OT into Ryzen also

I think SK hynix sells it at JEDEC speed grades from 2133-3200MHz. But it is unclear if a chipset sorted by Hynix into the 3200 bin will clock better than the 2666 or 2133, they could be marginally better or are just there to hit different price tags .

Actually it's not Intel specific , I've ssrr abit that they have superior frequency/timing margins to older ICs (yup samsung is still king) so they get pretty close to Samsungs under frequency capped conditions in Ryzen, so favoured in other words.

 

[robolee]

*laughs in mfr*
*also, laughs in no stability test*

i feel ya my is m die too

 

[KWSW]

Would be nice if there is JEDEC for 3000 or 3200 than just buy and auto all the way for lazy people like me lol

 

[hlots123]

Wahh... didn't realize they were not a kit but separate sticks, still u can oc them to this level
Qn: in chart C is 4th gen die, then is there D to G now or dats for the future?

 

[Encrypted11]

Wahh... didn't realize they were not a kit but separate sticks, still u can oc them to this level
Qn: in chart C is 4th gen die, then is there D to G now or dats for the future?

Individual sticks, but with the sample size of 2 the boot frequencies were roughly identical when i attempted single dimm booting and matching sticks to ram slots across indicating similar quality.

The IC generation is probably reserved, the decoder came from this public link
https://www.skhynix.com/static/filedata/fileDownload.do?seq=584

Also interestingly C-die is listed as an engineering sample on some Hynix pages, it's validated with the reference intel platform already so there are likely some timing differences with the info but overall still a fairly new ic.
https://www.intel.sg/content/www/xa/en/platform-memory/platform-memory.html

For those looking for this model, maybe the datecode (likely first few digits)/serial indicates the batch. 1933_ on the 3200MHz pack for my CJRs. Thaiphoon reads "?FR/VKC" on the AFR variant while "??R/VKC" is C die apparently.

 

[royfrosty]

For those questioning if hynix c works with ryzen? Yes it does, in fact is the only die that ryzen works well for hynix based.

For AMD 2 sticks is still a limitation. 3600Mhz on cl19 sniper x is possible without any tweaking. Of cause board manufacturer plays a part. Some boards like giga doesn't go above 3400mhz.

Imc on ryzen also another issue. To go above 3600mhz is not easy task.

For Intel, sniper x 3600 cl19, I was able to hit 4200mhz!

 

[KWSW]

Hopefully Zen 2 brings about more improvements plus Hynix C die is more readily available it seems. Like you can find the Bolt X and Sniper X on Lazada and SLS but Samsung B dies are harder to find.

 

[-Grift-]

3600MHz sniper x works fine on my 2700X with x470 but I have settled on 3200MHz with tight subtimings

 

[Ferolare]

Hopefully Zen 2 brings about more improvements plus Hynix C die is more readily available it seems. Like you can find the Bolt X and Sniper X on Lazada and SLS but Samsung B dies are harder to find.

assume zen2 will support at least 3200 natively bah

 

[KWSW]

3600MHz sniper x works fine on my 2700X with x470 but I have settled on 3200MHz with tight subtimings

what are your timings?

assume zen2 will support at least 3200 natively bah

3200 native would be very nice

 

[-Grift-]

what are your timings?



3200 native would be very nice

Hynix CJR
GSkill Sniper X 3600CL19 2x8GB
3200MHz @ 1.35v

 

[KWSW]

Hynix CJR
GSkill Sniper X 3600CL19 2x8GB
3200MHz @ 1.35v

based of the DRAM calculator?

 

[-Grift-]

based of the DRAM calculator?

Yes. Mixture of DRAM calculator, settings from other users and my own trial and error especially for Voltage/PROCODT/RTTNOM/RTTPARK/DrvStr

 

[Encrypted11]

Bought the Bolt X 16GB 3200MHz sticks as an upgrade a couple of days ago.

I've forgotten to clear CMOS and get onto a new DRAM timing profile...
The single-sided profile booted up on these dual rank sticks right away, no IOL RTL drifts... very good sign of proper memory training on boot. Aren't dual rank sticks supposed to be worse than single rank ones in timing margin?

They're still CJRs as well, surprisingly on the initial GSAT 2H run at a 10mV reduction from 1.4V, they've passed without granular tweaks.
I'm surprised this dual rank kit has better headroom than the single ranked ones!

 

[Koenig168]

Bought the Bolt X 16GB 3200MHz sticks as an upgrade a couple of days ago.
...

Very nice OC to DDR4-4000!

 

[Encrypted11]

So it ended up requiring 50mV less at 1.35V for the 4000MHz C18 profile I made!