Test Setup
Please read our test setup information carefully below, we are now using Windows 11, and each testbed is customized for each platform being compared. Each RAM kit required a different motherboard, but the AIO/cooling, CPU, PSU, and SSD are all equal among them.
System Setup
For our DDR4 platform, a Z690 DDR4 motherboard is being used and the Crucial Ballistix 16GB DDR4-3600 Kit is running at 3600MHz at 16-18-18-38 2T and the GEAR mode is in Auto. For our DDR5 platform, a Z690 DDR5 motherboard is being used and the Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 memory kit is running at 5200MHz at 40-40-40-79 2T Gear 2 mode. Remember, we tried Gear 1 in both XMP profile modes, and it did not work.
Take note that we are using Windows 11 Pro for each platform. In order to eliminate any issues with performance degradation, we installed Windows 11 Pro fresh and clean on each platform. We also updated Windows 11 to the latest updates at the time of testing, the version used across all platforms was 21H2 22000.348.
Also, we streamlined our Windows install to disable background processes and enabled/disabled certain things noted in the table above. We have Core Isolation/Memory Integrity Virtual Based Security VBS DISABLED on all test systems, we also have Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling DISABLED on all test systems, and in the BIOS we have Resizable BAR disabled on all test systems. Importantly, we are using the preferred methods of enabling the highest-level Power Profile plan in Windows 11. We prioritize the “Best Performance” profile under Windows Settings > System > Power, when that isn’t available set the “Ultimate Performance” power plan under Control Panel and Power Options.