Aurora R12, disappointing memory performance

Hi @j_in_mn  welcome to this user to user discussion forum. This is not Dell Support. 

We assume that all the Windows Update and Dell Product Support for Aurora R12 drivers have been installed. If not, please update the Desktop Aurora R12 drivers. 

RAM bus (data highway) transfer rates depend on the ability of the CPU interface with the system board to process this data. Please visit the CPU Specification to find its capabilities. 

Kingston will recommend what RAM should be installed in your Aurora R12. Hopefully the RAM purchase is one of these Kingston recommendations. 

PassMark has determined the Kingston XVTW4H-MIE capabilities. 

Please click on Kudos to say thank you for response from another user. Please share an update on progress, so that other users derive benefit from your experience. Thank you. 

If you have a chance, could you download a small free program called CPU-Z, and post the information from the SPD tab and the memory tab?

The SPD tab will show the timings of the memory profiles and frequency.

They will in turn determine the latency, and the latency will affect the memory read/write speeds.

Hi @Vanadiel  as you did not know how to get CPU-Z, it is Here. 

So I found this interesting video that describes the issue with Intel 11700K (which I have) when using 3200 MT/s memory or faster.  It has to do with cutting the memory controller clock rate in half (called gear 2) for these faster memory chips.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgFlB0HG_84 

Unfortunately this doesn't fully explain my situation.  HWiNFO64 and CPU-Z shows that the memory controller runs in gear 2 for all 3 memory clock speed settings.  

Someone else pointed this out a while ago, and it looks like a bios configuration issue:

R12 memory performance 

Thanks for pointing me to that post.  It did not (and still does not) show up in a search.

All the reviews I've seen paired the 11700/11900 with a Z590, while Dell/AW decided to carry over the Z490.  I wonder how that plays into things?  

Perhaps I should've just sprung for the 11900KF...

I have 11900KF, and I have the same problem.  Severe performance bottleneck at 3200

Also have an R12 with the 11900KF and am getting terrible performance.

Has anyone tried an older BIOS (I am also on 1.0.3)

Can confirm my memory speeds are subpar as well on my R12 with 3400mhz memory, I hope they fix it as I'd hate to have to return it .

Has Dell acknowledged this memory issue? it seems widespread and many R12 users have complained about this

For example: Systems using 3200MHz memory.

4266 1.35v Memory doesn't mean you can demand that dell make that work

its basically marketing.  Its not 5 to 10 times faster more like 1 to 5 percent faster.

The Mhz myth is alive and well.

Intel Core i3/i5 processors, it is limited to 2666MHz.

Intel Core i7/i9 processors, it is limited to 2933MHz.

You wont find CAS 16  1.2v  3200 Mhz memory.

19 19 19 43 61 1333 Mhz JEDEC      1.20v
20 19 19 43 61 1333 Mhz JEDEC      1.20v
20 19 19 47 66 1468 Mhz XMP 2936  1.25v
20 20 20 52 72 1600 Mhz XMP 3200  1.25v

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_Yt4vSZKVk

R12's RAM is running at HALF speeds than an R10 with the same RAM .

R12: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/42196302

R10: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/42699039

HI Everyone,

Appreciate all the insight in this forum and community.  As a new R12 owner I can also confirm this issue.  There is clearly a hit to performance when using XMP profile vs. no XMP profile.  This is backwards.

3DMark timespy results don't lie.  All variables were kept identical except RAM profiles (disabled vs XMP2).

https://www.3dmark.com/spy/20282450

https://www.3dmark.com/spy/20281775

Quick question to those with more dell/alienware support experience.  If a bios update is released for this, we will be notified?  Will it get picked up and installed through the dell support update application on our alienware machines or will we need to manually keep checking and download the bios update?

Thanks for the help!

Jeff

Hi @jonesy1980  thankfully Dell does not force BIOS version updates on their users. SupportAssist has been known to bring BIOS version update to the attention of user, thereafter notifications cease, and manual BIOS version update is at user's discretion.

Not all BIOS version updates are an improvement, and an old BIOS version is sometimes prudent. For example: After installing new BIOS update, undervolting (Intel XTU/Throttle stop) is disabled due to Intel CPU microcode (plunder volt vulnerability). Intel has still not provided their solution and OEM undervolting is being imposed in BIOS version updates. 

Thanks so much for the response!  Very clear.  I will check SupportAssist for bios updates.

I have the same problem!!! dell refusing my refund!!!