ROG Maximus Z890 Apex Achieves Record-Breaking Overclocking Performance

Congratulations to Elmor, BenchMarc, OGS, and CENS for these impressive results.  

When two is greater than four  

While most users will not be clamping a liquid nitrogen pot to their new Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2), there are some lessons that PC enthusiasts can learn from these professional overclockers when it comes to extracting the most performance out of their new system.  

One important insight concerns memory gear modes. In the past, a processor’s memory controller operated at a frequency equal to memory speed. We call this 1:1 ratio Gear 1. But as DDR4 modules were developed with increasingly higher frequencies, a new approach was needed to enable the higher memory-module data rates. That is when Gear 2 was introduced―a mode in which the processor memory controller operates at half the memory speed. This approach enhances compatibility and provides greater potential for pushing data rates to higher levels.  

Today’s DDR5 memory kits are so fast that Gear 1 is no longer an option. With the latest Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2), users have the choice between Gear 2 and Gear 4. Gear 4 operates the CPU memory controller at a quarter of the memory clock speed, and it is the default setting for most Z890 motherboards, thanks to its excellent compatibility. 

However, Gear 4 comes with a tradeoff in the form of higher memory latency. In this regard, Gear 2 is demonstrably better, and that is especially true in the 6400-9000MHz frequency range. For example, the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 285K and DDR5-8000 have 18.8% lower latency when switched from Gear 4 to Gear 2, according to AIDA64. 

Switching to Gear 2 instead of Gear 4 can even allow a memory kit to perform above its specifications. At DDR5-9000 with Gear 2, an extremely fast CUDIMM kit with the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 285K recorded faster memory read speeds and 12.48% lower latency than with DDR5-9600 and Gear 4. 

The latency difference between Gear 2 and Gear 4 is not just visible in synthetic benchmarks—users will notice it in games, too. Internal testing of Far Cry 6 and Cyberpunk 2077 with a two-DIMM memory kit delivered an fps increase of up to 8.9% at 1080p when switching from Gear 2 to Gear 4. 

Accordingly, ASUS has selected Gear 2 as the default setting for ASUS Z890 motherboards. This means that users will not have to tinker with their memory settings to enjoy the advantages of Gear 2.