Initial benchmarks show limited gains for AMD EXPO ULL memory kits

Availability and Pricing

AMD has launched its EXPO Ultra Low Latency (ULL) memory kits, which come at a significantly higher price point compared to standard RAM. The kits are currently available; one tested kit retails for $530, just $20 more than a similar non-ULL memory kit. Despite hefty price increases of up to 80%, initial performance tests reveal results that may not satisfy buyers.

Performance Benchmarks

Initial benchmarks from HardwareLuxx were conducted on a 2 x 16GB kit running at 6,000 MT/s with timings of 36-36-36-76. The results showed only a 4% improvement in performance in the game F1 25 compared to standard EXPO/XMP DIMMs—though AMD claimed a similar average improvement across all games. In other titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and others, benchmarks displayed minor increases.

Optimization Details

The performance improvements with ULL kits primarily stem from tuning the subtimings rather than significant changes in primary timings when compared to standard EXPO kits. Better IC binning allows for more aggressive subtiming optimization. However, the benefits mainly show in specific scenarios while general performance metrics show minimal differences.

Write Throughput Findings

In microbenchmark tests with AIDA64, the ULL kits showcased a 9.4% increase in write throughput over standard EXPO kits. However, read and copy performance remained similar between the two memory types, suggesting that manual tuning can yield optimal performance without the need for ULL pricing.

Conclusion

Despite some performance advantages, the limited gains relative to the high pricing may deter potential buyers from opting for the ULL kits. Manual tuning still proves effective, indicating that users may achieve similar results without the premium cost associated with ULL memory.