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We are using the ASRock Z87 OC Formula motherboard to test today's memory kit. It supports RAM from many manufacturers and gives us a large amount of flexibility to tinker with memory multiplier, base clock and timings settings. It has also reached the highest DRAM frequency of all the Z87 motherboards that we have tested.
Our full review of the ASRock Z87 OC Formula motherboard can be read here.
As Haswell supports a maximum memory speed of 2933MHz using the 1.00x CPU strap, ADATA opted to use the 1.25x CPU strap to reach 3100MHz. The base clock is set as 129.2MHz which, when used with the 100:133 BCLK:DRAM ratio, provides 3100MHz by using the 18x memory multiplier.
The fully-functioning XMP profile configured the memory kit for use at its 3100MHz frequency and correct timings.
Windows and CPU-Z registered the memory's functioning settings as correct.
Our system's CPU-Z validation running at a 3100MHz DRAM frequency can be found here. Notice the sub-standard CPU frequency? Our system opts for a CPU multiplier that kept our 4770K operating below its standard stock speed, let alone the frequency that most motherboards' forced turbo profiles configure.
In light of our ASRock- and ADATA-based system's (wise, in all honesty) decision to opt for a low multiplier that provided a CPU frequency of 3.36GHz when XMP was enabled, we forced a higher core ratio so that our processor would sit as close to 3900MHz as possible. This will help us minimise the variation in performance results against competing kits which used a CPU frequency of 3.9GHz (forced turbo on the 4770K).
The validation of the memory frequency (3100MHz) and CPU speed (3875MHz) that we used for testing can be viewed here.
