G.Skill Trident Z5 NeoX Series Unleashes AMD EXPO Ultra Low Latency Performance with Selective Binning and Tightened Subtimings for Ryzen Enthusiasts
G.Skill has announced the first series of DDR5 memory kits to be certified for the new AMD EXPO Ultra Low Latency standard. The G.Skill Trident Z5 NeoX series features lower latencies than standard memory kits, allowing enthusiasts to squeeze extra value and performance out of their systems. AMD claims the new latency standard can offer an improvement of up to 4 percent on gaming performance with the Ryzen 7 9700X, improving both average framerates and the 1st percentile minimums to avoid sluggish dips in performance.
Users will have to install the memory onto supported motherboards with the latest BIOS revisions that support the new profile to achieve these speeds. Otherwise, the modules will run at stock speeds and revert to stock timings, losing the benefits of the optimized subtimings. AMD noted that the more rigorous validation process necessitated that makers perform extremely selective binning of the memory modules to ensure that they will operate at the tighter tolerances.
The most significant benefit of the Trident Z5 NeoX series is that it significantly tightens memory subtimings. While the regular Trident Z5 Neo SKU retains a tRAS latency of 96 clocks, the NeoX ULL editions bring it all the way down to 32 with the high end variants. The memory specialization program also reduces the secondary and tertiary timing values, such as the tREFI, tRRDS, and WR parameters, which are generally important for latency but usually incomplete on retail boxes.
To achieve these tight timings, more voltage is necessary. G.Skill has revealed the power demands of each of the new DDR5 6000 dual channel 32GB kits. The entry level CL36 kit and the CL32 kit both run at 1.35V. In order to reach the top bin, the CL28 kit requires 1.40V and the flagship CL26 build runs at an incredible 1.45V on the power supply in order to guarantee stability under load.
Early retail listings for the new memory kits have sparked some pricing inconsistencies, so G.Skill has addressed its actual pricing strategy. An article by Toms Hardware details some of these prices, with retail sites charging huge premiums for the kits after the release. The highest premium, the Trident Z5 NeoX CL26 kit, costs 1099.99 dollars, representing a 57 percent premium over the CL26 standard kit at 699.99 dollars. The difference is even higher for the CL28 kit, with the new ULL kit costing 999.99 dollars compared to the older one at 559.99 dollars, an 79 percent price premium.
On the other hand, the price difference is actually quite small for the lower bin kits. The Trident Z5 NeoX CL30 module commands a 14 percent premium, with a retail price of 619.99 dollars, as opposed to the regular module retailing at 544.44 dollars. The entry level CL36 kit is retailing at 549.99 dollars, only 10 percent more expensive than the non ULL 499.99 dollar standard variant. G.Skill admitted that the steep premiums on the top tier kits were due to third party marketplace scalpers and older retail inventory, with expected market correction to align with standard MSRP levels once retail stock levels stabilize.
