Heavily Tuned AMD Ryzen 5 3600 vs. Intel i5-10400: RAM Timings & Overclocks

We already said that you shouldn't buy Intel's i5-10400 CPU due to locked 2666MHz or 2933MHz frequencies. The challenge was to test it with tighter timings, so we did that to the extreme.

This benchmark features the Intel i5-10400 CPU with timings and frequencies tuned all the way down the stack. Frequencies included 2666MHz, 2933MHz, 3200MHz, 4000MHz, and timings all the way down to 10-10-10-22 182 tRFC and more. Most of the timings were tuned, not just the primary timings, and we'll be sure to notate them (to the best of our ability) as soon as / if we find time to get around to an article for this one. Critically, we spent the same amount of time tuning the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU memory timings and Intel i5-10600K memory timings, with some additional tweaks for the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X. It's absolutely useless to call for "tuning" the 10400 -- an already extremely limited CPU -- while pretending that all the unlocked CPUs can't do the same, or better, with equivalent time invested. So that's what we did -- we set a time budget of one work day per CPU, then pushed it as far as we could without changing any bench components (other than, as needed, RAM to the best kit). Memory frequency really matters, as do timings, but the story is about both together with the balance of CPU frequency and cache ratio.

Article is pending free time.

OTHER INTEL 10-SERIES REVIEWS & OC CONTENT

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Recapping the Debate
02:54 - Tuning the i5-10400 vs. AMD R5 3600
04:00 - Not Just Primary Timings
05:02 - Hitman 2 i5-10400 Memory Timings & Frequency Comparison
08:12 - F1 2019 Memory Timings & Frequency R5 3600 vs. 10400, 3300X
10:56 - GTA V i5-10400 CPU Review Benchmarks with RAM Tuning
12:35 - Worse Starting Positions
13:52 - Cache Ratio Frametime Issue with Unstable OC Example
15:00 - Shadow of the Tomb Raider 10400, 3600, 3300X
15:53 - Three Kingdoms Campaign Benchmarks
17:00 - Conclusion


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Testing, Test Lead, Editorial: Steve Burke
Additional Testing: Patrick Lathan
Video: Keegan Gallick, Andrew Coleman

[GamersNexus]

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Recapping the Debate
02:54 - Tuning the i5-10400 vs. AMD R5 3600
04:00 - Not Just Primary Timings
05:02 - Hitman 2 i5-10400 Memory Timings & Frequency Comparison
08:12 - F1 2019 Memory Timings & Frequency R5 3600 vs. 10400, 3300X
10:56 - GTA V i5-10400 CPU Review Benchmarks with RAM Tuning
12:35 - Worse Starting Positions
13:52 - Cache Ratio Frametime Issue with Unstable OC Example
15:00 - Shadow of the Tomb Raider 10400, 3600, 3300X
15:53 - Three Kingdoms Campaign Benchmarks
17:00 - Conclusion

[ZetaCarinae]

Marry someone who looks at you like Steve looks at that F4-4000C15 memory.

[ninjafrozr]

Hello Gamer's Nexus. I have the i5 10400F and an H410 mobo and 2 sticks of Corsair Vengeance LPX 3000Mhz CL16 8GB ram (locked in 2666 of course). I bought the 10400F because it was significantly cheaper than the 3600 in my country. Can i tune this ram's timings like you did in the video to achieve at least stock 3600 performance ?

[michaelgerrard]

Intel fanboys massacre 2 : The return of The Steve

[Pyro_]

this is cool that they added time stamping imbedded into the player

[snake]

When Steve has a point to prove...wow.

[StefanEtienneTheVerrgeRep]

But the human eye can't even see more than 2933mhz anyway.

[wargamingrefugee]

Remember when you could just put a piece of tape over a pad, then overclock the FSB on a locked Intel CPU if the BIOS allowed it?

[Zzs]

Does the CPU number correspond to the number of total war soldiers I can have. I think I might have to get the 10600k

[EspHack]

just upgraded my 2400 ram to 3200, now apparently 3200 is "entry level stuff"

[liamfitzpatrick]

I guess you could say the commenters have good timing! Haha

[techyescity]

lol I never liked that 2666 CL15 anyway! Well said at the end on the testing methods, hopefully people can take that and realise why some numbers will be different across different channels. I test out of the box personally.

[MasterAlex]

Steve’s messy hair shows how hard he worked on testing several RAM timings over many CPUs

[rcradiator]

This is the very definition of polishing a turd. At least it was interesting to confirm the performance boost from lower ram timings.

[hyperonestarcraft]

The blue timer bars on the sides are super underrated

[zacharymutter]

Just want to say thanks to Steve and team at GN for getting me back into the PC world in the past year. Good job on those timings gents, keep up the good work

[anonymoususer]

I greatly appreciate that you spent 4 days working on this piece. This is super cool content to see.

[danejerustv]

I was literally asking myself the other day if frequency or timing is more important in RAM and GN of course comes in clutch and answers my question. Thanks guys <3

[Saaurier]

Remember when the verge was bragging about their "fast 2666mhz ram?"

[concinnus]

Tuning a 10400 to the gills is like playing Dark Souls with a Guitar Hero controller. Entertaining and impressive, but unless you're Steve making a point, I've gotta wonder about you.