Neo Forza MK5 DDR5-6000 96 GB CL40 Review 11

Neo Forza MK5 DDR5-6000 96 GB CL40 Review

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Value and Conclusion

  • According to Neo Forza, the 96 GB (2x 48 GB) Neo Forza MK5 DDR5-6000 2x 48 GB CL40 kit will be available for around $263.
  • Competitive pricing
  • Great for Content Creators / Streamers
  • Good for Intel 12th-14th Generation K series CPUs
  • Nice OC potential
  • "Sweet Spot" for AMD Ryzen users
  • Compatible with Intel Z690 / B670 / Z790 motherboards
  • Compatible with AMD B650 / X670 motherboards
  • Two memory profiles (5600 / 6000)
  • Dual XMP / EXPO
  • Thermal pad on PMIC
  • Limited lifetime warranty
  • Loose Primary Timings
  • Low North America availability
  • Non-Binary compatibility
  • Missing Silkscreen on ICs
After some benchmarks and a detailed look at this memory kit on both AMD and Intel platforms, it is time to put everything into perspective. We will go over which platforms and applications this memory kit is best suited for, what Neo Forza could improve upon to make a better product, and finish out the review on a positive note.

We will start off by talking about whom the main user base of this memory kit is targeting and what to expect in terms of compatibility among different systems. System memory comes in varying sizes and configurations, and as applications continue to evolve to suit consumer needs in 2023 and beyond, the system resources must expand as well. There will always be a need for more system memory, though the actual usefulness will depend on the applications. Each technological leap has a "standard" amount of system memory associated with it. On the consumer side, this baseline is set first by the operating system and can be expanded to the maximum supported by the processor. As production of memory becomes cheaper due to refinements in manufacturing or supply and demand, this "standard" shifts upward, thus allowing for greater capacity while maintaining the same pricing structure as before. Now that DDR5 has entered mass production, 32 GB is no longer an enterprise exclusive as it was with DDR3 and is well on its way to becoming the new standard.

A whopping 96 GB of system memory may seem extreme to the casual user, but it very much has a place in the prosumer market. There are two types of consumers who push beyond the standards of today. These are either PC enthusiasts who just want the most system memory and / or the fastest in a computer, regardless of cost; the second is the prosumer. The title "prosumer" is often used to describe someone who intensively uses their computer for more than just recreational purposes. With the development and release of Non-Binary memory modules, consumers now have access to 24 and 48 GB DIMMs. This increases the maximum system memory from 128 GB to 196 GB when using four modules. The question of why not just use four DIMMS instead of two often comes up for those looking to get the best deals. This has a lot of variables to contend with. The simplest explanation of why this isn't a good idea is that AMD Ryzen and Intel Core processors are designed for dual-channel, or rather, two memory modules installed in total. While a lot of motherboards do have four slots for memory, it comes with a certain level of unpredictability when fully populated. For example, the AMD Ryzen 7000 series only officially supports DDR5-3600 when four modules are used (not a typo). While you can go above what is officially supported by AMD, the actual limit will change based on the number of memory ranks and the quality of the CPUs IMC (integrated memory controller). In short, stick with two for compatibility reasons (This can be discussed further on the forums for those who have further questions or comments).

High capacity memory kits such as this Neo Forza MK5 DDR5-6000 96 GB aren't strictly limited to those who only use the computer for office work, where the applications require a lot of system resources. These could be software developers who may have multiple virtual machines (VM) running simultaneously. Or seasoned graphic designers, to even video editors. Often, large projects require compromises to avoid applications from crashing due to a lack of memory, and this is where more system memory brings a major uplift to the production workflow. That being said, let's not leave out gamers, as they can be content creators too. It is not uncommon to use software such as Open Broadcaster Software (OBS), or Discord with a few web browser tabs open while streaming live on Twitch or YouTube. Extra system memory allows for expanded workflows that simply were not possible before.

Neo Forza's MK5 DDR5-6000 kit is designed to support both AMD and Intel with both XMP and EXPO memory profiles, and lands right in the "sweet spot" for AMD. This "sweet spot" comes from AMD in which the development team determined that DDR5-6000 is optimal for all types of users when paired with an AMD Ryzen 7000 processor. This frequency not only provides the benefits of higher bandwidth and lower latency compared to DDR5-5200 that is officially supported by AMD, but also without many of the potential issues one may face using even faster memory. While the Intel platform can go much higher in terms of highest frequency, this comes with its own set of drawbacks, like higher power consumption, temperature limitations, smaller memory kit availablility, and a higher cost of entry. The benefits and return on investment starts to quickly diminish above 7200 MT/s for Intel users, leaving many consumers to focus on lower speeds and tighter timings. For AMD that value is in the 6000-6200 MT/s range.

Neo Forza has chosen to use very conservative timings of CL40, which is among the highest available found in a retail kit outside the JEDEC specifications. This brings us to the overclocking portion of the review. Neo Forza is playing it safe with the binning process here, and as always with each and every review, it is suggested to buy the memory bin you want instead of relying on the chance that this kit reaches your personal desired goals. It is a bit unexpected for Neo Forza to market this memory kit for overclockers when the base values are so loose. Nevertheless, our sample came with SK Hynix 3 GB ICs (Rev. M), which are known to be quite the overclocker. We still managed to reach an impressive goal of DDR5-6800 CL32 with a minor voltage adjustment and tweaking to the sub-timings, matching a much more expensive retail G.SKILL kit. Overall, the true limiting factor was the Intel CPU memory controller for this particular i9 13900K. Sticking with a safe voltage for long-term use, going above 6800 MT/s was not possible for daily use. Generally speaking, 3 GB ICs will have "worse" timings compared to their 2 GB counterparts, but outside of a few world records, the difference is minor for the amateur overclocker. In fact, it is safe to say, that besides ultra competitive gamers, the higher latency, average frame rates, and 1% lows in games will likely go unnoticed even at CL40.

Whether you are on an Intel or AMD platform, Neo Forza includes both types of memory profiles (XMP / EXPO) for 5600 MT/s and 6000 MT/s. This is already a good middle ground, as the inclusion of a second DDR5-5600 CL40-40-40-76 (1.2 V) profile is a safer bet for maximum system compatibility, and that is equally important to consider when it comes to high-density memory. With that, it is time to wrap up the review. Neo Forza continues to build a reputation among the PC building community with its Trinity and MK5 DDR5 series. There are always things to consider, like price and whether this amount of memory is right for you. From an overclocker's perspective, Neo Forza manages to match the top-tier 96 GB memory kits currently for sale in 2023. It is also playing it a little too safe by not pre-binning this memory with enthusiast grade timings, leaving it up to the user do the extra leg work. This pre-binning would also provide some degree of pre-screening for those who want a more guarantee of a successful overclock. The pricing here drastically changes what is already a good product in terms of high-capacity and compatibility, to getting a solid recommendation, standing out from the crowded market. For those who are looking to join this 64 GB+ club without dropping a large amount of cash, this Neo Forza kit is a good middle ground between the cheaper 5600 MT/s and the more expensive 6400 MT/s memory kits. With some time invested in overclocking and the risk / reward that comes with it, this could very well be a hidden gem. As it stands, since no overclock outcome is ever guaranteed, the selling points are mainly extra high capacity and reasonable pricing. This is where Neo Forza shines the brightest and the MK5 DDR5-6000 96 GB memory kit is definitely a good option in that regard.
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Oct 21st, 2024 14:33 EDT change timezone

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