Overclocking
Disclaimer: Overclocking is never guaranteed, so that the results may vary depending on certain conditions and various hardware configurations. I am not recommending overclocking if you do not know what you are doing. High voltages may damage hardware, and it will not be covered by warranty.
The same as the DDR4-3600 CL14 memory kit, also the DDR4-4000 CL16 uses Samsung B-die IC. This IC can be found in the most expensive DDR4 memory kits, and all memory kits at tight timings as no other IC can do the same. If you are experienced, then you can tell that by looking at the memory XMP.
Regarding overclocking, the DDR4-4000 kit is slightly better than the DDR4-3600, but not much. Both memory kits could reach DDR4-4000 CL14-14-14 1.55V and Gear 1 mode. The only difference was a slightly lower voltage at which the DDR4-4000 kit could work after overclocking. I assume it’s a matter of luck, but maybe Patriot uses better binned IC in their higher series kits.
The DDR4-4000 at tight timings and Gear 1 mode is what gamers expect to see on their brand new computers. As you can see in our tests, this setting provides the best results, but sometimes not much better than the XMP profile of the DDR4-4000 kit. Patriot already used quite tight timings of CL16-16-16, where most competitive memory kits run at CL16-18-18 or CL18+.
Like in the previous Low Latency memory kit review, the motherboard couldn’t boot with Command Rate 1N and had problems at more than a DDR4-4400. DDR4-4400 could boot only at CL18 or higher, regardless of voltages. Motherboard manufacturers focus more on optimizing BIOS for higher DDR5 series motherboards, which have constant issues. Z690 DDR4 motherboards get fewer updates, but hopefully, they will catch up soon.
Either way, we can’t complain about the performance, which is excellent and hard to beat by any other DDR4 series. The Steel LL also gives us high overclocking potential, which, combined with a well-designed motherboard, can improve already exceptional results.
