“Not all Radeon RX 5600 XTs can handle faster GDDR6 memory”

Shortly before the launch of the Radeon RX 5600 XT, AMD surprised both partners and technology journalists with a BIOS update. The new software made it possible for partner manufacturers to increase the clock frequencies considerably, something that applied not least to the graphics memory, which in the standard version is 12,000 MHz.

SweClocker’s test of the Sapphire Pulse variant states that the Radeon RX 5600 XT delivers impressive mid-range performance, but also that the performance leans towards GDDR6 memory working at 14,000 MHz. According to a statement from MSI, it is not possible for all RX 5600 XT to reach 14,000 MHz as the speeds depend on the quality of the graphics memory.

The statement comes from the MSI Insider video series where company representatives discuss the situation with BIOS updates and graphics memory for the Radeon RX 5600 XT. In the discussion, it appears that the memory circuits were originally certified for 12,000 MHz and that overclocking to 14,000 MHz can therefore lead to product errors.

As the memory circuits did not require the higher speed from the start, it is not possible to guarantee that all memory modules can reach the higher speed. MSI is therefore launching the Radeon RX 5600 XT Gaming Z model equipped with 14,000 MHz certified memory circuits, and with the overclocking BIOS update applied from the factory.

Similar strategies are applied by other partner manufacturers such as Asus, where the Radeon ROG Strix RX 5600 XT TOP card comes with certified memory chips and BIOS update applied from the start. This card is the only variant in the Asus set of RX 5600 XT models that is certified for 14,000 MHz memory frequency.

With manufacturing technical uncertainties about which memory circuits can reach the higher speed, several partner manufacturers will probably choose to launch specific models with support for 14,000 MHz GDDR6 memory.

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