The utility AMD Memory Tweak
The utility AMD Memory Tweak enables users to change temporary memory settings, memory straps or PowerPlay easily. In addition, it allows changing access ADL Overdrive and MMIO Register Control on newer video cards based on GDDR5 and HBM memory. In other words, users can change settings and apply them directly and check their influence on performance and stability.
In case of any kind of an error, one can easily return to the default values. The AMD Memory Tweak program is designed for 64-bit versions of Windows and it is tested by VirusTotal without antivirus triggers. Therefore, it can safely be used when setting up rigs. It is also possible to compile this program for Linux-like operating systems from source codes, which are posted by the developer on the download page.
Requirements Memory Tweak
- one or more AMD Radeon GPU’s;
- Adrenaline (Verified working on v19.4.1/v19.5.);
- Windows has to be in Test Mode (AMDMTXL will ask for it) due to custom driver.
- The main features of AMD Memory Tweak
- MMIO Register Control (Read/Write) GDDR5/HBM/HBM2;
- ADL Overdrive (Read/Write) Latest Overdrive Versions supported;
- PowerPlay Control (Read/Write) Polaris, Vega10, Navi10;
- Strap Control (Read/Write/Decode/Encode) Polaris, Vega10, Navi10;
- Import/Export all values.
Recommendations for usage
- apply improved timings before starting benchmarking / mining;
- some timings should be used with caution as they affect the stability of work and can worsen it (the value of tRC in particular);
- some timings require an increase in their numerical value to increase performance;
- some timings have minimum and maximum values, for example, tCL. When these values are exceeded, they automatically return to standard values;
- some timings are dynamically changed, they change depending on the values in the BIOS and the operating frequency;
- tRC, tRAS, tRCDRD, tRCDWR, tRRDL, tRRDS, tFAW, tRTP are timings with parameters in strings;
- tCCDL, tCCDS, tCCDR, tWTRL, tWTRS, tRTW are timings with parameters in columns;
- tRFC, tRFCSB, tRREFD, tREFI are refreshing timings.
Errors while running AMD Memory Tweak XL
The program has not yet been finalized and it has a number of bugs. Among the last ones, there is incomplete support for all versions of AMD drivers and operating systems. For example, version 1.0 of AMD Memory Tweak XL does not work with Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.7.3 drivers (optional drivers). To use the AMD Memory Tweak XL program users need to install Net Framework.
Moreover, sometimes when starting AMD Memory Tweak XL, the BadImageFormatExepction error occurs. Because of changing the timings and straps and memory parameters on properly flashed AMD video cards only a slight performance increase is given, that is 1-5% or is not given at all, then the non-use of the program on the mining rig will not bring significant performance losses. To say more, partly the functionality of the program is integrated in the latest versions of Claymore and PhoenixMiner.
To conclude
The AMD Memory Tweak utility is designed for more advanced users, although they should be able to master quickly the needs of modification and the way to improve performance. Even having already a modified BIOS video, users can still play with memory straps.
What can be done is a slight improvement of the performance and testing even better settings before applying them with the new BIOS modification. It’s essential to note that when mining coins on the CryptoNight algorithms, using the program can be useful. CryptoNight is a proof-of-work algorithm. It is designed to be suitable for ordinary PC CPUs, but currently no special purpose devices for mining are available. Therefore, CryptoNight can only be CPU-mined for the time being.