Gigabyte Enables CXMT DDR5 Memory at 8200 MT/s on AM5 and Intel Platforms
The motherboard giant's validation of Chinese-made DRAM chips expands consumer options amid ongoing supply constraints.
Gigabyte has officially added support for CXMT DDR5 memory across its entire DDR5 motherboard lineup, enabling speeds up to 8200 MT/s on AMD Socket AM5 platforms with a BIOS update. The move validates China's fourth-largest DRAM manufacturer as a viable alternative during a period of tight memory supply.
AM5 Platforms Get Major Speed Boost
For AMD Socket AM5 motherboards based on 600 and 800 series chipsets, the support requires updating to BIOS with AMD's AGESA 1.3.0.1c microcode. This update lifts the previous 6800 MT/s ceiling for CXMT memory to 8200 MT/s on select boards, according to Gigabyte's announcement. The company confirmed support for both 16Gb and 24Gb CXMT DDR5 chip densities.
"Following AMD's release of AGESA 1.3.0.1c and Gigabyte's own memory optimization technology, AM5 motherboards across both the 800 series and 600 series now support CXSH (CXMT) chip-based memory, including 16 Gb and 24 Gb densities," Gigabyte stated in its press release.
Intel Platforms Ship Ready
Intel 700 and 800 series motherboards from Gigabyte ship with factory BIOS that enables native CXMT support without requiring additional updates. This distinction means Intel platform users can deploy CXMT-based memory modules out of the box, while AM5 builders need to flash the updated BIOS first.
CXMT's Rising Production Capacity
Founded in 2016, CXMT (ChangXin Memory Technologies) has emerged as the fourth-largest DRAM manufacturer globally, producing memory for PCs, mobile devices, tablets, and servers. The company faces U.S. export restrictions that limit access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment, yet its DDR5 products now achieve speeds competitive enough for mainstream and enthusiast applications.
Industry research projects CXMT will produce approximately 350,000 wafers per month by end of 2026, nearly matching Micron's expected 375,000 wafers per month. While CXMT's official DDR5 specification caps at 8000 MT/s, motherboard vendor optimizations have demonstrated speeds reaching 8200-8400 MT/s on specific boards.
Market Context
"The DDR5 memory market has faced tight supply and rising prices in recent months, and CXSH (CXMT) chip-based memory offers a welcome additional source of supply for consumers," Gigabyte said. "In response, GIGABYTE added support for CXSH (CXMT) chip-based memory to expand compatibility and give consumers more flexibility when sourcing memory for their systems."
The DRAM market has experienced constrained supply and elevated prices in recent months. Multiple motherboard vendors including MSI and ASUS have similarly released BIOS updates or enabled native support for CXMT-based modules. Industry sources cite AI server production as a contributing factor to capacity constraints, though the direct causal relationship varies across reports.
Gigabyte's validation represents a significant milestone for CXMT, signaling growing industry acceptance beyond China's domestic market. For consumers, the expanded compatibility provides additional purchasing options during a period when the traditional Samsung-SK Hynix-Micron oligopoly faces capacity pressures.