I just bought two new RAM sticks, each 16GB, and they have a speed of 3600MHz compared to my old ones that were running at 3200MHz. But after installing them, I had to reset my BIOS to get my PC to boot, and they were initially detected at only 2666MHz. I enabled XMP, but my computer wouldn't boot again. Currently, I set the speed to 3500MHz in the BIOS and adjusted the DRAM voltage to 1.38V, which allowed it to boot, but 3600MHz still isn't working for me. I even tried increasing the voltage up to 1.48V but hesitated to go further, unsure of the safe limits. My motherboard supports speeds up to 5333MHz and I'm using an Intel i5-12600 CPU. Do I need to update my BIOS or should I keep trying with higher voltage? Any advice would be appreciated!
5 Answers
Keep in mind Intel primarily guarantees speeds up to 3200MHz for non-K CPUs, so your chip's memory controller could potentially limit your ability to run 3600MHz. If it was an unlocked CPU, raising SA voltage could be a possible solution, but with a locked CPU, you might hit a wall performance-wise.
It's often a good move to update your BIOS, as newer versions can improve memory compatibility. Just be cautious with manual tuning if you're not experienced, as it can lead to instability.
Did you replace the old RAM or just add the new sticks? Mixing speeds can cause issues since the system tends to run at the slower speed. I think you might have pushed the voltage a bit too high; even 1.40V is already on the edge. Be careful with that!
Make sure you’re only running the two new sticks and not mixing with slower RAM. Knowing the exact motherboard model can help diagnose the issue too. Also, performance gains from jumping from 3200MHz to 3600MHz on Intel's 12th generation might not be as noticeable as you think. Did you shift from 2x8GB to 2x16GB?
Yes! I moved from 8GB to two 16GB sticks. Can you explain more about the speed differences?
You might need to reseat the RAM, as I faced instability issues myself. Sometimes, just ensuring the RAM is clicked in properly can solve many problems. Updating your BIOS is also a solid idea, especially if you're on an older version.
I replaced the old ones and am using the 2nd and 4th slots to prioritize the new ones.