I have two 16GB DDR4 memory sticks: one GoodRam module rated at 3000MHz and one Patriot module rated at 3200MHz. I'm considering buying a Ryzen 5 3600 with an ASRock B450 Pro4 motherboard. Will this combination work, and is there a realistic chance of running both sticks at 3200 MT/s or higher?
4 Answers
Different memory kits often run at the speed of the slower stick when left on automatic settings. You can try enabling the memory profile and manually setting 3200 MT/s, but mixing modules can make stability unpredictable even if the specifications look similar.
There’s no guaranteed motherboard or processor that will make mismatched memory run at 3200 MT/s. The 3000-rated module would be overclocked, and the result depends on the memory chips, timings, BIOS settings, and the CPU’s memory controller. It may work, but you should expect that it might not be stable.
The safest option is to replace the mismatched modules with a matched 2x16GB kit, ideally with the same brand, capacity, speed, and timings. A matched kit is much more likely to run its advertised settings and avoids the random crashes or errors that can happen with mixed memory.
You can test the current modules since trying the setting costs nothing, but increase the speed gradually and run a proper memory stability test. If the system fails to boot, reset the BIOS and return to a lower speed. Even four matched sticks can sometimes run 3200 MT/s, so the exact modules and memory controller matter more than the motherboard name alone.
So the Ryzen 5 3600 and B450 Pro4 should support the memory, but there’s still no guarantee that this particular combination will remain stable at 3200 MT/s?