I've been struggling with a set of DDR4 RAM after my old memory died. I got a used 2x16GB kit from a friend, but I can only get my PC to boot by disabling XMP. The motherboard automatically set the RAM to a low frequency, so I manually tried to increase it. The RAM model is Oloy, rated for 3600 MHz with timings of 18-22-22-42. I'm running a 12700K chip on an Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI D4 motherboard. After resetting my BIOS settings, the maximum I could achieve was 3000 MHz. Is that all this RAM is capable of, or is there a chance to adjust timings or make other tweaks to get better performance? I've mainly relied on XMP before, so I'm not sure how to go about manual adjustments.
2 Answers
Even though your memory is rated for 3600 MHz, your CPU only officially supports up to DDR4-3200. I’ve seen many users with 12th-gen CPUs who couldn’t push beyond that limit. Just a heads up, the numbers in CPU-Z can be a bit confusing: it shows the RAM's clock speed as half the effective speed. So, 1500 MHz gives you DDR4-3000, and to reach DDR4-3200, you'd need to see about 1600 MHz in CPU-Z.
But yeah, 3600 might not be achievable depending on your CPU's capabilities.
You might want to check if your BIOS is up to date, as newer firmware can help with memory compatibility.
I've already updated it to the latest version.
Is it typical for RAM rated for 3600 MHz to not reach 3200 MHz on certain setups?