I'm not a gamer, primarily focused on Adobe Photoshop and video editing, with some use of ComfyUI. I've been debating whether switching from 4800 MHz to 6000 MHz RAM would make much of a difference in my productivity tasks. I've experienced some stability issues when enabling XMP on my motherboard – it either gets stuck at POST, takes an eternity to load into Windows, or random crashes happen. Currently, I have 32GB of CRAS XR5 RGB 6000 MHz CL40 in dual channel, and I'm considering upgrading to 64GB. Should I go for a more affordable 2x32GB setup at 4800 MHz or invest in 2x32GB 6000 MHz CL30 RAM? There's about a $100 price difference, but I'm concerned I might still face the same issues with 6000 MHz. Since I don't game, improved FPS doesn't matter to me. Any insights?
4 Answers
Do you see EXPO profiles in your BIOS? I was having trouble with XMP too, but the EXPO profiles worked great for me, even at higher frequencies.
For what you're doing, the speed difference between 4800 MHz and 6000 MHz is pretty minor, maybe just a 3-6% increase in performance. I'd prioritize stability over speed. Instead of enabling XMP, keep it disabled for now, and consider using Eco mode for better stability. It might also be worth checking your motherboard's max rated specs to ensure you're not pushing it too hard. Honestly, you might get a bigger boost from investing in a faster SSD than worrying about the RAM speeds.
Already using M.2 SSDs and Eco mode, appreciate the advice!
Make sure your BIOS is up to date. Memory context restore might lead to instability, so try turning that off. If you plan to buy new RAM, check that it's on your motherboard's QVL list, and use dual sticks in the correct slots (A2, B2). And yes, RAM speeds do matter for productivity—they scale reasonably well. Check out this video for more insights!
Watched it, and it showed how significant the difference can be at higher MHz, though I heard AMD 7000s can’t go over 6000 MHz. Is CL timing also important?
Remember, your system's stability is crucial for productivity. Overclocking isn’t worth it if it causes you downtime. A straightforward 64GB at 4800 MHz might be more sensible and economical given your use case. With the issues you're experiencing, it sounds like a more stable RAM setup at lower speeds could be the way to go.
Thanks for the perspective! Seems like the 64GB at 4800 MHz is a no-brainer for me.
I only see XMP in my BIOS settings, no EXPO profiles visible, even with the latest version. Not sure what’s up with that.