I came across a 16GB DDR5 stick priced at €120, but the seller says it only operates stably at 4800MHz; it crashes after 10 minutes at its rated speed of 6400MHz. I'm wondering if this is worth the gamble if I can negotiate the price down to €100. Also, I've heard that higher speeds beyond 5.6GHz can often have issues – is that true?
5 Answers
I wouldn't take the risk with that RAM. If it's crashing at higher speeds, it might be defective or just incompatible with your system.
I just came across a set of 16GB DDR5 sticks for $90. That's a deal compared to what's being asked for that single stick! Might want to shop around more.
Definitely risky. The seller's comments suggest potential defects, and even if it runs okay at 4800MHz, who knows how long that will last? You might want to ask them to run memtest86 to verify stability at that lower speed. But I wouldn't feel confident throwing my money at a questionable purchase.
Honestly, I’ve seen similar situations where people struggle to utilize faster RAM on AM5 boards. If you can get that stick for about €100, it could be worth a shot, but single sticks can be hit or miss. Matched pairs usually give better stability performance.
True! I’m weighing my options; the price difference is significant.
From what I gather, it sounds like the seller's setup may not handle speeds above 6000MHz. If they're on an AM5 motherboard, it's advisable to not go for anything above that since the RAM may not perform reliably. I recommend asking the seller about their setup and if they've tested it with XMP or EXPO timings. If they're not willing to provide details or prove stability, it's probably not worth it. Also, mixing different RAM speeds often leads to problems, so if you're planning on pairing it with another stick, keep that in mind.
Thanks for the insight! Should I be worried about having two different brands of RAM in general?
Not necessarily! As long as they are compatible, they can work together; just don’t expect them to always hit their advertised speeds.
Yeah, but if you can find a solid deal on a reliable pair, that might save you headaches later.