Hey everyone! I'm having a bit of trouble getting my RAM to perform at its advertised speed of 3200MHz. Here's what I'm working with:
- **Computer Type:** Desktop
- **CPU:** AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- **BIOS Version:** P2.90
- **Motherboard:** ASRock B450M Steel Legend
- **Operating System:** Windows 10 Pro
- **RAM:** 1x16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 (rated at 3200MHz)
- **GPU:** RTX 3060 12GB VRAM
Currently, my RAM is stuck at 2133MHz, which seems pretty low. I tried enabling XMP (also known as DOCP) in the BIOS, but even after setting it to 3200MHz, it sticks to 2166MHz, which was strange since I had it running fine at 2666MHz before. I've heard that the Ryzen 2000 series can struggle with higher RAM speeds and that having a single stick can limit the performance. I'm also wondering if my BIOS version might be outdated and affecting compatibility.
Has anyone with a similar setup managed to get 3200MHz stable? Would switching to a dual-channel setup with 2x8GB help, or is updating the BIOS a good idea? I'd really appreciate any tips or insights you have!
5 Answers
Make sure your RAM is on your motherboard's QVL list for compatibility. Sometimes if it's not listed, you might run into issues with XMP. Check the ASRock website for your B450M Steel Legend to see if your RAM model is approved. It could explain why it's not hitting those speeds.
I had a Ryzen 5 2600X with a B450 board and it ran above 3200MHz without any issues. I’d recommend updating your BIOS to the latest version, as it could improve compatibility. Honestly, there’s little downside to updating it, so give it a shot! Also, make sure your RAM stick is in the recommended slot for a single stick setup; that often helps. When you tried setting XMP to 3200MHz, did your PC reboot multiple times? How are you checking the RAM speed?
Start fresh! What’s your goal with the RAM speed? If XMP won’t work at all, try updating the BIOS or switch RAM slots. You could even manually overclock to get closer to 3200MHz, though that can be tricky. It’s true that not all CPUs handle high speeds well; perhaps you just got a CPU that’s not great at memory overclocking. Ultimately, it would be best to get another RAM stick to take advantage of dual-channel — even if it means a lower speed like 2133MHz, you might end up with better performance overall!
Good point about the RAM slot! Using the right one as per the motherboard manual can definitely make a difference. Updating the BIOS is advisable. However, keep in mind that using a single stick might be slowing your performance more than a simple frequency increase would help. Dual-channel configurations typically provide a bigger overall performance boost!
It’s unlikely your RAM will reach the advertised speed with just one stick running on XMP. Even if I have 3600 MHz RAM, it runs at half that speed in a single channel. If you decide to add another stick, make sure it’s exactly the same model to avoid crashes!
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