I bought a Ryzen 9800X3D bundle a few months back that included 2x16GB DDR5 sticks. Recently, I added another set of 2x16GB sticks, and now my PC won't post with all four modules installed. I've tried adjusting voltages and speeds, switched the slots around, and reset the CMOS multiple times, but to no avail. I can get each pair to work independently, but they won't work together. Should I ditch the new pair and just go for a 2x32GB setup instead?
5 Answers
Isn't having 4 slots on motherboards kind of pointless if they can’t even handle speeds like 4800MHz? It's confusing when tech specs promise so much but deliver these issues.
Make sure to set the memory timings manually if they're all the same. Typically, you want to load in one set in grey slots and the other in black. The Ryzen 7 often assumes matched timing for all slots automatically if left to its own devices.
4 sticks of DDR5 can be finicky. If you're just gaming, two 16GB sticks are usually enough. Plus, sometimes mixing different kits can lead to issues, even if they seem the same. It might be worth considering a 2x32GB setup if you're planning to run heavy workloads.
I do a lot of multitasking with various Chrome tabs and IDEs, so yeah, I really notice the slowdowns with only two sticks.
If you’re having trouble getting them to post even at base speeds of 4800MT/s, it’s very likely they won’t work together. If the EXPO settings don't help, think about selling the new sticks for a 2x32GB kit that's more stable.
Are you using the same RAM kit? Also, make sure your BIOS is up to date. For optimal performance, try placing one kit in the A slots and the other in the B slots—this helps manage channel distribution better when mixing.
I have the same kit, but my motherboard only allows for all four slots to be filled. I made sure each pair is in separate channels.
I put one in grey and one in black. Can you break down what you mean by timing? I tried a DRAM timing preset of 5600MHz, but it only rebooted once.