Is it bad if I put 3200 Mhz RAM in a CPU that supports 2667 Mhz?

[Zairker]

Hello,
first, sorry for the potential bad english,
I'm planning on building a PC soon enough and I started to pick the components.

I chose the Ryzen 5 1600 CPU, and looking at AMD's website I noticed that the system memory specification was at 2667 Mhz. Is it bad if I put 3200Mhz RAM? It seems to be cheaper and I wondered if it was OK, y'know, I don't want to screw up my first PC build.

Thanks in advance!

[ugafan]

It's fine. The only downside is the RAM may not run at its rated speed.

Be sure to update BIOS for improved memory compatibility.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Check the website for who made your motherboard. Usually for ryzen only -very specific- ram can be used in it for 3200 mhz. You absolutely must match the ram to the compatibility list for going to and beyond 3200 mhz. If your ram isn't on the list, it won't work.

[Zairker]

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

Check the website for who made your motherboard.

Mobo is MSI B450-A PRO, product specifications on website says:
1866/ 2133/ 2400/ 2667Mhz (by JEDEC)
2667/ 2800/ 2933/ 3000/ 3066/ 3200/ 3466 MHz (by A-XMP OC MODE)

And I looked at the compatibility list, and sadly, nope, doesn't support that RAM.

I'm going to look for another RAM then.

Thanks for the help!

[C2Dan88]

Originally posted by Mightvolf:

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

Check the website for who made your motherboard.

Mobo is MSI B450-A PRO, product specifications on website says:
1866/ 2133/ 2400/ 2667Mhz (by JEDEC)
2667/ 2800/ 2933/ 3000/ 3066/ 3200/ 3466 MHz (by A-XMP OC MODE)

And I looked at the compatibility list, and sadly, nope, doesn't support that RAM.

I'm going to look for another RAM then.

Thanks for the help!

Ignore the supported ram list on mobo manufacture website they cannot test all ram modules being sold. Any DDR4 module will work

For best results manually set the ram speed and timings in the BIOS.

[Zairker]

Originally posted by C2Dan88:

Ignore the supported ram list on mobo manufacture website they cannot test all ram modules being sold. Any DDR4 module will work

For best results manually set the ram speed and timings in the BIOS.

I guess that's true lol. Didn't think about that.
Another thing, @ugafan says to update BIOS for better compatibility, and @C2Dan88 says just to set the speed and timings in the BIOS. What's better?

[PAX]

Both are right. Once you booted the computer for the first time you install the newest drivers for your hardware including motherboard drivers/bios from the manufacturers website. Once everything is up to date you go into your bios and update the ram settings.

[Zairker]

Originally posted by S U C T I O N:

Both are right. Once you booted the computer for the first time you install the newest drivers for your hardware including motherboard drivers/bios from the manufacturers website. Once everything is up to date you go into your bios and update the ram settings.

Ok, and one last thing : if you choke when updating the BIOS is there any ways to get it back? Like, i don't know; light goes out while you are updating and when you boot the PC you find yourself with a corrupted BIOS, is there any ways to restore it to a functional state?

[Cathulhu]

Consult the manual of your mainboard, but generally, they have a backup firmware that takes over in case the primary is no longer functional. Even my about 10 year old mainboard has such a feature.

[Zairker]

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

Consult the manual of your mainboard, but generally, they have a backup firmware that takes over in case the primary is no longer functional. Even my about 10 year old mainboard has such a feature.

That works! Thank you guys, you are awesome

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by C2Dan88:

Ignore the supported ram list on mobo manufacture website they cannot test all ram modules being sold. Any DDR4 module will work

For best results manually set the ram speed and timings in the BIOS.

That's how Intel motherboards work. AMD systems have very bad problems with ddr4 compatibility at or above 3200 Mhz. Anyone in to overclocking that follows AMD overclocking information would know this. It's actually exactly like I said: For AMD Ryzen, any ram not on the compatibility list physically will not run, will not turn on, and will not even POST if it's not on the compatibility list, for 3200 Mhz and above. AMD Generally doesn't care for 2666 mhz and below ram though. Intel systems can run anything and don't care though.

[r.linder]

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

Originally posted by C2Dan88:

Ignore the supported ram list on mobo manufacture website they cannot test all ram modules being sold. Any DDR4 module will work

For best results manually set the ram speed and timings in the BIOS.

That's how Intel motherboards work. AMD systems have very bad problems with ddr4 compatibility at or above 3200 Mhz. Anyone in to overclocking that follows AMD overclocking information would know this. It's actually exactly like I said: For AMD Ryzen, any ram not on the compatibility list physically will not run, will not turn on, and will not even POST if it's not on the compatibility list, for 3200 Mhz and above. AMD Generally doesn't care for 2666 mhz and below ram though. Intel systems can run anything and don't care though.

Incorrect. I'm running Ripjaws V CL16 3200 MHz at 3466 OC without consequence. Any module should work with AM4.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by Escorve:

Incorrect. I'm running Ripjaws V CL16 3200 MHz at 3466 OC without consequence. Any module should work with AM4.

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/1839063537793649866/?ctp=2#c1839063537796459450

I'm not repeating myself twice because you can't read. You have one experience with one AMD system and you've been lucky.

[Zairker]

So, like-- it's phisically true that a brand cannot test every single RAM module, but at the same time I don't want to buy something that doesn't work. Plus, I finally found a RAM modules that are on the compatibilty list. So I shouldn't have problems with that.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by Mightvolf:

So, like-- it's phisically true that a brand cannot test every single RAM module, but at the same time I don't want to buy something that doesn't work. Plus, I finally found a RAM modules that are on the compatibilty list. So I shouldn't have problems with that.

There you go. The only reason I mentioned it is for someone doing a new build over the internet it doesn't hurt to take a few minutes to cross-reference the list and just make sure you get something that's guaranteed 100% compatible so you have a smooth build experience with no hiccups. :)

[r.linder]

Originally posted by Mightvolf:

So, like-- it's phisically true that a brand cannot test every single RAM module, but at the same time I don't want to buy something that doesn't work. Plus, I finally found a RAM modules that are on the compatibilty list. So I shouldn't have problems with that.

99% of the time, any module will work. Don't listen to the one person who says they know best because they built 10 Ryzen systems, and listen to the mass amounts of people who tell you that QVL doesn't account for thousands of modules that will still work. The vast majority of motherboards will not have issues with the vast majority of modules; it's the really cheap stuff that one would need to worry about compatibility, and that's probably the parts he used.