Just how risky overclocking RAM is?

[Yoshimi]

I almost broke my PC after overclocking my RAM.
But thank god I managed to restore the BIOS and finally my PC boot up like usual again.

anyway, my specs are:
Ryzen 7 1700x
2x8 Team Delta RGB DDR4 3000Mhz
Asrock B450 Pro4
Bitfenix Whisper 650W

my RAM is clocked at 2666Mhz, so what I tried is to get full 3000Mhz speed, and I don't know how to get full speed but I'm traumatized to enter BIOS settings again after this incident :(

[Cathulhu]

Generally, activating XMP profiles should be enough. No need to do manual settings. Let the BIOS read the XMP profile from the RAM stick and apply the proper configuration.

[Washell]

It's getting harder and harder to actually break something through overclocking. Doesn't mean you can't get unlucky though.

[Omega]

So your were trying to overclock the RAM and then the PC didn't boot anymore? That is normal, it means the overclock isn't stable.

Enable the XMP/AMP profile and manually set the RAM to 2933Mhz then see if it boots, if it doesn't go one step lower and keep trying. Early Ryzen CPUs can be very picky about RAM clock speed. This is caused by how the CPU works, the interposer (Infinity Fabric) which connects the multiple Zen dies ticks ar the DRAM frequency, the higher the DRAM frequency the faster the interposer ticks.

2666Mhz is often the highest you can go with a Ryzen 1000 CPU, this is also the highest RAM clockspeed which these CPUs are garanteed to work at. With some tweaks in the BIOS you can often do get it to run a little higher.

Updating your BIOS can also help.

[Yoshimi]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Omega:

2666Mhz is often the highest you can go with a Ryzen 1000 CPU, this is also the highest RAM clockspeed which these CPUs are garanteed to work at. With some tweaks in the BIOS you can often do get it to run a little higher.

wait, you were saying my 1000 CPU is also a problem?

Oprindeligt skrevet af Omega:

Updating your BIOS can also help.

I've already updated it, enabled XMP profile on BIOS, tried to go higher than 2666Mhz, and no luck. I also tried 2733Mhz clock speed but it's still the same. So 2666Mhz is maximum speed I can get right now.

Speaking of 1000 CPU... I hear AMD is going to release 3rd gen Ryzen on mid 2019. If it yes, I can wait and save up my money... Besides, I've been living up with 2133Mhz clock speed for 3 years.

And I hope my B450 chipset motherboard will support the new Ryzen CPU.


PS: no overclocking experience.

[Omega]

Your b450 board will run the new Ryzen CPUs just fine.

New Ryzen CPUs will start releasing in 1-6 months. Spring or summer.

[Malygos]

Did you up the voltage or timings?

[Yoshimi]

Oprindeligt skrevet af jefedemuchanina:

Did you up the voltage or timings?

nope, I don't know anything about that.

[Omega]

You only have to select a XMP profile. The XMP profile will set the clockspeeds, timings and voltages correctly for you. If this isn't stable combine the XMP profile with a custom RAM clockspeed.

[Ralf]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Haruka:

wait, you were saying my 1000 CPU is also a problem?

Part of it. Many people had problems going over 2666MHz with 1st gen Ryzen, most of the time XMP wasn't stable. Update your bios(at your own risk), enter timings and voltage manually, if it doesn't boot either loosen the timings or up the voltage(if you know what you're doing). https://www.overclock.net/forum/13-amd-general/1640919-new-dram-calculator-ryzena-1-4-1-overclocking-dram-am4.html

[r.linder]

There isn't much of a risk at all if you overclock your RAM manually above XMP. If it doesn't boot, you just go back into BIOS and tweak the settings.

I got my Ripjaws V 3200 MHz to work at 3466 at 1.35v and default latencies. Just make sure you run a stress test on your RAM for several hours to make sure it's actually stable.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Haruka:

wait, you were saying my 1000 CPU is also a problem?

Yes, exactly this. The issue is with the 1000 series ryzen chips. Most of them can not do 2800 mhz and you probably will never get 3000 Mhz ram to work on it. Even by Loading XMP. The early Ryzen chips had serious problems with ram compatibility and most Ryzen 1000 series CPU's will max out ram around 2666 - 2800 Mhz.

Just go in bios to the ram configuration and find the ram settings for XMP, enable XMP and try to boot. It will either work normally, or it will fail to turn on and come up with an error message saying it didn't work. And if it didn't work then your CPU just isn't up to running 3000 Mhz ram. It won't hurt anything to try it.

Also can you come up with the exact motherboard model number you have? I can find you a list of compatible ram published by who made your motherboard. With the early 1000 series Ryzen CPU's you literally must match your ram to the exact ram listed on their published "Supported ram list" for your motherboard if you want any remote hope of your 1000 series chip doing 3000 Mhz ram speed. If your ram's model # isn't on the list then you won't get 3000 Mhz working.

Ram compatibility was a big big problem with the first generation Ryzen chips and that was generally resolved with the 2000 series. All 2000 series Ryzen chips can do 3000 - 3200 Mhz ram normally now with most ram kits on the market even if they're not in the compatible list. It's the early 1000 series chips that were super picky about ram.

[_I_]

overclocking the imc on the cpu is fine
overclocking most ram modules is not

[r.linder]

Oprindeligt skrevet af _I_:

overclocking the imc on the cpu is fine
overclocking most ram modules is not

That's just not true. People overclock their RAM all of the time and the risk is minimal.

[AussieBobby]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Haruka:

I've already updated it, enabled XMP profile on BIOS, tried to go higher than 2666Mhz, and no luck. I also tried 2733Mhz clock speed but it's still the same. So 2666Mhz is maximum speed I can get right now.

How did you update,by Asrocks update tool(what ever its called) or manual from a USB thumb drive?

I had the same problem with ram locked at 2666Mhz,but after updating the BIOS using USB thumb drive I was able to get 3000 Mhz.

Check what BIOS you have,latest is 1.80 under Main tab

https://www.asrock.com/MB/AMD/B450%20Pro4/index.asp#BIOS

You will have to use this method as the update tool will not install the latest BIOS

Instant flash.
https://www.asrock.com/support/BIOSIG.asp?cat=BIOS10

I also have a 1700x and Fatal1ty X370 Gaming X

[MA☝Omgwtfbbqstfu™]

Its generally safe because ram doesn't use much power, and it tends to be obviously unstable if it boots at all if you go too far.