Compatibility depends on whether it's the CPU or the motherboard that supports memory speed.
Compatibility depends on whether it's the CPU or the motherboard that supports memory speed.
I purchased an MSI B450 Gaming Plus board a while back with a Ryzen 3 1200 CPU boosted to 3.9ghz and overclocked (1.45v). I planned to upgrade the CPU later to a R5 600 once it failed. At that time, I didn’t realize how crucial memory speed was for Ryzen. I opted for a 2133mhz kit, which I managed to push up to 2666mhz at CL18, achieving solid performance. Since my old Ryzen 3 struggles to sustain power, I’m now considering an upgrade to the Ryzen 5000 series, which is the last-gen supported by my B450. The main issue is memory, as I anticipate spending more than expected on a CPU and risking a bottleneck with the 2666mhz RAM. I was considering G.SKILL Trident Z RGB 3600mhz CL18 but noticed the motherboard only lists support up to 3466mhz. I’m unsure if this is due to an upcoming BIOS update for Ryzen 5000 or if the board itself won’t accept it. From what I’ve read, it seems to depend on both the CPU and the motherboard. I’m a bit confused. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
If Mobos supports 3466, that's the limit. I question a B450 would reach higher or not be stable at all—probably not reliable for 3466. A 3200MHz setup with CL14 seems to be the best option. Or consider upgrading to a new Mobile Broadband unit. The sweet spot for Ryzen 3600mhz CL16 is ideal, but it won't boost performance much unless you're using a top-tier GPU and aiming for 300fps or more. You're in a good place.
When it comes to budget, just skip the upgrade. You can keep performance on the side, but if you plan to upgrade again in a couple of years, you might end up needing DDR5 RAM—meaning you'd be paying for two types of RAM, getting about 10-20% more speed. The real question is whether the drop in performance is worth it, especially since you can still use your current RAM and test it yourself. On Ryzen systems, you usually get full compatibility with the motherboard, and the CPU often becomes the bottleneck. I once ran a motherboard at 4000MHz, used DDR4 3600MHz on an Intel setup, but together they struggled above 3000MHz. It’s frustrating because my CPU was within spec, yet I still lost out on what I thought was a guaranteed win.
I should have pointed out that I only have 8GB of RAM now. When using CAD programs and certain games, I’m starting to realize I’d really benefit from 16GB. The choice here is clear: invest in the average RAM or purchase two additional 4GB modules, or buy two new 8GB modules at 3200MHz as Light-Yagami recommended. Thanks for the advice—I’ll look for a good deal on some 3200MHz CL16 memory.