Does increasing RAM speed lead to system instability or frequent restarts?
Does increasing RAM speed lead to system instability or frequent restarts?
I mentioned increasing the voltage for the memory controller. You should anticipate needing more power when boosting performance, and if the required voltage exceeds your comfort level, lower the speed to 1866 or 1600.
BFG-9000 :
According to what I mentioned earlier, you should expect more voltage for the memory controller. Be prepared for higher requirements when overclocking, and if the needed voltage exceeds your comfort level, lower the speed to 1866 or 1600.
The issue here is this:
My motherboard already has OC profiles installed.
In my initial post I was able to OC the 8G to 2133MHz without any problems. Following the profile. However, when I try 16G, the BIOS reports a problem with clock speeds or something similar—I’ll share a screenshot. If I could do it smoothly before, why am I now facing issues and having to restart or even failing to boot?
Which aspect of more sticks or higher RAM ranks increases the memory controller's load remains unclear to you? You could even adjust the RAM to 2400 if you reduce it to a single low-capacity stick.
There are several factors involved. The standard MC speed for an FX CPU is around 1333, which makes sense because under an OC profile the RAM typically defaults to 1366. The 2133 Corsair Pro should easily reach 2400 under OC, but that number isn’t the maximum—it’s just the tested limit for that specific batch. With adjustments to DRAM voltage and timing, it’s feasible to hit 2800. Regarding these adjustments, this is where the problem likely lies. The saved OC profile was created with 8GB of RAM, which had unique timing and voltage needs. You can’t reuse that profile or any other one except in a single way. Replace the RAM, apply the desired profile, adjust the DRAM voltage in BIOS to 1.65V, save it, then reinstall the 16GB. This should now align with the previous default settings before shutdown.
On another note, inspect the RAM carefully. Manufacturers like Corsair often offer various voltages for the same chip—some at 1.5V, others at 1.35V or 1.65V—but they all appear identical. If your new RAM is 1.65V, stick with that setting in the new profile. If it’s lower, you might need to adjust it slightly (e.g., 1.505V or 1.510V). Also, verify the timing settings; if they weren’t auto-set, you may need to manually tweak them. It’s not guaranteed that the new RAM will work perfectly out of the box when using an OC profile.
Karadjgne shared some insights. The standard MC speed for an FX CPU is around 1333, but under an OC profile the RAM might default to 1366. The 2133 Corsair Pro should easily reach 2400 with OC, though 2133 isn't the maximum tested—it's just the limit confirmed for that batch. Adjustments to DRAM voltage and timing could push it even higher, possibly up to 2800. Regarding these adjustments, the problem seems tied to the saved OC profile. This profile was created using 8GB of RAM with unique timings and voltage specs. It can't be used with other profiles except in a single way: replace the RAM, apply the desired profile, increase DRAM voltage in BIOS to 1.65V, save the new settings, and reinstall the 16GB RAM. This should align it with the previous default of 2133.
Also, inspect the RAM—Corsair often offers various voltages that appear identical. If the new RAM is 1.65V, keep it at that setting in the profile. If it's lower, adjust accordingly. Check timings too; you might need to set higher initially or manually tweak them if auto-adjustment failed. It’s not guaranteed the new RAM will work perfectly out of the box when using OC.
Thanks! This is really helpful. I’ll experiment with the settings and observe the results. The profile I was using got reset after swapping the RAM, and even when changing MHz or voltage manually, it still boots with issues or errors in BIOS. I’m still working on getting it to match and will update once I’ve made further adjustments!
Update, the problem started with a power issue. When I increased the OC to 2133 or more with the 16GB, it only used whatever was left, leading to restarts. Right now I have it at 1866 and it's working fine, but the jump from 1866 to 2133 seems to be causing power problems. The voltage I set to 1.65V didn't allow the BIOS to recognize enough power for the RAM slots.