Encountering problems with four RAM modules while XMP is active
Encountering problems with four RAM modules while XMP is active
I face an odd problem with my PC after turning on XMP. It doesn’t boot when I first press the button. Fans spin, CPU LED stays lit, but no start. If I press the reset on the case while it’s in that state it works fine and there are no issues afterward. But once it shuts down, the problem returns again. I tried some tweaks—running memory at 3000Mhz or using two sticks at 3600Mhz—and it fixed things. The RAM I’m using is the Kingston Fury Renegade KF436C16RBK4/32 kit of four. My other system details are: CPU Ryzen 5 3600, GPU ASUS RX 6650 XT, motherboard MSI B550-A, power supply FRACTAL DESIGN ION+ 2 650W. I also increased the DRAM voltage to 1.39V and the SOC voltage to 1.2V, but that didn’t help. Reading about issues with four sticks in XMP mode for Ryzen suggests some timing adjustments might be needed. Should I just swap the four sticks for two 16GB units?
Are you utilizing the newest BIOS update? However, certain motherboards aren't compatible with four RAM modules. This increases the load on the CPU's memory controller. For better performance, choose two sticks whenever possible.
The newest BIOS versions are recommended. For manual settings, try a tool named DRAM calculator for Ryzen. To identify your specific RAM model, use PassMark RamMon and Thaiphoon Burner.
The situation isn't simple. Some boards work best with four sticks and clocking worse with two, others don’t mind, and most use a daisy chain setup—something common on newer boards including overclocked ones. Regarding IMC, doubling it isn’t straightforward and hard to measure beyond theory; in practice it’s more about what actually works when you overclock. For example, try running with desync FCLK to check if the issue is related to clocking. If you really need dual 3600, consider dual-sided 16GB sticks like the Samsung Die3 (M378A2K43DB1) or Hynix DJR (HMA82G6DJR8N). You can get different speeds—2666, 2933, or 3200—and clock it to 3600 at 18-22-22 with 1.35/1.4V. Micron revis are preferred since they’re lighter on the IMC, but microns don’t always match exact specs like Samsung or Hynix do. Sellers often lack clarity on details, making it tough to find even low-end DDR4/DDR5 revis.