Incompatible RAM modules operating at 3600Mhz.
Incompatible RAM modules operating at 3600Mhz.
I was using a PC with a Patriot Memory Viper Steel Series DDR4-3600 Dual Kit 16GB (2x8GB) running smoothly in dual channel. The BIOS and CPU-Z displayed the correct speed, while the RAM itself ran at 3600Mhz. I recently received another RAM module and installed it in the remaining slots. I noticed that the new RAM would operate at the lower kit’s speed—around 3200Mhz—but my BIOS shows 2133Mhz, and Task Manager, hwinfo, and CPU-Z list 3600Mhz. Which speed am I actually using? My system runs a Ryzen 5 3600, an MSI B450 Tomahawk Max II, and an MSI RX 580. I also tried running a command to gather more details about the RAM sticks, but it only added to my confusion.
All previous configurations were restored successfully. After resetting the BIOS, the RAM speed displayed 2133MHz initially, but after applying the adjustments and restarting, it stabilized at 3600MHz in both Windows and BIOS. It seems you were very fortunate with the matching speeds!
Perhaps if everything holds steady. To stay safer, you could reinstall the BIOS, configure the slower RAM in the main slots (where the faster RAM is now), move the faster RAM to the secondary slots, and apply XMP. This will set the clock speeds and timing for the slower RAM.
All set with the packing, I completed the memory test using Prime95 without any problems. It seems stable as it is. Appreciate your support and advice.