No one mentioned problems with that G.Skill RAM model.
No one mentioned problems with that G.Skill RAM model.
CURRENT PC PART LIST: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KWsCRk
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 1700X 3.4 GHz 8-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid Lite 240 66.7 CFM Liquid Cooler
Motherboard: ASRock B450M Steel Legend Micro ATX AM4
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z RGB 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL15
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z RGB 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL15
Storage: PNY CS900 120 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (used as scratch disc for adobe)
Western Digital Black NVMe 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME
Solid State Drive: Crucial M500 960 GB 2.5"
Blue Screen: Western Digital Caviar Green 2 TB 3.5" 5400RPM
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB
Issue: Stuttering and video playback problems in Chrome for about six months. Windows sometimes freezes or hangs. Restart usually helps temporarily. RAM was moved from an Intel system to this setup, which mostly worked. Over time, I experienced Windows Explorer freezes and Chrome not responding, culminating in blue screens after playing Hitman 2. The blue screen appeared during login or with the same errors. I tried lowering RAM to 2800MHz to fix it, but it still blue-screened after a Windows update. A BIOS update was available, but they warn against updating BIOS for first-gen Ryzen CPUs. I upgraded to version 2.90, which also advises against BIOS updates for those processors. The BIOS now has better timings, yet the issue persisted at 2800MHz and worsened after a login screen blue screen. I checked for QVL lists but found no support for my RAM or similar models. Some other boards had compatible modules, but compatibility with Ryzen and F4-3000C15D-16GTZR was lacking.
Question 1: Have I experienced RAM problems before? Mostly stability until now, with Hitman 2 being the main culprit. G.Skill is usually reliable, but AsRock’s QVL for first-gen CPUs seems limited.
Question 2/Final Plan: I plan to build a new PC in the next 6 months using Ryzen 3000 or 4000 series with an x570 board. I can’t afford the time or money now, but upgrading RAM later could help. Switching to 3600MHz RAM would improve speed, though it might not fit my current setup.
Would you say your hardware and board compatibility are likely the main issues? Or is the RAM itself the problem?
Question 3: Should I consider buying a 32GB compatible RAM upgrade now, or wait until I can afford a better board?
Is it possible that the combination of my CPU and RAM is problematic, especially since I’m planning to upgrade later?
Are there others who have faced similar issues with this RAM model?
Is there hope that a 16GB to 32GB upgrade could resolve the current instability?
Could replacing the RAM now be worth it if it leads to better long-term performance and stability?
I think I’ve found the answer. Initially I didn’t realize it, but AsRock clearly mentions Summit Ridge (first-gen Ryzen) isn’t supported above 2666 MHz. Now I understand most users can run faster and many have first-gen boards without stability issues. Previously I only worked with Asus boards, which don’t list a specific maximum MHz rating. It seems Asus products are more robust. Unfortunately for AsRock, I’ve enjoyed some of their items but while I managed 3000 MHz briefly and stayed stable around 2800 MHz, this feels like inadequate support from the company. I’ve since lowered it to the officially supported 2666 MHz. I hope running at that speed still delivers optimal performance. I’ll try Hitman 2 soon to check overall stability. So far Prime95 passes without any rounding errors.