PC fails to post once XMP is activated or RAM undergoes manual overclocking.
PC fails to post once XMP is activated or RAM undergoes manual overclocking.
On these Intel CPU generations, the standard specification is DDR4-2133. Exceeding this requires overclocking the Integrated Memory Controller inside the processor. As mentioned by @Radium_Angel, results can differ depending on the setup. Intel's IMC is strong enough to manage higher DRAM speeds through overclocking, but increased RAM modules add more load on the IMC. This explains why some users manage DDR4-4000 with two sticks while others can only reach DDR4-3200 with four. It appears your CPU and motherboard may be facing compatibility challenges, especially with certain kits like HyperX. On an i7-6770K, DDR4-3000 might work but isn't always reliable. Have you checked if your BIOS is up to date? Updates often improve compatibility and stability, along with fixing bugs. Have you experimented with frequencies like DDR4-2666 or DDR4-2933?