Problems with 16GB of mixed RAM modules
Problems with 16GB of mixed RAM modules
The new RAM package arrived today. I decided to go with this model, and of course it landed during the $10 discount period I had been expecting. Well, that’s about it. Perhaps I should reach out to Newegg right away to check if they’ll reimburse me for the sale price. When the system started up, it prompted me to either set it to default or configure it manually. I opted for manual setup. I could have stayed at default, but I selected XMP and picked the DDR4 2133 variant. Now I’m questioning whether I installed it correctly or if I should have adjusted the timings—especially since the listed speeds appear to match a newer PC running DDR4 3200. It looks like the timings are still accurate at 16-18-18-38, but at 2133 MHz they seem too high compared to what’s expected for a DDR4 3200 setup. Shouldn’t they be lower, perhaps around CL13, 14, or 15? I’ve attached some screenshots: the Task Manager shows the default behavior, CPU-Z displays the RAM clocked at 2133 with the advertised 3200 timings, and RAM management panels reveal conflicting information about speed and profiles. The SPD tab confirms XMP 3200 is active, but the JEDEC timings are listed as 12, 13, and 14. Additionally, it’s showing a maximum bandwidth of DDR4 2666, which doesn’t align with what my motherboard displays on PCPP (DDR4 2133). I’m also puzzled about why all these settings appear and which RAM sticks are actually recognized. It seems my system is reporting the correct speed but not matching the expected profile.
I recently spoke with Newegg about the sale, and they credited me for the discount. I was hoping they’d process a full refund since I just purchased it. This experience makes me realize that some retailers might offer post-purchase adjustments for customers who buy during promotions. It would be wise to review price history and inquire if they’ll match a similar deal now. They likely do, as they benefit financially from sales.
The maximum bandwidth shown as 2666 might seem high compared to the 2133 speed mentioned in the first memory tab. There were likely other speeds listed, though Intel officially supports only 2133 for this setup. Some partners offered higher rates on their boards, possibly due to enabling XMP and relaxed latency at 2133. Checking the BIOS memory latency settings could help adjust things. I’m not very experienced with MSI BIOS configurations from this generation.
I revisited the BIOS and disabled XMP settings. Restarted the computer. Here’s how my RAM is now configured after turning off XMP... It looks like I was correct about achieving optimal performance. These timings seem ideal for DDR4 2133 RAM as they come out by default without XMP, which aligns with what I see when purchasing kits. The most affordable option right now is $57 for a 2x8GB DDR4 2133 kit with CL 15 and CL 13 speeds. Upgrading to $9 more gets you CL 13. Similarly, the $60 kit offers CL 15 and CL 16, while the $83 version gives CL 16. I believe the slight price variation reflects older technology, not a significant jump. There’s likely a motivation for a modest price increase since better timings justify it. Regarding the sweet spot, I’m leaning toward CL 15 for latency. People also aim for CL 13, just like with DDR4 3600 CL 16. However, achieving CL 13 manually seems challenging. My current 3200 kit’s settings have been reset in BIOS—probably due to a faulty RAM stick. The fan curve and clock speeds I see are likely altered. I can’t change the CPU speed directly; I tried disabling Turbo Boost but it didn’t help with manual clocking. Now I’m stuck with Auto mode, and even entering 3200(3.2 GHz) just reverts to Auto.
I discovered the reason behind my manual CPU clocking issue. I was entering 3200 for a 3.2 GHz processor, but the video showed typing 32. That number stuck in my mind after watching it. It seems the person mentioned in the video warned about instability risks. At the 43:45 point, they advised against using dynamic settings. I prefer keeping it fixed to avoid running the CPU at 3.2 GHz when idle or during non-gaming times. My power plans already set minimum and maximum processor states for stability. I’m unsure if a fixed speed would be better, but I worry about long-term CPU health.
It's accurate that you're adding a new setting to the CPU that isn't part of its original design. For a small adjustment in clock speed, the chances of impact are minimal. Your typical CPU runs at around 3.4 GHz boost, and it's unlikely the all-core boost would drop below 3.2 under regular conditions.
I really don't want to mention this, but stick with one 8g stick until you can get a matching set.
It only reaches 3.4 GHz with 1 or 2 cores, but 3.3 GHz when using just 3 cores. I set it to 3.2 GHz manually as that's its highest all-core speed. There are no problems and it runs very smoothly at that frequency. I’m satisfied with this setting and will stick with it. Over the years, the support you and others provided here have helped me maintain strong performance and stability for a long time. This machine has been reliable since 2016. The new 2x16GB package is now available. It’s running stably at DDR4 2133 with 15-15-15-35 timings. I haven’t adjusted the settings further since it supports DDR4 3200 CL 16 RAM and XMP profiles for that speed. I purchased this upgrade because I’m preparing a new build and have been struggling with slow HDD transfers of Windows 10 and 7 TB games. The backup and cloning process has always been a hassle, so I’ve been delaying changes. Recently, I discovered the CPU includes built-in graphics, which opened an alternative path—I’m considering keeping it as-is but removing the GPU to transfer games individually onto a flash drive until I can install them on a new PC I’m constructing. The built-in graphics will let me proceed without the GPU.