RAM and CPU are being automatically slowed down.
RAM and CPU are being automatically slowed down.
So, here's the thing:
I've been running this setup for a while:
-ASUS Prime X370-A
-AMD Ryzen 5 1600
-G.Skill 8GB DDR4 3000MHz Aegis (single channel)
-Seasonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze
As for the rest (which I don't think is relevant, but will leave here for the sake of safety) I'm running my old 2GB GTX960 GDDR5 and a (very old and worn out) 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM HDD.
The problem is:
I can't seem to get RAM speeds working properly. No matter how much I fiddle with it, I'll always get something along the lines of this:
Spoiler:
CPU-Z screenshots
I've even gone so far as to use completely stock BIOS settings (as in not even enabling DOCP and letting the RAM run at 2133Mhz), but to no avail. I've been told that the first D in DDR stands for Double and that's why it always shows around half the value, but I vividly remember once having the actual value there, which is why I'm asking.
As for the CPU, if I try to fiddle with the clocks or even let the ASUS motherboard do its auto-clocking thing, it'll reset to somewhere around 1550Mhz. Right now it's running fine with the default BIOS settings, the only weird thing is that the BIOS says the CPU speed is 3.2Ghz, while CPU-Z displays 3.4 (with the actual x34 multiplier)
Spoiler:
CPU-Z screenshot
The CPU automatically reduces its speed when idle to save power. This behavior is entirely typical. The "Memory" section displays the DRAM frequency, and since it operates at double data rate (two operations per clock), this figure is doubled to represent your 1496.4 as DDR4-2992.8 (close to DDR4-3000). It seems your system should be configured with the XMP-3002 profile, but given the more relaxed timings of 16-22-22-50 instead of 16-18-18-36, it isn’t set correctly. Did you configure the X.M.P. for your setup in BIOS? EDIT: Your RAM module is installed in the incorrect slot. Transfer it to slot #2 (the second slot from the CPU). Another important point: The first-generation Ryzen chips can be sensitive to their RAM, so you may need to adjust it to achieve its rated performance. How To - Troubleshooting PC memory (RAM) and XMP profile settings Initially, there was...BIOS. Before proceeding further, visit the manufacturer’s product page for your exact motherboard model and revision. Revision matters because a single motherboard version can have multiple iterations, each identified differently... forums.
Regarding the CPU, if it's merely running low on idle time, will that influence the data you receive from CPU-Z? Concerning the RAM, I captured a screenshot after fully resetting all BIOS settings. Following that, I activated the included DOCP profile with its specific timing and executed userbenchmark, which produced these findings:
Spoiler: CPU-Z screenshot
CPU results remained normal.
CPU:
This CPU is clocked at 4.7GHz but the "Core Speed" says it is currently running at 799.61MHz.
It looks like your Ryzen 5 1600, with its base 3.2Ghz and boost 3.6GHz, is currently running at 3.4GHz. I'm not sure if it's fixed at that speed though. It should change when the system is idling low enough unless the multiplier is fixed and the power saving features are disabled (as if you were overclocking).
Now your userbenchmark screenshot is interesting. Mine,
6600K Userbenchmark
, shows my RAM running @ 2400MHz like it is set to. This may just be an oddity of your motherboard/chipset since it appears that the kit is performing close to where it should. That large peak at the lower-end of the speed scale for your kit is people that are probably running the kit at the default setting of DDR4-2133. HWiNFO64's "Summary" has a very similar window to CPU-Z but consolidates it more conveniently.
Says my RAM is Clocked at 1200MHz and since they're DDR that number's double to give me DDR4-2400 (Not shown but is correct). Now, if you pull this up and that "Clock" field under Memory shows "748.2 MHz" (748.2x2=1496.4) then you do have a problem.
By the way, the explanation is different from what you think. With a triple-channel DDR3-1333 setup, running one stick doesn't mean it's 1/3 (444MHz). The speed listed is always 667MHz, no matter how many sticks are used. DDR means Double Data Rate, allowing the RAM to complete two operations per clock cycle. Using multiple channels boosts the overall data rate.
In recent restarts, the automatic OCTuner has provided consistent results with stable speeds. At one point, it reached 3.8Ghz, but manual setup was complicated and caused issues after formatting the hard drive, which I believe wasn't related. The RAM configuration is similar to yours, though it's a single channel, which is expected for a single stick.
Spoiler: HWiNFO64
Spoiler: CPU-Z
This suggests you might need an additional stick for optimal performance, and you're considering purchasing another unit to reach 16GB in the future.
It seems like an unstable overclock is occurring.
That's exactly what it should demonstrate.
In reality, the system operates at maximum capacity. The issue lies in the lack of multi-channel bandwidth, which you probably won't notice except in theoretical tests. In practice, even with a single stick, noticeable differences are rare—only in extreme scenarios like high data transfers that might cause brief stutters or drops. Your 16GB DDR4-3000 drive would need to move more than 285MB in under 17ms before you start experiencing frame rate drops.
For more details, check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nSX2taw-Y4
Well, thanks for the help, then. Seems like it's all running stable, then. The last problem was the RAM after I managed to stop the CPU multiplier from resetting to x15 all the time, but it seems it's running fine as well.
And above all else, thanks for the patience. You've been a godsend these past few minutes!