Speed details for 11gen processor memory
Speed details for 11gen processor memory
Hello, I've upgraded my 10600k to 11900k recently. I'm using a z490 motherboard with the latest BIOS. After installing the new CPU, I faced an issue: on first boot, the PC entered a BSOD loop displaying an uncorrectable error message. After restarting, it showed faulty DRAM on the motherboard. Eventually, after several attempts, I accessed the BIOS and everything appeared normal, but I couldn't boot Windows or experienced black screens and frozen states. Recently, someone mentioned that my 2400 MHz RAM isn't compatible with 11th Gen processors. According to Intel's specs, only 3200 MHz is supported. Have others had similar problems? Is it possible my memory is too slow, or is this the real cause? I also saw posts where people with comparable setups used 2933 MHz RAM without issues. Could my memory be significantly slower than expected?
Exactly what ram do you have? 11th gen does officially support 3200 ram, but that applies to JEDEC standard. XMP is still considered overclocking even at that speed or lower, since it is non-standard. If your ram is 2400 JEDEC I don't see a reason for it not to work at that speed. If it is 2400 XMP, turn off XMP. I suggest loading defaults on bios in case some settings are messed up after the CPU swap and see if that helps.
Right now the 11900k isn't mine and there aren't any 11700k or newer CPUs nearby except the 10600k I already have. I prefer not to change from the LGA1200 since the 11900k would likely meet my requirements.
I own these components: https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/HX424C15FB3A_8.pdf. I tried all four in various setups—first channel, second channel, and mixed together—in both single slots and full arrays. Nothing worked. Only two possibilities remain: either the CPU is faulty (though I suspect it’s not), or my RAM is too slow, possibly due to compatibility issues with the Z490 or some exceptions. I was told by a tech person that RAM might be the issue, but I’m still unsure. That’s why I reached out for a second opinion.
I also owned a 10600k on a Z490 board before. After upgrading to a 11700k with the newest BIOS, I faced stability issues—system crashes occurred randomly. I changed RAM and tried different options, but it seems the issue stemmed from Gigabyte not updating the latest bios. The new BIOS for that board included pre-release microcode for the 11th generation, which wasn't available. Eventually, I switched to a more affordable B560 model, which worked well. I sold my old board with the 10600k. I hope this isn’t your case, but I’m unsure what else to recommend now.
As long as the RAM modules can cope, the CPU should be okay. A notable advantage for the 11th generation is its top-tier DDR4 memory controller. If your existing RAM supports the 10600K, switching to the 11900K will be smooth. The main compatibility concerns lie with the motherboard. Varying models may cause VRM overheating because the 11900K consumes a lot of power. There are also reports of stability problems on certain Z490 boards due to mismatched PCIe systems. The transition to Gen 4 has brought these issues, so some boards might struggle. Focus on RAM first, but be aware of other potential challenges.
I needed a different person who attempted an upgrade to 11 generation on the Z490. Perhaps a 11900k paired with affordable RAM doesn't perform well, or it might not work at all for me.