The AM5 is experiencing crashes when under heavy load. Memory might be the problem.
The AM5 is experiencing crashes when under heavy load. Memory might be the problem.
I recently assembled a new PC, and it appears to look like this. I purchased several components for around $909 total. Everything seemed fine until the memory wouldn’t run at XMP speeds. Most of my parts came from Black Friday deals on TikTok and Newegg, and the only kit that matched my needs was the G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (returned). The RAM was QVL 6000 with low CAS latency, which is good for future heatsync compatibility. After discovering the memory issue, I found a new sale for Expo-compatible RAM. I thought, “Expo RAM should be better suited for my Ryzen chip even if it isn’t on the QVL.” It also matched the price and had lower CAS latency—win win. I returned the Ripjaws and bought the Flare X5 32 GB. Now my system crashes even with stock settings. The BIOS, drivers, OS are all up to date. I’m an idiot for returning the memory without more testing, but it seemed fine at first. With this setup, replacing the motherboard might be necessary. The case has two fans, and temperatures were stable during stress tests—CPU capped at 75°C, GPU at 74°C before crashing. These are low-power parts, but if I need to monitor memory temps, I have HW data. I’m not sure what to do next. Here are my thoughts: I could try swapping the motherboard, but MSI’s F5-6000J3038F16GX2-FX5 is priced at $260 and isn’t on the QVL. The ASUS board is outdated. I’m not sure about the Zen 5 upgrade path since I’m stuck with DDR4 and no clear upgrade route. I prefer stability over risking a hot Intel chip in an entertainment console. I don’t want to abuse retailers for my troubleshooting—my experience with deals was solid, but I’m stuck here. Thanks for reading. This build involved a lot of planning and tinkering, including the fan setup. I’ve attached some photos of the cabinet. Don’t worry about cable management—it hides well. I’ve switched Ethernet to everything, but a custom CAT5 isn’t helping. Adding an HDMI switch would only make things worse. The situation is dire if you need more consoles. I’ve included a note about overheating: I installed three 120mm fans to improve airflow in my entertainment console. Temperatures were within safe limits. If you’re facing similar issues, consider checking your case layout and ensuring proper airflow. Good luck with the fixes!”
One of the OC RAM profiles on your motherboard is showing stable performance with the stock speed and timings (4800/cl40). The voltage settings remain consistent at 1.3 VDD, 1.3 VDDIO, 1.3 DRAM VDD, and 1.3 DRAM VDDQ. During testing, the system crashed during a memory test but recovered after about four minutes. You might consider re-seating the RAM and CPU to see if that resolves the issue.
I completely understand. I aimed to make it very clear, since adjusting voltages without certainty can easily harm parts. Most motherboard UEFI systems alert you about excessive voltages, but the warnings might not be timely enough because they often lack specific details about your CPU, RAM, etc. Great feedback!