The PC won't start due to the new memory issue.
The PC won't start due to the new memory issue.
Hello, I recently purchased two memory sticks—2x4GB, 3200MHz Kingston. After first booting my PC, it restarted three times and forced me into BIOS, reducing my RAM speed to 2400MHz. I’m curious why this is happening and whether there’s a way to fix it. My setup includes an Asus Prime B450 Plus motherboard with a Ryzen 5 2600, an Asus ROG STRIX Rx 580 8GB OC, and a 600W BeQuiet! Gold PSU with six fans attached. Thanks in advance!
Did you swap the RAM or increase its quantity? If changed, did you reset the CMOS? The motherboard might still be stuck in old settings from a prior build. When installing new RAM, were the sticks identical to the previous ones? If not, what are the specifications of both systems? How do you configure the clock speed? Did you turn on XMP or adjust memory timings manually? Timing parameters and voltages shift significantly, which is what XMP handles.
Your BIOS is now updated, but your original setup from 2019 is still intact. You should keep the CMOS in place unless you're replacing the whole unit.
You included two more sticks and retained the original one. That’s the problem. You must run the RAM at the slowest clock speed, like 2400MHz, unless you can push that stick to a higher frequency—overclocking it would be a big step up, but adding another 800MHz is a significant jump for budget RAM usually sold through OEM.
Next, I'd reset the CMOS. The board has two jumper connections (check your motherboard guide for exact spots). Turn off the PSU switch and unplug the power cable, then use a flathead screwdriver to connect the pins briefly. After that, reconnect everything and start the system into BIOS—this should reset everything to defaults—and finally turn on XMP settings.