The system experienced a brief lock-up, during which the DRAM LEDs became illuminated.
The system experienced a brief lock-up, during which the DRAM LEDs became illuminated.
If you've been running PBO on the 5950X I have a sneaking suspicion that invalidates your AMD warranty. How they can tell you've enabled PBO I don't know, but it's worth checking the small print.
From what I've been reading online, AMD systems are more fussy about DDR5 than Intel. I never take it for granted that all combinations of Intel or AMD processor, plus mobo and RAM will be 100% compatible, even if they're listed in the QVL.
I had to reduce the 25% overclock on an AMD FM2 processor after a few years when it became unstable. I suspect electro-migration had set in. The same might be true for your 5950X.
When XMP fails, I relax the CL (CAS) value by several steps and sometimes stability returns. By the sounds of it you've already tweaked CL14. If you've only tried CL15, try CL16 or 17.
If your video editing is 1080p, 32GB RAM should be enough. For 4K fit 64GB. For 6K/8K fit 128GB. Most of the video rendering apps I use do not run the CPU at 100%. 60 to 80% is more typical. However, my GPU is pinned to the end stop for hours on end, so GPU stability is vital. Handbrake and WinRAR push the CPU hard.
Two DIMMs will usually be more stable than four DIMMs, especially if you intend to overclock with XMP. The general (cautious) advice seems to be "don't mix pairs of DIMMs, even if they have the same part number". If you do decide to add two more DDR5 DIMMs, forget thoughts of high XMP speeds. A matched kit of 4 is better than two pairs.
Good luck.
Yeah, the system still freezes without PBO even though I've tried. I don't think they can confirm that. This is DDR4, but what you mentioned still seems relevant. I probably should have chosen Intel instead, but it's too late now, unfortunately.
I might have pushed the RAM a bit too far with the CL14 setting—it worked for a year and a half, but maybe that caused it to wear out faster. I tried 18-22-22-42 and it failed. I adjusted the voltage to 1.495 as suggested since it's B-die RAM, but that caused it to lock up after I posted. Now it won't boot at the 1.45 listed for XMP, which suggests the issue is with the voltage and possibly the CPU hardware. It seems to have gotten worse. The problem stayed even after changing RAM or using MB swap, so it likely points to the CPU itself. Probably just a matter of getting AMD to send in a return warranty. If I tell them I never enabled XMP and don't know what it does, they should probably accept it. From what I understand, they can't detect if it was overclocked.
If they remove the CPU and examine the dies using an electron microscope (which is expensive), they'll be able to identify the damage. Don't assume there are ways to detect excessive overclocking beyond the warranty period.
While some claim it's acceptable to apply up to 1.55V to certain memory chips, consider how such high voltages might harm the integrated memory controllers inside the CPU. This could compromise not just the RAM but also the CPU itself through overclocking and overvoltage.
For long-term reliability (five years or more), sticking to original speeds is safer. Think of it like a high-performance dragster: pushing too hard for short bursts sacrifices durability. You won't need to rebuild your PC after every quarter-mile sprint like a nitro engine, but you might end up paying for extended high-performance use.
It's unlikely the change would significantly impact performance if switching to Intel, as the 13900K heats up more than the 7959X. Overusing silicon eventually leads to failure. At least you enjoyed the experience while it lasted.
As an update, AMD processed the RMA for the CPU and it's functioning properly now. Your observation about the voltages on the MC is accurate. I don't think 3600 is a significant overclock and shouldn't require the 1.45V specified for xmp; I'm currently running it at 1.4V without any issues. Do you know if anyone has identified a safe voltage level for the MC? Is 1.4V still acceptable for long-term stability?
There are two different voltages, each serving its own purpose and not compatible with the other. The ram voltage is exclusively used by the RAM, while the MC voltage is reserved for the MC. It's similar to going for a walk—you need specific energy to move your arms and legs, pump them, or run faster. If you increase speed, more voltage may be needed to maintain stability. This applies to devices like smartphones, which require consistent power for functions such as tracking heartbeats, GPS, and speed, while the ram handles tasks like opening doors, sorting, and other operations.