Unable to activate XMP in MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX with all four slots filled.
Unable to activate XMP in MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX with all four slots filled.
I possess a setup featuring a Ryzen 3 3200G, an MSI B450 Gaming Plus Max, and four 8GB G.Skill Aegis DDR4-3200 RAM sticks (two packages of two sticks each, serial F4-3200C16D-16GIS). After initial configuration, I accessed the BIOS and noticed the RAM clock was set to 1866MHz instead of the intended 3200MHz. I activated the XMP profile, saved the settings, but nothing occurred. The system restarted black and after about twenty seconds, it rebooted again, resetting the RAM to 1866MHz and showing the BIOS setup menu. The BIOS includes a "Memory Try It" feature that attempts different frequencies; it can push the RAM up to 2800MHz. I removed two modules (A1 and B1) and then successfully applied XMP at 3200MHz. Testing the remaining two modules on A2 and B2 yielded identical results—XMP functioned perfectly. Once all four slots were populated, the board rebooted a few times before settling back to 1866MHz. I also updated the BIOS to the latest version; the same behavior persisted—slots A2 and B2 always accepted any configuration without issues. It remains unclear whether the issue lies with the CPU, module compatibility, or the motherboard itself. Searching online for similar problems didn’t yield any useful information.
It’s likely a mix of factors affecting performance. The 3200G features a poor memory controller, making it difficult to run dual rank at 3200MT/s on that chip. Purchasing two 2x8GB kits doesn’t guarantee compatibility, as manufacturers often use different memory ICs across kits. You can verify this by removing all memory modules and checking for consistency in the last four digits of their serial numbers—similar to 04213X8821C. If they match, they’re likely the same; mismatched ones suggest variability. Additionally, hardware issues in the first and third RAM slots could be contributing to the problem, though that’s less common.
You might need to slightly increase the SOC voltage to 1.0 or 1.05 volts. Ensure RAM voltage is properly adjusted when XMP is enabled; I've experienced this issue more than once. Using four sticks on Zen or Zen+ usually reduces peak memory speeds, while later models like Zen2 and Zen3 perform better with four sticks.
I have a Ryzen 5 5600G installed on my main system, likely planning to test it on another motherboard later to check performance improvements. The first pair has the serial 04266H88211 and the second 04266M8410C. Using just two sticks in the first and third slots triggers a warning on the board about recommending the second and fourth as better options, but it still works. These sticks operate at 2133MHz, which matches the base frequency of these Aegis modules. Turning XMP on causes the board to repeatedly reboot until it settles back to 2133MHz. Could this pattern indicate a hardware issue?
Sure thing. The 5600G features one of the most robust DDR4 memory controllers available, making it unlikely that this issue stems from hardware limitations. The Hynix 1JR chip is quite rare and not well documented, but the second unit is specifically designed for Samsung C dies, which are known for poor compatibility. It’s possible the controller is reaching its boundaries, though I’m not sure if the motherboard itself is the problem. The reboot behavior at higher frequencies in those slots isn’t surprising either.
I'll attempt to switch the CPU and observe the results (tomorrow, as it's late here and I'm currently using my PC). Thanks for your patience!
It looks like your setup doesn’t match up well. I don’t know what else to recommend without more details.
I'm pleased to let you know that my Ryzen 5 5600G successfully supports the full 32GB of RAM. Updated the CPU, accessed the BIOS, activated XMP settings, restarted, and everything now functions perfectly at 3200MHz. I also ran several games and they performed well. Thank you for your time!