Unable to adjust RAM speed via BIOS on an AM5 motherboard.
Unable to adjust RAM speed via BIOS on an AM5 motherboard.
Yesterday I got the impressive Ryzen 7 7800X3D and switched my setup from AM4 to a fresh AM5 board. The motherboard I chose is https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/X670E Pro RS (appreciating its quality). For memory, I picked this 32GB DDR5 6400 kit here https://www.newegg.com/g-skill-64gb/p/N82E16820374413. I assembled the system and everything is working smoothly... But I’m having trouble activating XMP for my RAM. Whenever I try, it shows up as a black screen and the PC won’t boot unless I reset the CMOS. The BIOS I have is version 1.18, while the latest release is 1.07. Is there a specific step I need to follow now for this new platform? In all other systems I’ve used it was just turning on the XMP profile and saving before rebooting.
Yes, you simply chose the wrong ram. That is an Intel spec Ram kit, and unfortunately these companies are starting to have distinct sku's for Ryzen and Intel since their XMP/EXPO profiles are limited based on the of the memory chips they are on having limited space. Also do note that Ryzen 7000 series does not tolerate memory above 6000 very well at all, so that is also a mismatch for speed. Overall it sounds like you chose the wrong ramkit.
Choose your motherboards from the approved vendor list on their site for the highest odds of getting RAM that works well. Otherwise, figuring out why kits seem different can be frustrating due to timing and minor variations between EXPO and XMP versions. This already creates some headaches.
6400MT/s exceeds the typical capacity of most Ryzen 7000 series processors, particularly under XMP/EXPO settings. To try adjustments, manually input the XMP profile with voltage and frequency settings, and set the SOC voltage to 1.4V. If your chip supports it, this should enable operation; however, Ryzen 7000X3D models likely have a fixed SOC voltage limit, making this approach unlikely to succeed. If you can't return the unit, consider swapping it for a more affordable 6000 CL32 or 30 kit. Set the BIOS to 6000 CL30-38-38-96 at 1.35V, which should work in theory. Keep in mind the SOC voltage restriction (assuming correct memory) may require lowering the target to 5800MT/s or 5600MT/s depending on your processor's capabilities.
Ensure the kit functions properly without needing to buy it secondhand on eBay if a refund isn't possible. G.Skill confirms their 6000 CL30 kits Trident Z Neo match the 6400 CL32 PCB, RAM ICs, and heat spreader exactly—only the SPD's OC profile differs. The issue with the latter stems from XMP settings, which few Ryzen 7000 series CPUs support. Adjust the RAM configuration of the slower kit manually to achieve compatibility.
You might also attempt to configure the XMP Speed to 6000 and see if it boots. Manual adjustments could help achieve a successful start.
I placed an order for a 32GB RAM kit at 6000 MHz, matching the latency. I thought about selling or refunding the original RAM, but I already have a PC in my living room that I mainly use for streaming and gaming. I opted to upgrade that system to a modern Intel setup because I wouldn’t need to spend more on RAM now that I have this kit. The CPU I chose is an i5-13500, which should be perfect for my needs.