Yes, you can increase your CPU's speed to better utilize your RAM.
Yes, you can increase your CPU's speed to better utilize your RAM.
I purchased a CPU assuming it matched my RAM speed, but it runs significantly slower. I’m curious if overclocking would help boost its performance by increasing RAM usage. Since higher GHz isn’t necessary, I’m focusing on getting the RAM to function optimally instead of chasing more speed. This approach keeps costs low while still improving performance through other means.
The specific CPU and RAM you selected play a huge role in determining whether overclocking is feasible, yet adjusting the maximum RAM speed is virtually impossible. There are some exceptions for Ryzen 3 models due to unique aspects of the Infinity Fabric, but this mainly affects performance rather than usable RAM speed. The idea you mention is quite different from how these systems actually function, so I suggest ignoring it.
I checked your setup and confirmed you're using an i5 9400f with XPG GAMMIX D10 at 3000 MHz RAM. Your system is running stock at 2666 MHz, which means it's limited by the processor speed rather than memory. You can increase the clock speed to utilize the 3000 MHz RAM, but be aware of stability and thermal limits.
This would likely be rejected from multiple angles. The positive aspect is avoiding the 4000mhz memory. Probably wouldn’t have saved much if you’d gone with 2666. If you truly wanted more, you could adjust the RAM speeds to make it run at 2666, which would be faster but requires significant work with little benefit. This approach is essentially overclocking and as @LIGISTX mentioned, it’s a big hassle.
What kind of motherboard do you have? ... unless it's a Z series, the RAM stays at 2666... tightening the timings could speed things up as @Bombastinator mentioned... if your board supports timing adjustments... but be careful, because it's actually more complicated than it seems.