Question Ryzen 5600x - won't boot if RAM speed is set above 3000 Mhz

[brian.rude]

I recently learned that Ryzen builds will sometimes (always?) set RAM down to a lower default speed, so I went into BIOS and checked: sure enough, it was not even close to my RAM's 3200 MHz. (I forget the exact numbers, but it was in the lower-to-mid 2000s.)

I adjusted it up to 3200 MHz and my PC wouldn't boot into Windows and just kept resetting. After trying out different settings, I finally found that I could run it at 3000 MHz maximum. It's been running without issues for a few weeks now, and the performance is definitely improved from the default settings, but I'd ideally like to have my RAM at 3200 MHz.

My build can be found here

 

[sizzling]

Defaulting to the base speed is normal for both AMD and Intel. Did you enable XMP/DOCP or just try to change the speed?

 

[brian.rude]

Defaulting to the base speed is normal for both AMD and Intel.

That's good to know for the future - I'm sure my RAM has never been running at full speed with my previous PCs.

Did you enable XMP/DOCP or just try to change the speed?

Yes: here's what it looks like in BIOS.

 

[sizzling]

That's good to know for the future - I'm sure my RAM has never been running at full speed with my previous PCs.



Yes: here's what it looks like in BIOS.

That looks correct. I couldn’t see, is the RAM installed in slots A2 & B2?

 

[brian.rude]

That looks correct. I couldn’t see, is the RAM installed in slots A2 & B2?

That's right, the second and fourth slots. I actually double-checked before making my original post, because I didn't want it to turn out to be something as simple as that, haha.

If everything else looks correct as well, do you think it could be a bad piece of hardware (MB, RAM, etc.) or something else?

 

[brian.rude]

Update: Wondering if it was the RAM's fault, I just bought some new RAM. Still 2x16 DDR4, but they're 3600mhz instead of 3200mhz (both are CL16).

The results are strange. Before, the PC would not boot if I tried to have the 3200mhz run faster than 3000mhz. Now, the PC won't boot if I have the 3600mhz run faster than 3200mhz.

So whatever is causing the issue - MB, CPU, I don't know - CAN run at 3200mhz, it just won't let any RAM run at full speed.

Does this help anyone narrow down the cause? Do I need a new MB? This is baffling.