Question What RAM do I need to enable XMP ?

[beauknowsdiddly]

Hello,
I tried to enable XMP and it didn't work out so good..... My PC wouldn't boot back up, It got stuck in a repair loop. So I disabled XMP and after one repair it booted back up. So I'm guessing I don't have the right kind of RAM to do this? I read something about how it has to be on the QVL list. I don't see any such list on Gigabytes website. The board's an X470 Aorus Ultra Gaming rev 1.0 with an AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. 3.70 ghz which should boost to 4.3. The RAM that's in there now is, "Corsair Dominator Platinum 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL15 Memory" I've never enabled XMP or attempted to overclock before but I think the first thing I need to do is to get the correct RAM, right? What do I need to get for this board? Preferably RGB if that's possible with this mobo.

Thank you!

 

[Lutfij]

The board's an X470 Aorus Ultra gaming rev 1.0.
You might want to cross reference the BIOS version you're on at this moment of time. You should be able to manually set the ram to DDR4-2933MHz if you can't do DDR4-3200MHz. Thought the latest BIOS version would allow you to use DDR4-3200MHz on the market with a Ryzen 1000/2000 series onwards processor/APU.

Rams in slots A2 and B2?

 

[beauknowsdiddly]

Rams in slots A2 and B2?

It doesn't seem to be listed like that on this board. Maybe I'm just not seeing that, but the manual shows the 4 slots listed as DDR4 4, DDR4 2, DDR4 3 and DDR4 1. I have the RAM in 4 and 2. closest to the processor. Of course that could be wrong but it's been working just fine that way for years.

https://imgur.com/JZ2bhOg

View: https://imgur.com/JZ2bhOg

 

[Gururu]

The manual shows that memory must be placed as follows:

2 modules : Slot 2/Slot 1 or Slot 4/Slot 3

 

[Bob.B]

Hello,
I tried to enable XMP and it didn't work out so good..... My PC wouldn't boot back up, It got stuck in a repair loop. So I disabled XMP and after one repair it booted back up. So I'm guessing I don't have the right kind of RAM to do this? I read something about how it has to be on the QVL list. I don't see any such list on Gigabytes website. The board's an X470 Aorus Ultra Gaming rev 1.0 with an AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. 3.70 ghz which should boost to 4.3. The RAM that's in there now is, "Corsair Dominator Platinum 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL15 Memory" I've never enabled XMP or attempted to overclock before but I think the first thing I need to do is to get the correct RAM, right? What do I need to get for this board? Preferably RGB if that's possible with this mobo.

Thank you!

Is the ram a kit or 2 separate sticks you bought?

Install the proper bios and make sure everything runs ok.
Install the sticks in slots 1+2 and test.
If everything is good enable xmp....test.

 

[Misgar]

jjjj

I have the RAM in 4 and 2. closest to the processor.

That means you've been running the RAM in Single Channel mode (in Channel A) all this time and halving the bandwidth speed. You'd also be running Single Channel with the DIMMs in slots DDR4_3 and DDR4_1 (Channel B).

If you read the extract from your motherboard manual below, if you move the DIMM currently in slot DDR4_4 over to slot DDR4_1, you'll double the memory bandwidth by enabling Dual Channel mode. No point deliberately halving performance by sticking with Single Channel mode.

Dual Channel Memory Configuration
This motherboard provides four memory sockets and supports Dual Channel Technology. After the memory
is installed, the BIOS will automatically detect the specifications and capacity of the memory. Enabling Dual
Channel memory mode will double the original memory bandwidth.
The four memory sockets are divided into two channels and each channel has two memory sockets as following:
Channel A: DDR4_2, DDR4_4
Channel B: DDR4_1, DDR4_3

AMD Ryzen 7 2700X

Corsair Dominator Platinum 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL15 Memory

I have a system with a 2600X (similar to your 2700X) and both CPUs are rated up to DDR4-2933 by AMD. My RAM is DDR4-3000 CL18, but the 2600X failed to boot when I set XMP to 3000MT/s. The "fix" was to dive into the BIOS and relax the CL setting from 18 to 20 manually.

You have faster RAM with CL=15. If you want to run at 3000MT/s, set CL=18 for both DIMMs (under manual timings) and see what happens. Run a short stress test and check for stability. If everything's OK, try CL=17. If not, try CL=19. You might even get away with CL=16.

It's not surprising you can't achieve 3000MT/s with one Integrated Memory Controller channel being loaded by two DIMMs in Single Channel. Switching over to Dual Channel will reduce the loading on the CPU's IMCs and may result in a stable overclock.

 

[Kona45primo]

The 2xxx CPUs are relatively limited on memory speeds. Consider upgrading to a 5700x and you should be able to hit 3600mhz with the right kit.

I struggled to make 3200mhz stable with a g skill flare x cl14 kit until I upgraded to a 3700x which was rock solid stable. Bumped up to 3600mhz when I upgraded again to a 5700x. The 5700x under volts and over clocks to a 5800x spec quite easily.

The performance improvement between ram was only really noticeable in benchmarks, the CPU upgrades were obvious and very apparent. I would focus on CPU rather than memory for bang for the buck performance increases.

 

[beauknowsdiddly]

jjjj


That means you've been running the RAM in Single Channel mode (in Channel A) all this time and halving the bandwidth speed. You'd also be running Single Channel with the DIMMs in slots DDR4_3 and DDR4_1 (Channel B).

If you read the extract from your motherboard manual below, if you move the DIMM currently in slot DDR4_4 over to slot DDR4_1, you'll double the memory bandwidth by enabling Dual Channel mode. No point deliberately halving performance by sticking with Single Channel mode.

Dual Channel Memory Configuration
This motherboard provides four memory sockets and supports Dual Channel Technology. After the memory
is installed, the BIOS will automatically detect the specifications and capacity of the memory. Enabling Dual
Channel memory mode will double the original memory bandwidth.
The four memory sockets are divided into two channels and each channel has two memory sockets as following:
Channel A: DDR4_2, DDR4_4
Channel B: DDR4_1, DDR4_3

Wow, I obviously had no Idea about the placement of the RAM. The problem is I have this giant Noctua cooler that covers the RAM. I'll need to pull that to move it. No big deal. But I work from home with that pc so it's going to have to wait. It's crazy how smoothly it's run for all these years with all the games I've played. I've literally never had any issues until this. Hopefully I can get to it within the next few days. I'll let you all know!

Thank you, thank you!!

 

[beauknowsdiddly]

So I switched the RAM to 1 and 2 and and enabled xmp and that did the trick! Thank you everyone!