Do the CPUs max. RAM speeds matter?

[lolbro911]

I would like to build a PC with a Ryzen 5 2600 and a RX 580. I saw a benchmark video on YouTube with those exact parts, so naturally I clicked on it. Previously, while choosing parts for the build, I had checked AMD.com and found out that the 2600 had a max. RAM speed of 2933Mhz, and so I chose 8GB of 2400Mhz RAM, but while I watched this guy's video I noticed that he was using  16GB of 3200Mhz RAM. I don't understand how this works, can someone explain?

 

[lolbro911]

Here's the video. 

 

[Adam132]

They probably overclocked the cpu. 

[Fasauceome]

The max speed is a bit more of a suggestion. The CPU is only guaranteed to run up to a certain speed, but users can obviously overclock to above that. Same thing with regular overclocking, only a certain operating frequency is guaranteed (stock) but you have wiggle room to push past that and most users have no trouble reaching reasonable rated speeds on kits, such as 3000 and 3200 which are very helpful for Ryzen, so I recommend going above the 2400 kit you've chosen.

[Fasauceome]

Just now, Adam132 said:

They probably overclocked the cpu. 

You mean ram? (although it's likely both) 

[lolbro911]

2 minutes ago, fasauceome said:

The max speed is a bit more of a suggestion. The CPU is only guaranteed to run up to a certain speed, but users can obviously overclock to above that. Same thing with regular overclocking, only a certain operating frequency is guaranteed (stock) but you have wiggle room to push past that and most users have no trouble reaching reasonable rated speeds on kits, such as 3000 and 3200 which are very helpful for Ryzen, so I recommend going above the 2400 kit you've chosen.

Thanks a lot, that's really helpful!

[Adam132]

Actually I believe that 2933 is the max speed that is guaranteed to work but you could go higher. I found a redit about this. 

 

[Xcoool]

6 minutes ago, fasauceome said:

You mean ram? (although it's likely both) 

Well AMD like high speed ram.Higher frequency makes ram a bit faster.AMD support officially up to 2933.But there are stick certified to work at higher clocks speeds...

However this also depends on motherboard,better motherboard will support higher speeds.You dont have to overclock CPU in order to enable D.O.C.P (ram overclocking)

 

[Fasauceome]

Just now, Xcoool said:

.You dont have to overclock in order to enable D.O.C.P ram overclocking)

Although Linus himself has badmouthed the pre overclock settings like DOCP and XMP, not sure why since they always work for me but he's Mr. Tech Tips so if something isn't working then you know why.

[Xcoool]

Just make sure you will get amd certified ram,cause intel certified speeds not always work properly.

[lolbro911]

10 minutes ago, fasauceome said:

The max speed is a bit more of a suggestion. The CPU is only guaranteed to run up to a certain speed, but users can obviously overclock to above that. Same thing with regular overclocking, only a certain operating frequency is guaranteed (stock) but you have wiggle room to push past that and most users have no trouble reaching reasonable rated speeds on kits, such as 3000 and 3200 which are very helpful for Ryzen, so I recommend going above the 2400 kit you've chosen.

So should I go for 3200 or just 3000? This is my very first build and I really don't want my PC to crash on it's first boot....

[Xcoool]

Just make sure you will get amd certified ram,cause intel certified speeds not always work properly.

[Fasauceome]

Just now, lolbro911 said:

So should I go for 3200 or just 3000? This is my very first build and I really don't want my PC to crash on it's first boot....

I find that 3200 kits aren't generally that much more expensive than 3000 kits, but if you want to save a couple bucks then it makes sense. 

[Xcoool]

3 minutes ago, fasauceome said:

I find that 3200 kits aren't generally that much more expensive than 3000 kits, but if you want to save a couple bucks then it makes sense. 

They are the same,however ryzen like only some ram,with others it wont be stable.I could never get stable my trident z modules @3400 even with manual timings.

5 minutes ago, lolbro911 said:

So should I go for 3200 or just 3000? This is my very first build and I really don't want my PC to crash on it's first boot....

Your pc wont crash,in order to use higher speeds you need to enable DOCP in bios.Otherwise your ram will ran at default 2400 mhz.

[Alex Atkin UK]

27 minutes ago, Xcoool said:

Well AMD like high speed ram.Higher frequency makes ram a bit faster.AMD support officially up to 2933.But there are stick certified to work at higher clocks speeds...

However this also depends on motherboard,better motherboard will support higher speeds.You dont have to overclock CPU in order to enable D.O.C.P (ram overclocking)

 

I had read that too and suggestions that Intel doesn't really benefit from above its rated speed, but I found they actually do.

 

I gained 5fps on Assassin Creed Odyssey going from 2400Mhz RAM to 3200Mhz on an i5 8600k, allowing me to sustain 60fps with hardly any dips on an RTX 2080 with just the clouds toned down and Medium TAA (or whatever they call it in that game).

 

So yeah, I'm totally converted on getting the fastest RAM you can afford on any CPU.

[asand1]

Memory controllers are built into Cpus, so the maximum speed of the controller (CPU) will matter. 

[asand1]

2 hours ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

I had read that too and suggestions that Intel doesn't really benefit from above its rated speed, but I found they actually do.

 

I gained 5fps on Assassin Creed Odyssey going from 2400Mhz RAM to 3200Mhz on an i5 8600k, allowing me to sustain 60fps with hardly any dips on an RTX 2080 with just the clouds toned down and Medium TAA (or whatever they call it in that game).

 

So yeah, I'm totally converted on getting the fastest RAM you can afford on any CPU.

And what is the rated RAM speeds of the CPU and RAM, as well as the speed you have it running at?

[Alex Atkin UK]

5 minutes ago, asand1 said:

And what is the rated RAM speeds of the CPU and RAM, as well as the speed you have it running at?

CPU I believe is rated to 2400Mhz (thus why I bought that speed initially) new RAM is rated 3200Mhz.

I did go from 16GB to 32GB, but I doubt that made much difference except speeding up fast-travel loading speeds to areas that had already loaded into RAM previously.

I didn't make note of the RAM timings but as both sets were Corsair Vengeance LPX I doubt there was an improvement there. (plus its hard to compare different timings against different RAM speeds)

[asand1]

1 minute ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

CPU I believe is rated to 2400Mhz (thus why I bought that speed initially) new RAM is rated 3200Mhz.

I did go from 16GB to 32GB, but I doubt that made much difference except speeding up fast-travel loading speeds to areas that had already loaded into RAM previously.

I didn't make note of the RAM timings but as both Corsair Vengeance LPX I doubt there was an improvement there. (plus its hard to compare different timings against different RAM speeds)

Is the ram actually running at 3200mhz?

[Alex Atkin UK]

1 minute ago, asand1 said:

Is the ram actually running at 3200mhz?

Yes, I checked in CPU-Z to be sure.