CPU - MB - RAM compatibility problem

[Aleks K.]

Hey guys,

 

I have a small problem with things I read on the internet and I need to be sure. I recently bought a new CPU - the 5900X. I decided to get a good MB for it so I went for the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (got the Wi-FI edition because the other one was out of stock) BUT the main problem comes with the RAM. I read that the new CPU lineup from AMD performs better with 4000MHz + RAM. Since my MB only has 4 DIMM slots I went for a double-stick GSKILL Ripjaws 4000MHz ( this one: https://www.gskill.com/product/165/184/1562837577/F4-4000C18D-16GVK ) 2x 32GB so I could upgrade in the future if I need to.

So my 2 main problems are as follows: First, After I ordered the RAM I noticed that it says that the RAM is optimized for Intel processors. Should I worry about that? Will it be a waste of money? Will I get lower performance since I'll be using it with the 5900X processor? Second, I read somewhere that after the installation my RAM will run on 3200MHz and in order to get it to run full 4000MHz I need to overclock it. Is that true? Is the RAM not OC-ed by default (like the K-series of the Intel processors for example)? I know I have everything I need to do it but I really don't want to mess with these things.

My only concern is the RAM since it's the only thing I could switch for something else. I already have all the other parts so please don't tell me to get different ones.

Thank you in advance!

[CommanderAlex]

Welcome to the forums!!!

 

 

38 minutes ago, Aleks K. said:

First, After I ordered the RAM I noticed that it says that the RAM is optimized for Intel processors. Should I worry about that? Will it be a waste of money? Will I get lower performance since I'll be using it with the 5900X processor?

RAM is RAM so it should work. You can try and see if there is an DOCP profile in BIOS for 4000MHz once its installed. Otherwise, you can try to manually imput timings and voltages or send the kit back and get a different kit that will work with your system. Check the motherboard manufacturer's website for a QVL (Qualified Vendor List) where they have tested RAM kits that are guaranteed to work on that motherboard.

38 minutes ago, Aleks K. said:

Second, I read somewhere that after the installation my RAM will run on 3200MHz and in order to get it to run full 4000MHz I need to overclock it. Is that true? Is the RAM not OC-ed by default (like the K-series of the Intel processors for example)?

3200MHz is the max the processor will support out of the box and is the max the integrated memory controller can handle. Anything higher is just the luck of the draw if you got a good chip. RAM in general is not overclocked by default. You have to either enable XMP/DOCP or manually input timings and voltages. 

38 minutes ago, Aleks K. said:

My only concern is the RAM since it's the only thing I could switch for something else. I already have all the other parts so please don't tell me to get different ones.

The RAM should be the only issue you may have and have to return for a different kit. 

 

 

Link for  ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) QVL list:  https://rog.asus.com/us/motherboards/rog-crosshair/rog-crosshair-viii-hero-wi-fi-model/helpdesk_qvl/

 

Note: Other 4000MHz modules from G.Skill work on this motherboard. Usually its marketing term with "Optimized for Intel Core Processors" or Ryzen Processors.

[Aleks K.]

Thank you for your reply, it's really helpful !!!

Sadly the RAM I ordered is not in the QVL for this MB. So what shoud I do now? Shoud I cancel the order and look for something else? The bummer is that I had a backup RAM and it's also not in the QVL. What is worse is that in the QVL the highest frequency I can get with 2x32GB sticks is 3600, everything else is either 1x or 2x 8GB which is a total bummer. Exactly how strictly should I follow this list? Will I get worse results if I use RAM that's not in the QVL? Looks like you know what you're talking about, so could you please recommend  me something?

I went with the stated above RAM because I wanted something really fast and 4000MHz + because of what I read about these processors. So, the 4000MHz + the CL18 looked like a good choice. I want 2x32GB because the MB only has 4 slots and I wanted to have the maximum possible while still retaining the ability to upgrade in the future if I need to.

So, all things considered, should I cancel the order and if yes, then what should I get instead?

[CommanderAlex]

On 1/17/2021 at 9:46 AM, Aleks K. said:

Thank you for your reply, it's really helpful !!!

Sadly the RAM I ordered is not in the QVL for this MB. So what shoud I do now? Shoud I cancel the order and look for something else? The bummer is that I had a backup RAM and it's also not in the QVL. What is worse is that in the QVL the highest frequency I can get with 2x32GB sticks is 3600, everything else is either 1x or 2x 8GB which is a total bummer. Exactly how strictly should I follow this list? Will I get worse results if I use RAM that's not in the QVL? Looks like you know what you're talking about, so could you please recommend  me something?

I went with the stated above RAM because I wanted something really fast and 4000MHz + because of what I read about these processors. So, the 4000MHz + the CL18 looked like a good choice. I want 2x32GB because the MB only has 4 slots and I wanted to have the maximum possible while still retaining the ability to upgrade in the future if I need to.

So, all things considered, should I cancel the order and if yes, then what should I get instead?

Sorry for getting back to you this late with a reply. Please be sure to quote me or @ *insertnamehere*.

 

You don't really have to follow the QVL to a tee, its just a guarantee that these components will work. Your RAM kit should work with the motherboard. The BIOS may be able to see the XMP/DOCP profiles on the RAM sticks and can try and configure the RAM timings/frequency based off of said profile. My own motherboard does not list my memory sticks in the QVL list and work perfectly fine with XMP. 

 

The only thing you can do is try and see if the RAM works in your system. If not, just return them. It's really a marketing term with "Intel optimized" or "Ryzen optimized". 

 

 

[Aleks K.]

Well I'm not really sure what exactly is the case. I already got the RAM and I'm now using it. However when I first loaded it, the BIOS detected it as 2666MHz. I then loaded the C.O.C.P profile and after a few tries the system reverted back to the default settings. Since then I only managed to boot the system twice with the D.O.C.P but, as you may guess, it's really unstable. What I did is I loaded the D.O.C.P settings and then lowered the Memory frequency from 4000MHz to 3800MHz and then the FCLK from 2000 to 1900. However, yesterday I was working (3D simulations using CPU) and weirdly enough during simulation my USB keyboard turned off and had to unplug it and then plug it back in to make it work again (maybe this is due to USB port voltage shortage??) and then AFTER closing the program the whole PC hung up on me and I had to restart so I'm guessing that the new settings I tried are also not that stable.

 

So my question is: Is there any good (and simple) guide that could tell me what to do? I don't want anything more than to run my parts as they're stated on the box. I'm not trying to overclock it to anything beyond that. There are quite a lot of settings for the RAM and all kinds of voltages in this BIOS and I don't have the first clue how to use them. And the second question is if anyone knows why the whole keyboard thing happend (is it really a voltage issue) and if so what possible fix is there?

 

Thank you for your replies so far !!!