AMD EXPO still not fixed - Should I switch to intel?

[ChronoWise]

Hello there!

A few months ago, I built my first AMD PC in over 15 years, choosing the AM5 platform for future upgradability and new features.

Specs:

• ASUS TUF GAMING X670E-PLUS WIFI (BIOS 1636 now, started with 1408 or later)
• AMD Ryzen 5 7600
• AMD RADEON Sapphire RX 6800 XT
• 32GB Corsair CMK32GX5M2D6000Z36 - 6000MHz CL36 (EXPO certified)
• PSU: Corsair RM1000e 1000W

Currently I'm not applying any OC (only EXPO)

 

Since the beginning, I've encountered numerous issues with AMD EXPO. My PC gets stuck in a boot loop, Windows either fails to post or posts with a blue screen. If I manage to boot, everything works fine, but booting is unpredictable.

I found a temporary fix by downclocking my RAM from 6000MHz to 5600MHz and manually setting the timings to those on the box. (Disabling or enabling memory context restore doesn't help.)

I patiently waited for a new BIOS update with AGESA Combo AM5 PI 1.0.0.7b, having heard that it resolves EXPO issues. After installation, I updated the BIOS and activated EXPO. It worked flawlessly the first time I booted the PC, but the next day, boot loops and failed posts returned. I managed to post by loading the default optimized settings.

Why is no one discussing these issues? Is it my hardware's fault? Could I have faulty RAM or CPU? After the third BIOS upgrade and numerous failed posts, I'm considering selling this platform and rebuilding the PC with Intel.

[ZeusXI]

1 minute ago, ChronoWise said:

Hello there!

A few months ago, I built my first AMD PC in over 15 years, choosing the AM5 platform for future upgradability and new features.

Specs:

• ASUS TUF GAMING X670E-PLUS WIFI (BIOS 1636 now, started with 1408 or later)
• AMD Ryzen 5 7600
• AMD RADEON Sapphire RX 6800 XT
• 32GB Corsair CMK32GX5M2D6000Z36 - 6000MHz CL36 (EXPO certified)
• PSU: Corsair RM1000e 1000W

 

 

Not sure if there is XMP, but have you tried NOT using the Expo and just do manual?

[ChronoWise]

1 minute ago, ZeusXI said:

 

Not sure if there is XMP, but have you tried NOT using the Expo and just do manual?

I don't have XMP; I only have access to three different EXPO profiles. I'm fairly certain I attempted manual configuration, but it remained unstable. That's how I discovered that downclocking to 5600MHz works stable. 

[GuiltySpark_]

9 minutes ago, ChronoWise said:

Could I have faulty RAM or CPU? 

Fully anecdotal at this point but following Zen4 for the last 9 months and owning the platform myself (which has been flawless with EXPO), I'm willing to bet that Corsair kit is just crap. Their cheap DDR4 stuff was crap, and the last 9 months have told me that their DDR5 can be crap, at least with Zen4. Meanwhile I never see people with serious issues with G.Skill DDR5 w/ EXPO. My personal kit has been great, as have all the kits I've seen people use or helped people build since October. 

 

Again, completely anecdotal and I understand this. 

 

The amount of times I've come across new Zen4 builders having trouble and its a Corsair kit has grown large enough now that I simply cannot recommend anyone buys their DDR5 for AMD. G.Skill is known to work great, and often is cheaper. It's the memory AMD sent to reviewers at launch for review of their new platform so if its good enough for AMD, its good enough for us. 

 

A Flare X5 EXPO kit, DDR5-6000CL30 is $98 in the US. https://pcpartpicker.com/product/LBstt6/gskill-flare-x5-32-gb-2-x-16-gb-ddr5-6000-cl30-memory-f5-6000j3038f16gx2-fx5

 

Could always try manual tuning, however the simplest guide I have for good settings are for Hynix kits and I'm not sure what that Corsair kit is using. 

[ChronoWise]

17 minutes ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

Fully anecdotal at this point but following Zen4 for the last 9 months and owning the platform myself (which has been flawless with EXPO), I'm willing to bet that Corsair kit is just crap. Their cheap DDR4 stuff was crap, and the last 9 months have told me that their DDR5 can be crap, at least with Zen4. Meanwhile I never see people with serious issues with G.Skill DDR5 w/ EXPO. My personal kit has been great, as have all the kits I've seen people use or helped people build since October. 

 

The amount of times I've come across new Zen4 builders having trouble and its a Corsair kit has grown large enough now that I simply cannot recommend anyone buys their DDR5 for AMD. G.Skill is known to work great, and often is cheaper. It's the memory AMD sent to reviewers at launch for review of their new platform so if its good enough for AMD, its good enough for us. 

 

A Flare X5 EXPO kit, DDR5-6000CL30 is $98 in the US. https://pcpartpicker.com/product/LBstt6/gskill-flare-x5-32-gb-2-x-16-gb-ddr5-6000-cl30-memory-f5-6000j3038f16gx2-fx5

I initially bought 16GB Kingston modules, but someone on the forum told me that 16GB modules can have issues and recommended 32GB Corsair instead. I returned the 16GB module, and that's when my problems began. The first kit worked flawlessly with D.O.C.P, but I only used them for about two days. So maybe the issue lies with the kit itself.

EDIT:
Can I return the RAM to Corsair? Or using EXPO is voiding my warranty, and I don't have a leg to stand on?

Are these reasonable?
G.Skill Flare X5, DDR5, 32 GB, 6000MHz, CL32 (F56000J3238F16GX2FX5)
I'm from Poland, the pricing is little higher, about 130$ for that kit. 

[Dedayog]

17 minutes ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

Fully anecdotal at this point but following Zen4 for the last 9 months and owning the platform myself (which has been flawless with EXPO), I'm willing to bet that Corsair kit is just crap. Their cheap DDR4 stuff was crap, and the last 9 months have told me that their DDR5 can be crap, at least with Zen4. Meanwhile I never see people with serious issues with G.Skill DDR5 w/ EXPO. My personal kit has been great, as have all the kits I've seen people use or helped people build since October. 

 

Again, completely anecdotal and I understand this. 

 

The amount of times I've come across new Zen4 builders having trouble and its a Corsair kit has grown large enough now that I simply cannot recommend anyone buys their DDR5 for AMD. G.Skill is known to work great, and often is cheaper. It's the memory AMD sent to reviewers at launch for review of their new platform so if its good enough for AMD, its good enough for us. 

 

A Flare X5 EXPO kit, DDR5-6000CL30 is $98 in the US. https://pcpartpicker.com/product/LBstt6/gskill-flare-x5-32-gb-2-x-16-gb-ddr5-6000-cl30-memory-f5-6000j3038f16gx2-fx5

 

Could always try manual tuning, however the simplest guide I have for good settings are for Hynix kits and I'm not sure what that Corsair kit is using. 

Another G. Skill bandwagoneer here.  Corsair... no.

[GuiltySpark_]

11 minutes ago, ChronoWise said:

I initially bought 16GB Kingston modules, but someone on the forum told me that 16GB modules can have issues and recommended 32GB Corsair instead.

I think you might have misunderstood, 16GB kits w/ dual 8GB modules are crap and you want to avoid. 32GB kits (2x16GB) are the standard today and great. 

11 minutes ago, ChronoWise said:

EDIT:
Can I return the RAM to Corsair? Or using EXPO is voiding my warranty, and I don't have a leg to stand on?

That would be up to them and their return policy, or who you bought it from. Using EXPO would have nothing to do with that, they have no way to know. 

[GuiltySpark_]

5 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Another G. Skill bandwagoneer here.  Corsair... no.

I have this feeling based on the last 9 months of experience here and on various support channels on Discord, the Hynix die stuff that you most often see from G.Skill has been the least problematic. 

 

Is there for sure something to that? I really can't say but man, it really, really does feel that way. 

[ChronoWise]

1 minute ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

I think you might have misunderstood, 16GB kits w/ dual 8GB modules are crap and you want to avoid. 32GB kits (2x16GB) are the standard today and great. 

That would be up to them and their return policy, or who you bought it from. Using EXPO would have nothing to do with that, they have no way to know. 

Yes, they have no way of knowing, but way am I returning the RAM if everything without using EXPO is working. You know what I mean?

And yes, I meant a kit 2x8

[Dedayog]

1 minute ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

I have this feeling based on the last 9 months of experience here and on various support channels on Discord, the Hynix die stuff that you most often see from G.Skill has been the least problematic. 

 

Is there for sure something to that? I really can't say for sure but man, it really, really does feel that way. 

100% agree.   While obviously I have only used G. Skill for AM5, I have perused these and other forums where people have similar issues to the OP.

 

I think you said it best, explaining what you're seeing, and offering a solution based on direct evidence.  

 

Also, I have G. Skill in Intel and AM3 builds without issue.  They are solidly in my "go to RAM" book now.

[jaslion]

23 minutes ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

I'm willing to bet that Corsair kit is just crap. Their cheap DDR4 stuff was crap,

This is correct. This is a know problematic kit just like the cheap ddr4 one on amd and intel trying to run their 3600 cl16 one stably.

 

It's just a bad kit nothing more.

[GuiltySpark_]

Just now, ChronoWise said:

Yes, they have no way of knowing, but way am I returning the RAM if everything without using EXPO is working. You know what I mean?

No, actually lol. I don't know if you maybe left out a word but were you trying to say you're not returning the RAM is everything but enabling EXPO is working? 

[Dedayog]

2 minutes ago, ChronoWise said:

Yes, they have no way of knowing, but way am I returning the RAM if everything without using EXPO is working. You know what I mean?

And yes, I meant a kit 2x8

Lie.  Make up anything, that you are going with a different color scheme or something.

 

Who cares.  Return it.

[ChronoWise]

2 minutes ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

I have this feeling based on the last 9 months of experience here and on various support channels on Discord, the Hynix die stuff that you most often see from G.Skill has been the least problematic. 

 

Is there for sure something to that? I really can't say for sure but man, it really, really does feel that way. 

I know now more, then I knew 30 minutes ago. I call that a win, even if it's based on your hunch. 
I'll wait a week and try to set the OC manually, if it doesn't help I'll just order G.SKILL and check if it helps. Worst case scenario I return them and wait few months for next BIOS update, hoping that helps. 

[GuiltySpark_]

3 minutes ago, ChronoWise said:

I know now more, then I knew 30 minutes ago. I call that a win, even if it's based on your hunch. 
I'll wait a week and try to set the OC manually, if it doesn't help I'll just order G.SKILL and check if it helps. Worst case scenario I return them and wait few months for next BIOS update, hoping that helps. 

If its not the RAM, then I think you just have an unfortunate situation with something else that's faulty. I wouldn't personally hold that against the platform as a whole, that can happen to anyone and anything, really. Overall the sentiment has been quite good on AM5 now that we're past the initial phase of everyone freaking out over motherboard prices but as usual, shit happens and you can get a bum part. 

[ChronoWise]

1 minute ago, Dedayog said:

Lie.  Make up anything, that you are going with a different color scheme or something.

 

Who cares.  Return it.

In Poland it's not that easy. If I want to return it, it has to be a warranty claim. 

2 minutes ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

No, actually lol. I don't know if you maybe left out a word but were you trying to say you're not returning the RAM is everything but enabling EXPO is working? 

I can't return it if they work fine. They work fine without using EXPO. Using EXPO voids warranty. So I can't write to them and say:
- EXPO is not working I want to return the product. 
or
- RAM is working perfectly, I want to return it

[GuiltySpark_]

1 minute ago, ChronoWise said:

In Poland it's not that easy. If I want to return it, it has to be a warranty claim. 

I can't return it if they work fine. They work fine without using EXPO. Using EXPO voids warranty. So I can't write to them and say:
- EXPO is not working I want to return the product. 
or
- RAM is working perfectly, I want to return it

Ah, ok then yeah just go with what @Dedayog said. Just say it won't boot and the replacement G.Skill kit you bought did. Willing to bet they get enough returns they'd believe it. 

[ChronoWise]

1 minute ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

Ah, ok then yeah just go with what @Dedayog said. Just say it won't boot and the replacement G.Skill kit you bought did. Willing to bet they get enough returns they'd believe it. 

It's worth a try. Worst case scenario I'll just sell the kit and take the loss if G.SKILL ends up working. I've had enough troubleshooting by now. 

[GuiltySpark_]

4 minutes ago, ChronoWise said:

It's worth a try. Worst case scenario I'll just sell the kit and take the loss if G.SKILL ends up working. I've had enough troubleshooting by now. 

If you go the G.Skill route, let us know. I'm genuinely curious and if it works, it'll just add to my idea that you should stay away from Corsair DDR5 w/ AMD. 

[ChronoWise]

I will sure do! I hope that no one else will have these issues.
Now I'm curious to know if that's a Corsair issue. I'm ordering the RAM now . 

Thanks for the help guys, I'm new here and it's awesome seeing friendly and fast responses :). 

[ChronoWise]

Now I've seen someone on reddit claim the same issue with G.SKILL kit I have just ordered . 
I hope the issue is only with CL36 and on CL32 will be fine. I hope it's not a motherboard issue. I've paid extra for an X670 motherboard from ASUS thinking it's a good and reputable brand. 

[GuiltySpark_]

If every single time a random on the internet has a problem with a thing, that doesn't mean that thing is universally bad.  Questions get raised when that same thing is a problem over and over for different people. 

 

You just have to understand that this platform works just fine, as many of us can attest to, you just had bad luck with a poor memory choice on your first go. Hopefully that's all it was. 

[ChronoWise]

1 hour ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

If every single time a random on the internet has a problem with a thing, that doesn't mean that thing is universally bad.  Questions get raised when that same thing is a problem over and over for different people. 

 

You just have to understand that this platform works just fine, as many of us can attest to, you just had bad luck with a poor memory choice on your first go. Hopefully that's all it was. 

I hope that's the case here. I should get the kit in the middle of next week. I will post the update  

[GuiltySpark_]

5 minutes ago, ChronoWise said:

I hope that's the case here. I should get the kit in the middle of next week. I will post the update  

It might just be how many people buy them over other brands but if anything, Asus AM5 boards also have me a little suspect.. we'll see. Asrock has been the real rockstar for AM5 as of late. 

[ChronoWise]

42 minutes ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

It might just be how many people buy them over other brands but if anything, Asus AM5 boards also have me a little suspect.. we'll see. Asrock has been the real rockstar for AM5 as of late. 

I've heard so. Asrock is looking real solid. I was out of the PC building for about 10 years. Last time I build a PC ASUS was super solid.