RAM issues with larger modules

[keks123]

Hey, I added my full specs at the end of the post.
 

So i've been using corsair vengeance DDR4 2x8gb 3000mhz. Both sticks work perfectly in every slot, no errors in memtest.

I recently bought vengeance DDR4 2x16gb 3200mhz to add to the other ram, only now my pc crashes sometimes with different bsod errors all relating to memory issues. This happens with the ram in different slots, xmp on and off, more voltage, looser timings etc.

When only using the 2x16gb kit the same thing happens, only the system is even less stable. Several thousand errors after minutes of memtest86.

Until then I thought the RAM is probably just defective, but when using it in another System it works perfectly, even with xmp and standard settings no errors come up. When I try a different, working vengeance 2x16gb kit, it also doesnt work in my PC. 
When using only one of the 16gb sticks at a time one produces way more errors in memtest than the other, which I found interesting.
 

Though I'm not very familiar with memory, the only possible explanation I can think of is maybe a bad memory controller? Seems pretty unlikely though, idk. My mainboard is pretty budget, should support 16gb modules though. This specific RAM isnt listed in the QVL, I've seen many reports of it working though. Thank you so much for you help!
 

SPECS
ASRock B450 Steel Legend (newest UEFI version)
Ryzen 7 5700x
corsair vengenace DDR4 2x8gb 3000mhz
(corsair vengeance DDR4 2x16gb 3200mhz)
Radeon RX 7800XT

[Millios]

Well for one it's a bad idea to mismatch different memory modules, which you did cause you have a 2x8 kit and a 2x16 kit and both of them being different speeds so theres an issue.

 

You also tried it with an AMD CPU (typically less capable of handling 4 sticks)

[keks123]

12 minutes ago, Millios said:

Well for one it's a bad idea to mismatch different memory modules, which you did cause you have a 2x8 kit and a 2x16 kit and both of them being different speeds so theres an issue.

 

You also tried it with an AMD CPU (typically less capable of handling 4 sticks)

Thanks, but as I said I tried both only the 2 16gig modules and a single 16 gig module.

 

36 minutes ago, keks123 said:

When only using the 2x16gb kit the same thing happens, only the system is even less stable. Several thousand errors after minutes of memtest86.

 

36 minutes ago, keks123 said:

When using only one of the 16gb sticks at a time one produces way more errors in memtest than the other, which I found interesting.

 

[Millios]

21 minutes ago, keks123 said:

Thanks, but as I said I tried both only the 2 16gig modules and a single 16 gig module.

You're welcome but that's kinda irrelevant cause as you said you did this

57 minutes ago, keks123 said:

I recently bought vengeance DDR4 2x16gb 3200mhz to add to the other ram,

Try to reset the BIOS and update to recent best 

Then try only 1 kit and see if it fixes the issue cause it isn't impossible your mismatched kits caused it

[keks123]

12 minutes ago, Millios said:

Try to reset the BIOS and update to recent best 

Then try only 1 kit and see if it fixes the issue cause it isnt impossible your mismatched kits caused it

Hey, I tried using the 2x16gig kit only again (as I already did before) but with resetting the BIOS as you suggested, still throws errors unfortunately.

[OddOod]

11 minutes ago, keks123 said:

Hey, I tried using the 2x16gig kit only again (as I already did before) but with resetting the BIOS as you suggested, still throws errors unfortunately.

Welcome to the forums!
Potentially DOA ram. Return and replace. And if you want more capacity, consider 2x32GB @ 3600 CL16, the DDR4 sweet spot

[keks123]

Hey @OddOod, ty!

 

15 minutes ago, OddOod said:

Potentially DOA ram

I thought so too at first, but I tested it in 2 other different systems and it worked perfectly both times. I'm pretty sure it has to be something with my machine because of that. Thanks for you answer!

[OddOod]

19 minutes ago, keks123 said:

Hey @OddOod, ty!

 

I thought so too at first, but I tested it in 2 other different systems and it worked perfectly both times. I'm pretty sure it has to be something with my machine because of that. Thanks for you answer!

Ah, sorry, I skimmed and missed that
Could just be that board is being a bit buggy. Def check for BIOS update and make sure you reset it to defaults. 
Oh, and when you're testing the RAM, you are paying attention to which slots your mobo wants them in, right? 

[keks123]

12 minutes ago, OddOod said:

Def check for BIOS update and make sure you reset it to defaults.

Did that already, updated to the newest available uefi version and reset the cmos by removing the battery.
 

 

14 minutes ago, OddOod said:

Oh, and when you're testing the RAM, you are paying attention to which slots your mobo wants them in, right?

I just guessed A2 haha, but I tried other slots aswell during testing just because.

[OddOod]

Interesting. Well, sounds like you lost the silicon lottery. I'd return for refund and get 2x32GB 3600 CL 16
If those don't work I'd blame the mobo before the CPU

[HippoPCBuilder]

1 hour ago, keks123 said:

Did that already, updated to the newest available uefi version and reset the cmos by removing the battery.
 

 

I just guessed A2 haha, but I tried other slots aswell during testing just because.

From someone who has spent far too much time troubleshooting RAM issues - probably just a RAM kit that doesn't want to run at XMP speeds. Have you tested with XMP off?

 

Like other posters have said, a return / RMA is probably your best bet here.

[keks123]

On 8/20/2025 at 8:04 PM, HippoPCBuilder said:

Have you tested with XMP off?

Yea, basically did every possible combination lol. When I first put in the 2x16gb kit sticks the PC crashes a few times. I assume each time it keeps lowering the frequency, because when i end up in memtest its running at like 2300mhz.
I still think it is very unlikely that the actual RAM is faulty, because as I said it's running perfectly fine in two other seperate PCs. Another kit of the same RAM is running fine in other PCs, but not in mine.
Maybe I'll just look for some other RAM and hope my mainboard can manage it. Ty though!

[OddOod]

7 hours ago, keks123 said:

I still think it is very unlikely that the actual RAM is faulty

Yeah, but it could be marginal and the traces on your specific mobo could also be marginal and between the two it just doesn't work. 
You could replace the mobo, but that's a pain

[HippoPCBuilder]

12 hours ago, keks123 said:

Yea, basically did every possible combination lol. When I first put in the 2x16gb kit sticks the PC crashes a few times. I assume each time it keeps lowering the frequency, because when i end up in memtest its running at like 2300mhz.
I still think it is very unlikely that the actual RAM is faulty, because as I said it's running perfectly fine in two other seperate PCs. Another kit of the same RAM is running fine in other PCs, but not in mine.
Maybe I'll just look for some other RAM and hope my mainboard can manage it. Ty though!

You say that you've tried in other PCs.... would it be possible to switch the CPUs of those systems and test the RAM in both? See if its a memory controller or a motherboard issue? Or are they different platforms?

 

Because if you have a different CPU but the same (current) board and it fails, then it might be motherboard.

But if you have the same (current) CPU and a different board and it fails, then it might be memory controller.

 

And if both fail, then its probably RAM.

[Smalahovet]

Try mixing your RAM modules. Aka in 1x16gb and 1x8gb RAM together. So you have 24gb in each dual channel.

That way your PC will use dual channel on both mismatched RAM kits. Instead of running in flex.