Can't Post When Running RAM at Advertised Speed

goose25 on 06/12/2022 - 01:09
Last edited 06/12/2022 - 10:59 by 1 other user

Howdy, internet people.

I'm somewhat scratching my head over this one, so hopefully someone who knows a little more about this stuff has a suggestion for me on how to fix it.

These are the (main) parts of the PC with the issue:

-MSI B550M- PRO
-AMD Ryzen 5 5500
-16GB PNY DDR4 3200mhz RAM. Cl16
-AMD 5700xt
-650W MSI modular PSU
-PNY NVME SSD

*Latest bios
*Clean Windows install

Only boots when RAM is set to default 2133mhz. Even when I select A-xmp it displays 2 profiles of just 2133. Trying to boot with either enabled causes black-screen.

When 3200mhz is manually selected in bios, will also display black screen. Force rebooting just causes pc to sit on black screen too (doesn't post). Only way to revive it is by jumping CMOS battery. Some posts suggested changing "f-clk" to 1600? That didn't change anything.

Am I missing something here?
Any help is welcome. Can provide more detailed information about any parts as required.

• 

  dcep on 06/12/2022 - 02:10

  +3

  2x8gb sticks ? try different slots at 3200mhz

  or try 1 stick at 3200mhz on every slots

  when you manually set 3200mhz , check timing 16-18-18-38 , or try loosen it higher

  could be faulty ram

• 

  GordonD on 06/12/2022 - 08:53

  +2

  try 1 stick at 3200mhz on every slots

  Good suggestion. Be systematic.

  It could be one RAM is faulty. Its unlikely both are. So try the RAM sticks individually, it will tell you something. Ditto RAM slots. One slot may be defective. Its unlikely all are.

  If you have the problem with only one RAM stick you know its the problem. If you have the problem with only one slot you know its the problem. If you have the problem with both RAM sticks or all slots you've got some sort of fundamental compatibility issue, and you probably need to swap either the RAM of the motherboard for an alternative product.

• 

  blitz on 06/12/2022 - 09:10

  "f-clk" to 1600

  Is this like a frontside clock? In which case it needs to be set at a multiple of the RAM speed, so 3200MHz would work for a f-clk of 1600 (i.e. multiplier of 2).

  Edit: nope, it's not like that. Here's an interesting discussion about f-clk and it seems it just needs to be set to match the memory, but various CPU die yields won't necessarily accommodate the higher f-clk requirements of faster memory.

  Also, Ryzen 5+ have RAM speed limits, and you might be exceeding them. I'd try that advice: try increasing f-clk in BIOS and see if you get adequate POST.

• 

  goose25 on 06/12/2022 - 15:02

  I appreciate everyone's suggestions and time. Thank you all!

  For reference, the board only has 2 ram slots, so I've been trying each configuration in both slots.

  So far I've tried single sticks with no success. I do notice however when I select the A-XMP profile 1 or 2 in easy-mode, it's showing the correct timings (16,18,18,38 3200mhz), but applying it and pressing f10 to save an exit results in black screen.

  Will try a different set of ram this evening and report back.

• 

  Sleeqb7 on 06/12/2022 - 17:09

  +1

  Sounds to me like power is wrong.

  Confirm the RAM module is either 1.35v or 1.5v and change the BIOS setting accordingly.

• 

  goose25 on 06/12/2022 - 20:04

  So, bit of an update:

  Swapped out the PNY ram for Team Group ram, boots immediately at 3200mhz on XMP profile 1. Also, it showed as 2400mhz immediately, as opposed to 2133.

  Does that suggest the PNY ram is faulty and I should return it? Or it's just more temperamental and I should persevere with trying to get it working?

• 

  Guybrush57 on 08/12/2022 - 14:21

  +1

  I find RAM to be the only computer component to give me grief when building PCs.