RAM Speed for AMD 5000 Series processors

Venturi

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For the AMD 5000 series processors, what is the highest speed RAM that can be used without overclocking? The AMD 5000 processor specs say 3200MHz, does that mean that if 3600MHz memory is used you need to overclock to achieve that speed?

Thank you
 

SpyderTracks

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For the AMD 5000 series processors, what is the highest speed RAM that can be used without overclocking? The AMD 5000 processor specs say 3200MHz, does that mean that if 3600MHz memory is used you need to overclock to achieve that speed?

Thank you
Yes, anything over 3200MHz is done via what's called DOCP on AMD (Direct Overclock Profile)

On Intel it's 2933MHz on 11th gen and under and it's called XMP to overclock (Extreme Memory Profile)

But both XMP and DOCP are standards, almost all systems for the past 15 years would use a memory overclock.
 

Venturi

Member
Yes, anything over 3200MHz is done via what's called DOCP on AMD (Direct Overclock Profile)

On Intel it's 2933MHz on 11th gen and under and it's called XMP to overclock (Extreme Memory Profile)

But both XMP and DOCP are standards, almost all systems for the past 15 years would use a memory overclock.
Would 3600 memory run at 3200 if DOCP was not enabled? I want to buy RAM that provides the most stability, if DOCP is used does that make a desktop PC less stable?

Thank you
 

SpyderTracks

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Would 3600 memory run at 3200 if DOCP was not enabled? I want to buy RAM that provides the most stability, if DOCP is used does that make a desktop PC less stable?

Thank you
No, DOCP is a default standard set by the motherboard on every single motherboard in existence. It's a very normal thing to use, it's preconfigured by the motherboard manufacturer and tested at those clocks. It's not unstable at all.
 

Venturi

Member
No, DOCP is a default standard set by the motherboard on every single motherboard in existence. It's a very normal thing to use, it's preconfigured by the motherboard manufacturer and tested at those clocks. It's not unstable at all.
I'm confused, if the processor is only meant to be run up to 3200MHz, but is run at higher speeds, won't that make it less stable and reduce it's lifespan?
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SpyderTracks

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I'm confused, if the processor is only meant to be run up to 3200MHz, but is run at higher speeds, won't that make it less stable and reduce it's lifespan?
Thanks
It's not the processor as such that's being overclocked, just the memory fabric, 2 very different things. it's nothing to do with a CPU overclock.
 

Venturi

Member
It's not the processor as such that's being overclocked, just the memory fabric, 2 very different things. it's nothing to do with a CPU overclock.
Sorry for all the questions, but for the computer to run at the 3600MHz of the memory, would the CPU need to be overclocked to 3600MHz? I thought a computer runs at the speed of the slowest part.

Thanks
 

sck451

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Sorry for all the questions, but for the computer to run at the 3600MHz of the memory, would the CPU need to be overclocked to 3600MHz? I thought a computer runs at the speed of the slowest part.

Thanks
No, the memory controller is not tied to the CPU's clock speed. They are entirely separate things.

Would 3600 memory run at 3200 if DOCP was not enabled? I want to buy RAM that provides the most stability, if DOCP is used does that make a desktop PC less stable?

Thank you
If DOCP is not enabled (and presuming you haven't manually set the memory timings, frequency and voltage), DDR4 memory runs at 2133MHz.

But you don't need to do that: running at the memory's rated speed is just fine.
 

Venturi

Member
No, the memory controller is not tied to the CPU's clock speed. They are entirely separate things.


If DOCP is not enabled (and presuming you haven't manually set the memory timings, frequency and voltage), DDR4 memory runs at 2133MHz.

But you don't need to do that: running at the memory's rated speed is just fine.
So 3600 RAM will be just as stable as 3200?
On the PCS custom PC configurator, it doesn't have the CL values for the RAM, is there a way I can find that out?

Thanks
 

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
So 3600 RAM will be just as stable as 3200?
On the PCS custom PC configurator, it doesn't have the CL values for the RAM, is there a way I can find that out?

Thanks
If you want good performing RAM, I would definitely opt for 3600MHz, but the stuff PCS stock as @Martinr36 states is not really that much better than the 3200MHz, I would suggest ordering with just the slowest 4GB RAM and then sourcing your own RAM with lower timings from elsewhere.

I would personally recommend Patriot or TeamGroup for this kind of use, they're really really high performing kits:

 
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