Why You Should Overclock Your Memory
In contrast to CPU overclocking, RAM overclocking isn’t known to provide a massive surge in performance. In fact, many professionals recommend not spending money on memory sticks rated more than 3000MHz, as you tend to run into diminishing returns beyond that. But what if you have a slightly older system with RAM sticks rated below 3000MHZ? Or if you want to squeeze out just a tiny bit more FPS in games even on a high-speed RAM rated more than, say, 3200MHz or even 3600MHz? Then you might want to give overclocking a try. Overclocking RAM is a fairly simple exercise if you know what you’re doing. With a little trial and error, you can quickly get your RAM running at its maximum speed without crashing your computer, so that you don’t leave extra performance on the table if you run your memory below its maximum potential. Tip: need to update your AMD graphics drivers? We teach you how to do that.
How to Overclock RAM with Ryzen Master
Ryzen Master is an AMD tool that can help you overclock BOTH your CPU and memory within the Windows environment. If you’re interested in the first option, our guide to CPU overclocking with Ryzen Master can help you extract even more performance from your system. Before we begin, it’s important to note that Ryzen Master supports only Ryzen 2000 and newer desktop processors. Laptop CPUs are not compatible. Also, the memory speed clock speed displayed in Ryzen Master is half the speed (in MHz) displayed on your memory module. For instance, a RAM stick rated for 3000 MHz will show a memory clock of 1500 MHz in Ryzen Master. This is absolutely normal and shows that your memory is running in a dual-channel configuration. At the same time, make sure that you open Task Manager and note your memory speed by opening the “Performance” tab and clicking “Memory” on the left side of the window. Good to know: Learn how to check your Windows PC’s CPU temperature to make sure your computer is functioning properly.
How to Further Test Your Overclock Stability
Ryzen Master has an in-built testing feature to determine the stability of your memory overclock. But if you want real-world testing, you can stress test your system with Cinebench, running several rounds of single-core and multi-core benchmarks with the new RAM settings. This will stress the system more, and you’ll have better confidence in your RAM overclock. You can also test out your new RAM settings while playing games. Sometimes, even tools like Cinebench don’t spot an unstable overclock, whereas real-world scenarios like playing games tend to crash if something is wrong. If you’re able to run your game for several hours (and ideally, multiple times), you can be sure your memory overclock is successful. Does your CPU often overheat? Opting for a good CPU cooler may help you keep things in check. Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Tanveer Singh.
