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i5 12500 - Is this memory compatible?

AyeAyeAhoy!

AyeAyeAhoy!

AyeAyeAhoy!

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20 Apr 2009
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1,396
Hi there,

I've just gone to upgrade the RAM in my machine, which is an i5 12500 running in a Z790 Aorus Elite AX.

Currently running some old Hynix, 2 x 8gb DDR5 @ 4800.

Have picked up some Crucial, 2 x 16gb @ 6400.

So far so good. However, having just received it, on the packaging it says "Requirements: Intel 13th to 14th Gen".

I'm on 12th Gen...

So, before I crack open the blister packaging, will this stuff actually work? I don't mind it running slower than 6400 as I'll upgrade the CPU eventually, but I'd rather not open it up, just to find it totally incompatible.

Thanks

https://i.~ibb.co~/YFFcTbW2/PXL-20250405-144749290.jpg
 
It should work (in the sense of, it'll function), but 12th gen CPUs may not run merrily at the rated speed of 6400.

Here's what TPU says in a review:
Being that this is marketed exclusively for Intel, still, it is not quite plug and play on all systems. Mainly, the Intel 12th Generation (K) Processor is at fault here. Looking back, by being the first CPU to support DDR5, it was great for what it accomplished. However, depending on the silicon quality, 12th Gen CPUs also max out around 6800-7400 MT/s for daily use for single-rank memory and 6000-6400 MT/s for dual-rank (this kit). Simply put, the G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6400 64 GB kit being reviewed here is best paired with an Intel 13th or 14th Generation (K) Processor. For those who are still unsure what motherboards are supported, G.SKILL does have its own QVL list, which leans on the cautious side without any 12th Gen CPUs or Z690 motherboards on the list either.
Click to expand...
www.techpowerup.com

G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6400 64 GB CL32 Review

G.SKILL aims to keep the competition at bay with another 64 GB kit. By combining high-capacity for content creators and enthusiast-tier timings for gamers, we get this DDR5-6400 memory kit! Follow along as we put this memory through its paces and see where it lands on the charts.
www.techpowerup.com www.techpowerup.com

Since the i3/i5 CPUs are lower binned than the K CPUs, you could also assume there's a decent chance their IMC is less capable than the K CPUs.
 
Ok great, thank you for the reply.

"It'll function" is pretty much what I'm after here - as good as the CPU can manage sounds good. And that CPU will be upgraded before long, so would like the RAM to remain.
 
AyeAyeAhoy! said:
Ok great, thank you for the reply.

"It'll function" is pretty much what I'm after here - as good as the CPU can manage sounds good. And that CPU will be upgraded before long, so would like the RAM to remain.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it should be fine in terms of "it'll boot and run".

My guess is that there's two reasons they state 13th-14th and not 12th gen:
- 1. The memory chips they use are best with later boards because they have better compatibilty/optimisations.
- 2. 13th-14th gen have generally stronger IMCs than 12th gen, which will lead to less complaints that enabling XMP doesn't work.
 
Ok, well I've opened it up and popped them in - everything worked great!

The mobo automatically set them to 5600. I upped it to 5800, then 6000 - all happy and stable. I haven't tried going any higher than that, as I'm slightly worried that if it doesn't work, I'll end up unable to get to BIOS to turn it down again!

Thank you for the help, it's much appreciated
 
A little update - playing The Last Of Us this week, I had a few hard reboots.

Haven't gone as far as digging up any logs to determine the cause, but I did notch the RAM down a little to 6200.

No more crashes now, all seems happy :)
 
AyeAyeAhoy! said:
A little update - playing The Last Of Us this week, I had a few hard reboots.

Haven't gone as far as digging up any logs to determine the cause, but I did notch the RAM down a little to 6200.

No more crashes now, all seems happy :)
Click to expand...
How are you changing the RAM frequency? Do you have XMP enabled, or are you just changing it manually?

Have you run any stability testing programs like TestMem5?

Game stable is fine if there's nothing on your PC you are bothered about (e.g. just games), but I'd suggest some testing otherwise.
 
To change it, I'm just setting the speed in the BIOS. I haven't enabled XMP, as I couldn't see the correct timings for the RAM on the XMP menu, which seemed odd. Should I somehow use XMP instead?

The only test I've run is Windows' inbuilt memory test, such you can run at boot. That all came back fine.

MemTest5 sounds like a good idea
 
AyeAyeAhoy! said:
Should I somehow use XMP instead?
Click to expand...
When you use XMP, it configures both the board and the memory for overclocking, like it will increase the DRAM voltage to whatever the sticks are rated for and may change other settings.

If you don't use XMP, you could be running stock, e.g. 1.1v DRAM voltage and then trying to overclock in a way that the CPU/board don't support.

I can't recall if you have to increase SA for 12th gen memory overclocking (and if so, at what point) either.
 
Right, so trying to get XMP sorted... I've updated the BIOS to the latest (Dec last year :rolleyes:) and set it back to default.

Looking at the main page, it's recognising the memory as Micron 16GB 5600MT/s. When I click on DDR5 XMP Booster, I get a list of memory profiles to choose from, but there are only 3 options for 16gb Micron memory, and none of them are what's on the memory's packaging (6400 MT/s 38-40-40-84).

Slightly lost as to where to go from here! I really appreciate your help so far - I've never ventured into adjusting memory timings.


https://i.~ibb.co~/twnvy85C/PXL-20250405-144749290.jpg
https://i.~ibb.co~/Xx3gXxGq/PXL-20250412-133024440.jpg
https://i.~ibb.co~/Tq2hpKRH/PXL-20250412-133149713.jpg
 
AyeAyeAhoy! said:
When I click on DDR5 XMP Booster, I get a list of memory profiles to choose from, but there are only 3 options for 16gb Micron memory, and none of them are what's on the memory's packaging (6400 MT/s 38-40-40-84).
Click to expand...
DDR5 XMP Booster doesn't sound like a normal thing, it sounds like some kind of "let's just throw together some profiles for user to click and hope for the best".
 
Tetras said:
DDR5 XMP Booster doesn't sound like a normal thing, it sounds like some kind of "let's just throw together some profiles for user to click and hope for the best".
Click to expand...

It seems you're right!

Turns out that Gigabyte have gone and simplified it to the point where it's no longer obvious. I was supposed to click the XMP button then select 'Profile 1'. This then loaded in the timings I was expecting (6400 MT/s 38-40-40-84).

Just done a few rounds with TestMem5 - a simple 10 min test and a more intense 60 min. All clear and happy :)
 
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