Overclock memory to DDR5-8000 with ASUS AM5 motherboards and the latest firmware

When we first launched our X670E and B650E motherboard families, it was early days for DDR5 RAM. The first round of DDR5 memory kits offered demonstrable benefits over last-gen DDR4, but memory manufacturers had only just started to push the limits of what was possible with the new memory standard. A short year later, and now you can find astonishingly speedy DDR5-8000 kits — and with higher-density memory modules, you can easily equip your PC with pools of RAM that are as massive as they are fast. To help you take advantage of the latest cutting-edge memory kits with your AMD Ryzen 7000 Series build, we’re rolling out a firmware update for all our X670E and B650E motherboards that makes it possible to overclock compatible DDR5 to 8000+ MHz.

Ready for action up to DDR5-8000

Your ticket to the higher echelons of memory overclocking is an ASUS AM5 motherboard and the latest firmware. The necessary BIOS updates have been available since the end of August — make sure your firmware is up to date, and then dig in to see how far you can take your memory kit. For your reference, the table below lists the models which currently have the firmware update necessary for compatibility with memory kits up to DDR5-8000 (OC).

Finding the new sweet spot

Back when AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPUs first launched, representatives indicated that DDR5-6000 was the “sweet spot” for their latest processors. This recommendation was based on factors including stability, cost, performance, and availability — and many of those factors have since changed. Now that faster kits are more affordable and more widely available, PC builders are rightly setting their sights higher.

With the latest firmware update for your ASUS X670E or B650E motherboard, you’ll now have the opportunity to explore higher tiers of DDR5. Keep in mind that a wide variety of factors affect DRAM scaling. Rank, density, and population all play a role in the memory overclocking heights you’ll be able to reach. For example, you typically can’t overlock a 4 DIMM configuration as high as you can overclock a 2 DIMM configuration.

If you value raw speed above all else, you’ll be best served with a single-rank 2-DIMM DDR5 kit. Adding additional sticks will increase your total capacity — and that may be invaluable for your workflow — but you won’t achieve transfer rates that are quite so high. That’s a tradeoff that many enthusiasts are happy to make, but it is a consideration that you should make as you’re picking components.

Build for speed with an ASUS motherboard

Perhaps you’ve been planning a build around AMD’s latest CPUs, but haven’t yet pulled the trigger. Now that you can access the fastest memory on the market today with your ASUS AM5 motherboard, it’s time to stop waiting and start building. Here are three of our X670E and B650E motherboards that offer tremendous value, and they’re ready and waiting for a high-end DDR5 memory kit.

Cutting-edge performance: The ROG Crosshair X670E Hero

For a future-proof PC with show-stopping style, consider the mighty ROG Crosshair X670E Hero. This high-end board sets you up for a thoroughly next-gen gaming build. Its pair of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots stand ready for next-gen graphics cards – or the included PCIe 5.0 M.2 card, which gives you a third Gen 5 M.2 slot, in addition to the two onboard slots, that are wired for PCIe 5.0 connectivity. Enjoy pristine audio for competitive gaming and entertainment alike with an audiophile-grade ESS® ES9218 Quad DAC that pumps top-notch sound to the front-panel output. With an exceptional signal-to-noise ratio, this audio solution is perfect for plugging in a high-end headset.

This motherboard matches its high-end feature set with exceptional good looks. Dark hues predominate the surface of the ROG Crosshair X670E Hero, providing an intense backdrop for your build. Polymo lighting across the integrated I/O shield delivers a sizzling accent. This microstructural array of light and color features two RGB patterns, empowering you to show off a luminous RGB style that you won’t see anywhere else.

Undeniable gaming prowess: the ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi

ROG Strix X670 motherboards retain key elements of the style and performance of the Crosshair series while avoiding specialized features that everyday builders might not need. As the highest-performance board of the Strix family, the ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi merges the best of form and function. Angular accents sweep across the board’s heatsinks alongside distinctive ROG iconography, while an illuminated acrylic display on the integrated I/O cover makes an impactful statement.

Comprehensive power and thermal solutions set you up to tame the latest high-end gear. 18 + 2 teamed power stages rated for 110A deliver a stable stream of power to your AMD CPU. Two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots stand ready for next-gen graphics cards and add-in cards. To keep PCIe 5.0 SSDs operating comfortably, the hefty and thick M.2 Combo-sink provides a large surface area for cooling. And the massive M.2 heatsink is included in the accessory kit.

A new generation of conveniences ease the building process with the ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi. In addition to the PCIe Slot Q-Release button, which makes it easy to remove the graphics card, there’s an integrated power button on the motherboard that makes it easy to do a pre-test prior to building the whole system. And a spare M.2 thermal pad in the ROG accessory kit makes sure that you’re ready to keep future replacement drives operating optimally.

Can’t-miss value: The ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi

Perhaps you love the aesthetics and overall feature set of the ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi, but you don’t have an immediate need for two PCIe 5.0 X16 slots and three PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots. Check out the ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi. This motherboard shares the same DNA as its elder sibling, but it offers one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one slot for a next-gen PCIe 5.0 M.2 drive — just the ticket for many a mainstream gaming PC.

Don’t be fooled by this motherboard’s accessible price point — it offers a rich feature set that’s laser-focused on the needs of gamers. Three total M.2 slots let you build out a large and fast storage library. A stealthy black finish adorns its massive VRMs, shrouds, and heatsinks, and Aura Sync RGB LED accents provide a bold flourish of color. Our suite of DIY-friendly design features streamline your build process, and you’ll get great connectivity with WiFi 6E, a 2.5Gb Ethernet port, and a wide selection of USB ports.

Even more options for achieving DDR5-8000

These are just a few of our AM5 motherboards ready for the latest cutting-edge DDR5 memory kits. Click here to browse our full selection of X670E motherboards, and click here to peruse our B650E/B650 motherboards. Use the table on this page to ensure that your new motherboard will have the firmware update necessary for compatibility with higher-end DDR5 RAM.