GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

[darinf]

I was having problems getting 3x4GB OCZ RAM to work at all on another thread. so I decided I would start a new thread since I am having a different problem now.

I have six 2GB sticks of RAM now, (CORSAIR CMX6GX3M3C1600C7 - two sets).

The RAM is rated at 7-8-7-20.

If I set the System Memory Multiplier to 12.0 (for 1600 Mhz), at POST, the screen only shows 8GB of RAM.

If I set the System Memory Multiplier to 10.0 (for 1333 Mhz), at POST, the screen only shows 12GB of RAM.

Even at 1333 Mhz, I cannot run at rated timings without the system randomly rebooting without a BSOD.

Here's the settings I am using now which seem to be more stable with all 12GB:

Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio ................................ [21x]
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech .................. [Enabled]
CPU Cores Enabled ............................ [All]
CPU Multi Threading .......................... [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ................... [Disabled]
C3/C6/C7 State Support .................... [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor ......................... [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function ............................ [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology ................... [Enabled] << Disabled if you do not use Vmware or Virtual PC Programs
Bi-Directional PROCHOT ..................... [Enabled]


Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed .............................. [Auto]=x36
Uncore Frequency .......................... [Auto]=20 (Always 2x memory Multi or 2x +1)
Isonchronous Frequency ..................[Enabled]


Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control ................ [Enabled]
BCLK Frequency (MHz) ..................... 133
PCI Express Frequency (MHz) ........... [100]

C.I.A.2 [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ..............................[800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive ................... [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]
IOH Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]


Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance ...................... [Standard]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) ......... [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........ 10.0
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) .......... [Quick]

Channel A + B + C

Channel A Timing Settings:
##Channel A Standard Timing Control##
CAS Latency Time ...................... 8
tRCD ....................................... 8
tRP ......................................... 8
tRAS ....................................... 20

Below values may be left in Auto if you like, generally this is fine. For those users who DO Set advanced timings manually, please see some of my thoughts and

findings about these settings and rules here
XtremeSystems Forums - View Single Post - Gigabyte EX58-UD5/Extreme Discussion Thread

##Channel A Advanced Timing Control##
tRC ........................................ [Auto]=27 (Should be = tRAS + tRP or above for stability)
tRRD ....................................... [Auto]=4
tWTR ...................................... [Auto]=4 (Must be Write to Read Delay/Same Rank - (tWL + 4)
tWR ........................................ [Auto]=8
tWTP ....................................... [Auto]=19 (tWTP Must = tWR + tWL + 4)
tWL ........................................ [Auto]=7 (tWL Must be CAS Latency -1)
tRFC ....................................... 88
tRTP ....................................... [Auto]=4
tFAW ...................................... [Auto]=20
Command Rate (CMD) ................ [Auto]=2

##Channel A Misc Timing Control##
Round Trip Latency ................... [Auto]=53

B2B CAS Delay .......................... -


Advanced Voltage Control:

CPU
Load Line Calibration ................. [Level 1]
CPU Vcore ............................... [Auto]=1.29375
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v ............ 1.36V
CPU PLL 1.800v ....................... [Auto]=1.8v

MCH/ICH
PCIE 1.500v ........................... [Auto]=1.5v
QPI PLL 1.100v ....................... 1.18v
IOH Core 1.100v ..................... 1.16v
ICH I/O 1.500v ....................... [Auto]=1.5v
ICH Core 1.1v ........................ [Auto]=1.1v

DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v .............. 1.64v
DRAM Termination 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]

A few questions:

1) Are there any settings I can try to get all 12GB to show up at POST at 1600Mhz? Do the timing and voltage settings affect the amount of RAM showing at POST?

2) Can anyone suggest any changes to my settings to try to at least get the memory to work at the rated 7-8-7-20?

3) Should I just be happy that I can even get my machine stable with 12GB even though it's running at slower than rated clock speeds and timings?

(I am not 100% sure even the settings I have posted are stable. I have only been running Prime95 for 60 minutes without a reboot.)

Thanks again in advance for all your help,

-Darin

[wazza300]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

you can go higher on qpi/vtt voltage 1.3-1.45v,dont worry about timings so much,set it to 1600mhz and try with 8-8-8-24-1T to start with and around 1.4v for qpi/vtt set cpu voltage manually to 1.29375 as auto overvolts it,you may even be able to lower it

p.s you shouldnt need llc enabled for stock clocks

[darinf]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

Thanks.

I tried 8-8-8-24-1T and QPI/vtt as high as 1.44V.

I even tried 9-9-9-24-2T.

No matter what I try, only 8GB shows at post.

Once I set it to 1333MHz instead of 1600MHz, then I get 12GB at post.

Do you know if the timings or voltages affect how much RAM shows up at POST? I assume so...

-Darin

[wazza300]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

the more ram you have and the higher the ram speed/tighter timings all will need more qpi/vtt to achieve,timings wont affect things unless there too tight,try installing just 6gb of ram boot up into windows makesure 6gb is detected then power off and install another 6gb then see if 12gb is detected in windows,also try with 1600mhz speed and timings on auto,see what auto sets timings at

[Judge-dredd]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

thats because you have 2 sets of 6 gb kit
you need a 12 gb kit because they are a matching set
i had same problem with my corsair

i got the 12 gb it all work fine

there are a few prople that have got lucky and got to set that match up well but it is hard to do

[darinf]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

So the kits have matched RAM sticks? Do they test them all at once to make sure they match?

The store I bought them at doesn't sell a 12GB set. Only 6GB at a time.

So, if you have 6GB now and you want to upgrade to 12GB, you have to toss the first 6GB and buy 12 more? That's a bummer.

Haven't people been able to upgrade their RAM with different brands of RAM chips?

Bummer...

[Judge-dredd]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

here is a link to some 12 gb kits

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Memory,Desktop Memory,12GB (6 x 2GB),DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)

I have the CORSAIR DOMINATOR 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 Model CMD12GX3M6A1600C8 that run great
they are fully matching Multi-channel Kit: Hexa-Channel Kit

[wazza300]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

they test the kits and bin them so that they work at rated speed,when you buy two 6gb kits they wont match so well unless your lucky,you might have to settle at 1333mhz or need to tweak things alot where as a matched kit of 1600mhz will run at that speed like these kits here

OCZ 12GB(6x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz Gold XTC Triple Channel.. | Ebuyer.com

[darinf]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

the more ram you have and the higher the ram speed/tighter timings all will need more qpi/vtt to achieve,timings wont affect things unless there too tight,try installing just 6gb of ram boot up into windows makesure 6gb is detected then power off and install another 6gb then see if 12gb is detected in windows,also try with 1600mhz speed and timings on auto,see what auto sets timings at

In my other thread, I was able to get 6GB working flawlessly at 1600. I briefly tested the new 3x2GB sticks by themselves and they all worked fine at 1600.

Once I loaded up 12GB, that's when it stopped showing up at 1600 speed.

Windows detects 12GB, but says only 8GB available. POST screen says 8 GB.

I went up to 1.44V QPI/vtt, the next higher setting is 1.46... Is that too high?

-Darin

[darinf]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

they test the kits and bin them so that they work at rated speed,when you buy two 6gb kits they wont match so well unless your lucky,you might have to settle at 1333mhz or need to tweak things alot where as a matched kit of 1600mhz will run at that speed like these kits here

OCZ 12GB(6x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz Gold XTC Triple Channel.. | Ebuyer.com

OK. I see. Well, I guess I will have to return these and try again. Originally I wanted 3x4GB, but I could not get that to work either with OCZ Gold.

Thanks for your help,
-Darin

I wonder if Corsair will RMA my sticks and give me a matched set of 6?

[wazza300]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

anything below 1.5v is safe for qpi/vtt,the onboard memory controller has to handle 12gb of ram though not 6gb so you will need more vcore than with 6gb,12gb of 1333mhz ram will always be better than 6gb of 1600mhz,it beats paying through the nose for a matched kit,

EDIT yes if you explain you bought in error wanting a 12gb matched kit instead of 2 6gb kits,maybe they will exchange them

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

I can run 12GB of mismatched spec 6GB kits, even mixed brands, so it might just all be your settings.

You are sure you do not have any bent pins in the CPU socket correct? If so, does 6GB show up properly and 6GB usable?

I think you just need to find the right settings, sure matched kits are sold but they are rarely needed I think, kinda like marketing hype telling users they need SATA 6Gb/s cables to run those 6Gb/s drives - not needed

For 12GB @ 1600 you may need 1.35-1.55 QPI/Vtt (Depending on all other settings), 1.14-1.28 IOH, and Dram voltage 1.66-1.72

Also be sure you are using the very latest BIOS too!

[darinf]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

I've been told not to go higher than 1.50 QPI/vtt and risk extra wear and tear or damage to the CPU.

Also, I did not realize I can go higher than 1.66V DRAM voltage. How high can I go? (All those pink colored values scare me.) Will the RAM get harmed if it's rated at 1.65V?

I shuffled the sticks around and managed to see 10GB at POST at 1600.

I checked for bent pins a 2nd time just now. Everything looked fine.

Maybe I'll keep shuffling the RAM around the slots and see if that gets me anywhere.

Thanks,
-Darin

[darinf]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

Oh yes, I forgot to ask about the BIOS.

I am at F5.

I noticed a beta Bios F6k. Should I update to that? I was not sure since there are no "release notes" that I could find so I didn't know if it's OK just to update to the latest beta.

-Darin

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-X58A-UD3R rev. 1 - i7 930 - Can't get all 12GB up to 1600MHz, only 1333MHz

See my thoughts on QPI/Vtt here, it will be fine, some memory comes programmed to use 1.6-1.7 even
QPI/Vtt Voltage post (High is OK)

The CPU is what would get hurt here not the ram, but you will be fine as long as you do not get the ram voltage out of spec from the QPI/Vtt, they must be kept within 0.5 of each other is all. Yes higher amounts may wear out the CPU quicker, but you will want a new one LONG before it is ready to die anyway. If you want to use 12GB of ram you have to use higher voltages, that's all there is to it really.

The ram voltage rating is for one kit, same as for the timings, you may need more if you want to use two kits. The memory will not be damaged until past 1.8V in accordance with JEDEC Specifications, this is "memory official laws/rules"

Settings I say!! You have tested each stick on by one in any white slot correct? If they all at least act the same, and boot I think they are good to go at least for the issue here.