CMT6GX3M3A2000C8 - One Poopy Puppy

[jmkays]

Let's just call a spade a spade here: CMT6GX3M3A2000C8 is not a good match for either the Rampage 3 or 2 Extreme mainboards. It's like the irresistible cute toy dog that refuses to be house broken and repeatedly defiles the Persian rugs.

 

Those shelling out $275 for 6GB of RAM are not noobies. Highly unlikely they bend CPU pins or screw up something as fundamental as mounting a waterblock or HSF. Even for the inexperienced, bending CPU pins takes serious dedication. Please don't insult your customers.

 

I've tried two kits. Each failed miserably in two rigs - one running R2E, the other R3E. On the R3E, only 4GB was recognized using modest manual settings to spec. Same thing happened with both kits. In the R2E, the PC recognized all 6GB but would not boot at a clock higher than 1600MHz.

 

R3E: I replaced the Corsair with a 6GB kit of G.Kill F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ at half the cost ($127 street). Booted right up at 1600MHz with all 6GB recognized.

 

I then added a second 6GB G.Kill kit to the R3E and, again, booted up at 1600MHz with all 12GB recognized.

 

The core problem: t's not the user. It's not the motherboard. It's not how the CPU is seated. It's that premium, expensive RAM is not performing to spec without dumb luck or hours of tweaking. This RAM at this price should boot up at spec with ease. It doesn't. Not even close.

[daemon9]

Holy crap! Can I say "crap"? Anyway, I have that same exact RAM and the Asus Rampage III Extreme and it won't boot up under the RAM XMP profile. It just hangs...

 

Can we sue Corsair for false advertisement?

[Wired]

Holy crap! Can I say "crap"? Anyway, I have that same exact RAM and the Asus Rampage III Extreme and it won't boot up under the RAM XMP profile. It just hangs...

 

Can we sue Corsair for false advertisement?

 

Can't blame Corsair if your memory controller won't allow the memory to hit its rated specs, not that I'm saying that's what's happening, because you haven't really said anything about your troubleshooting methodology except for trying XMP. Please start your own thread detailing what you have tried so far. Also it would help to clarify your CPU in your specs, as it says i7 460. Did you mean 960 perhaps?

[washu9]

Well, I'm not trying to pour oil into the fire here, but I got a similar experience the the CMT6GX3M3A2000C8.

 

With the exception of the RAM, my whole rig is water cooled, and I've tried every single configuration I could think of to get these ram to run stable at 1866+.

 

Even increased the QPI all the way to 1.65v.

At 1.50v it runs prime ok, but I got BSOD when I tried running programs (fresh windows install too), increasing it up to 1.55v and BSOD gone, just booting problems remain, sometimes it'd boot ok, other times it just stuck on boot.

Now I'm up to 1.65v and it still have bootup problems, to a lesser degree.

 

There is just NO way to get it running stable anywhere near it's rated spec.

Sure it does run burn programs without any hickup (when I uped the QPI to 1.65v). But problems with bootup remains at any speed 1866 and above.

 

And I've tried a triple batch from another brand (albeit it's only rated at 1600) and it ran 1866 without a hitch, AND at a much lower voltages then this corsair modules.

 

This is already the 3rd bad module I was given.

The original was a 1866 corsair (ran fine for about 3 weeks), then the replacement was even worse (bad chip - always got random errors from the get go), then I got upgraded to this 2000 corsair (had to pay extra for the upgrade).

 

This is already giving me 4 MONTHS+ of headache.

My posts here haven't met with any advice that really works either.

 

What am I supposed to do here?

 

I'd rather refund the module, but since that's out of the question...

this is just gonna keep giving me headache every single time a new set needs to be tested.

 

No offense here guys, your flash drives rocks!!!

Your RAMs? nowhere as much...

[jmkays]

Can't blame Corsair if your memory controller won't allow the memory to hit its rated specs . . . .

 

Since the memory controller resides on the CPU, I'm not sure as to your meaning. I can't speak for Daemon, but my specs accurately appear in my profile. CPU is i7-980x.

 

Given that the Rampage Extreme 2 and 3 are such popular choices for Corsair's GT RAM, one would think there would be a sticky with updated timing and QPI/DRAM Bus voltage settings that increase the odds of hitting CMT6GX3M3A2000C8 published specs.

 

I've looked at i4Memory and Corsair stickies on sample R3E configs referenced here, but none that I find apply to this particular memory/mobo combination. GT RAM is high performance memory that will typically be used with high performance mainboards. There aren't that many high performance mobos out there.

 

If this memory is capable of attaining published specs, Corsair should work to help customers paying a premium for the RAM by publishing some updated templates.

 

The absence of such templates and the parrot like attribution of all memory problems to CPU seating and other minority contributing factors by Corsair techs is far more damning than anything I might publish in a post.

 

More experienced users than not are having great difficulty attaining numbers remotely close to published specs for this product. This is not an isolated issue.

[washu9]

Oh BTW, don't rely on XMP, seems to me that they got the voltages and timing wrong most of the time. Contrary to the purpose of having XMP, it doesn't allow for plug and play on overclocked ram.

[jmkays]

Oh BTW, don't rely on XMP, seems to me that they got the voltages and timing wrong most of the time. Contrary to the purpose of having XMP, it doesn't allow for plug and play on overclocked ram.

Agreed. I tried XMP as a last resort. Didn't come close to 2000MHz.

[trackrat]

Having built performance PCs for close to 25 years I can confirm that Asus is notorius for pushing the envelope beyond industry mobo design specs - to get rave reviews and resulting sales. This typically results in many operational problems for Asus end users. Asus is very slow to update their BIOS to fix these issues be it incompatibility of tested and approved RAM like Corsair or other mobo issues, many of which have been confirmed by honest mobo reviewers.

 

Corsair actually tests every stick of RAM and guarantees it's compatibility and performance for a specific platform, which is a valuable service IMO. You can't however expect any PC system to run RAM beyond the OE specs guaranteed by the CPU maker. If all CPUs could run stable at the higher frequency then the CPU maker would be using this for marketing just like Asus does with hand picked mobos that they supply to review sites to get rave reviews that many consumers will never be able to achieve.

 

You might get lucky and find some RAM that OC's better than others, but it's always a crap shoot when it comes to overclocking a PC as my signature denotes.

[washu9]

... did you not read my post?

 

With the corsair replacement taking ages (thus the 4 MONTHS+ headache), I bought an OCZ brand 1600 as a temporary replacement. It runs ROCK SOLID STABLE on this motherboard at 1866 (I don't dare run it at 2000 with that kind of heatsink design).

 

NOW, the Corsair RAM that's supposed to run at 2000?

Have multiple bootup problem at 1866, on the exact same voltage settings, at a more RELAXED timing.

 

To sum it up, It is NOT THE MOTHERBOARD.

I had my motherboard replaced TWICE because people here kept saying "it's the motherboard", "it's the motherboard".

 

AND, did I say that the OCZ RAM is much cheaper?

[trackrat]

Yes I read your ramblings. If you were able to find some RAM that works for you that's great. Over the years it has been documented that Asus mobos often experience operational issues which Asus is slow to resolve. Memory compatibility has always been an issue for Asus as they push the limits of industry standards. By failing to stay within the design specs some memory may work and some may not. This is a mobo issue not a memory issue.

 

Corsair tests 100% of their memory to confirm that it does function at the speed they advertise. Hopefully a new BIOS will prevent other Asus customers from having the same issues you experienced, but with Asus you never know. Attacking Corsair for what appears to be an Asus mobo memory issue won't fix the underlying mobo problem.

 

FYI - 20+ years ago Asus was a top shelf OEM system builder mobo supplier. Then they decided to go Hollywood and sell to PC enthusiasts. From my personal experience once they started coloring outside the lines the quality of their products changed. With a rush-to-market mentality you never know what to expect from Asus other than the fact you will be an Alpha or Beta tester.

[Wired]

Kit A works @ 1866 (rated for 1600). Kit B doesn't work at 1866 (rated for 2000). Same rig. Replace Kit B.

 

You are still waiting for the replacement kit from Corsair, correct?

[jmkays]

FYI - 20+ years ago Asus was a top shelf OEM system builder mobo supplier. Then they decided to go Hollywood and sell to PC enthusiasts. From my personal experience once they started coloring outside the lines the quality of their products changed. With a rush-to-market mentality you never know what to expect from Asus other than the fact you will be an Alpha or Beta tester.

Sounds like EVGA has sent in the troops. :)

 

I would venture you're not the only Corsair fanboy in the forum. A good number of us are long time Corsair customers. Corsair has always been my first choice when it works. In this instance it does not work. Paired with one of the most critically acclaimed motherboards in recent history, the RAM is an epic fail. Is there hype? Of course. All silicon slingers are guilty of puffery, Corsair included. But the fact that competitors succeed where Corsair fails would suggest the problem is not the motherboard.

 

I'm in agreement that Asus is notorious for releasing half-baked BIOS's. That said, this is the third incarnation of the Rampage mobo. I think it's safely beyond beta. The X58 Rampage platform has been around long enough for Corsair to know what RAM works and doesn't work properly with the board; yet Corsair's "memory configurator" tool can't do better than cough up a PC3-10666 hairball ( TR3X6G1333C9)? That instills confidence.

 

What I also find odd is the fact these forums more often link to third party authorities for BIOS templates and overclocking parameters, rather than provide OEM guides.

 

There are literally dozens of threads discussing this same or similar issue. The problem is not one isolated to Asus motherboards. Any customer that pays for a product that under performs to this extent has every right to voice concern. Perhaps lending some of your 25 years experience towards finding a solution would be more productive than lashing out at those attempting to do the same. I for one would welcome your input, since Corsair's techs seem indifferent.

 

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/6291/corsairobfuscator.th.png

 

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[washu9]

Kit A works @ 1866 (rated for 1600). Kit B doesn't work at 1866 (rated for 2000). Same rig. Replace Kit B.

 

You are still waiting for the replacement kit from Corsair, correct?

 

Already called the shop about it, I'm waiting for the shop to have someone pickup the RAM at the moment.

[trackrat]

I tell it like it is based on over 25 years of observing Asus mobo issues firsthand. People may not like hearing reality, but it is what it is. I'm not disputing that some folks may experience RAM issues with one model RAM vs. another on a particular mobo. What I am saying is that Asus has a history of memory incompatibility issues because they push the design envelope beyond industry standards and then end up trying to fix the resulting problems in the future if they get enough customer outrage.

 

Asus mobos should function without problems with any quality memory built to industry standards but this is never the case. Corsair actually tests their memory and guarantees it's compatibility. Asus does not guarantee memory compatibility nor do they test all popular RAM. As a result Asus is always revising the BIOS to compensate for their mobo issues. They have a history of this and if there is enough grief they will fix this memory issue with a new BIOS.

 

Asus has even provided review sites with a special BIOS to fix operational problems to obtain favorable reviews but never released the same BIOS to consumers with mobo issues. So yes Asus does have issues to deal with. This has been documented by any number of hardware review sites so it's not just my opinon, it's fact.

 

My suggestion would be to contact Asus and raise Hell over the incompatibility of industry spec memory on these specific mobos.

 

Hopefully Asus will step up to the plate and fix their issues?

[washu9]

I tell it like it is based on over 25 years of observing Asus mobo issues firsthand. People may not like hearing reality, but it is what it is. I'm not disputing that some folks may experience RAM issues with one model RAM vs. another on a particular mobo. What I am saying is that Asus has a history of memory incompatibility issues because they push the design envelope beyond industry standards and then end up trying to fix the resulting problems in the future if they get enough customer outrage.

 

Asus mobos should function without problems with any quality memory built to industry standards but this is never the case. Corsair actually tests their memory and guarantees it's compatibility. Asus does not guarantee memory compatibility nor do they test all popular RAM. As a result Asus is always revising the BIOS to compensate for their mobo issues. They have a history of this and if there is enough grief they will fix this memory issue with a new BIOS.

 

Asus has even provided review sites with a special BIOS to fix operational problems to obtain favorable reviews but never released the same BIOS to consumers with mobo issues. So yes Asus does have issues to deal with. This has been documented by any number of hardware review sites so it's not just my opinon, it's fact.

 

My suggestion would be to contact Asus and raise Hell over the incompatibility of industry spec memory on these specific mobos.

 

Hopefully Asus will step up to the plate and fix their issues?

 

Several things I want to point out here:

1. You kept saying Corsair tests 100% of their memory. HOW do they test, for how long, under what conditions?

 

2. How do you define something as being 'compatible'? Runs on certain range of voltage levels? timing? Some level of load? On x temperature range?

 

3. If I paid almost 2x the cost of a lower spec product, I'd expect the expensive one to actually have tolerances BEYOND the lower spec product. Thus why they're supposed to be able to run at higher speed.

 

If it could not run at speeds the lower spec product can run, how would you justify the added cost? This is not fashion, you don't pay for looks. And branding alone does not add 2x+ cost.

 

 

Your insistence that it's Asus motherboard problem have the basis of your experience with it, but I'm just pointing out the REALITY of what it is NOW, IN MY CASE.

[trackrat]

I'm glad you were able to find some RAM that works in your Asus mobo. It's unfortunate that you were unable to get the Corsair memory to function as desired. Disparaging Corsair isn't going to fix the issue if it's a mobo memory compatibility issue however. Fixing the mobo is the only means to correct the issue.

 

You make wild assumptions that have no bases. Price does not mean that a product will have "wider specs". Corsair guarantees their memory to run at a specific frequency with specific timings on specific platforms. They use a variety of test equipment and even Asus mobos to qualify the RAM.

 

Since Corsair actually test and confirms proper operation of the RAM it should function on your mobo. If your Asus mobo was properly built then you should be able to run any proper industry standard RAM without issues. The fact that you can't means your mobo is either out of spec and/or Asus needs to correct their BIOS to eliminate RAM incompatibility issues common to their mobos with a variety of RAM not just Corsair's.

[jmkays]

Corsair guarantees their memory to run at a specific frequency with specific timings on specific platforms. They use a variety of test equipment and even Asus mobos to qualify the RAM.

Asus is infamous for half-baked BIOS revisions, agreed, but the fact remains that they are currently the largest producer of motherboards. Given that, would it not be logical for Corsair to publish a list of RAM compatible with -- at the very least -- the top selling Asus boards?

 

I realize compatibility is a moving target with the unpredictability of BIOS revisions, but there is a baseline that could be ascertained testing early revisions. Using that approximation, Corsair could bring more contemporary its "configurator" compatibility tool to suggest current RAM offerings. This would benefit both Corsair and the end user. One of the configurator's R3E RAM suggestions is no longer produced. In order to sell memory, Corsair needs to re-tool the tool so that it's more effective.

 

If this RAM is so flawless, why would Corsair release CMG6GX3M3A2000C8 on the heels of CMT6GX3M3A2000C8? Better X58 compatibility perhaps?