CMX16GX3M2A1600C11 XMS3 with a Gigabyte H55M-UD2H

[Sniss]

Hi there,

 

I'm hoping to get some help about my recent RAM upgrade problem. I currently have 4GB (2x2Gb) XMS3s (model number in profile) which I recently decided to replace with a 16Gb (2x8Gb) CMX16GX3M2A1600C11 configured to 11-11-11-30 1.5v

 

Motherboard claims to support 16gb and 16gb is showing in post screen however the system gets stuck at "Starting Windows" screen and goes no further.

 

I've tried various BIOS settings including increasing the qpi (tried all settings from 1.25 up to 1.290).

 

BIOS is on the most recent version (F11)

 

Trying to run Memtest86 results in it crashing at various points, usually in the first 5-10 seconds.

 

I've tried using 1 stick at a time and this results in the machine not getting past the post screen and just rebooting.

 

Grateful for any suggestions, I had thought that as I replaced XMS3 with XMS3 it would be compatible but having checked the compatibility checker it only shows the 8Gb kit and not the 16Gb kit. Is this because it hasn't been updated or it's genuinely incompatible with the 16Gb XMS3.

 

Many thanks,

[peanutz94]

That MB does support 16gig max but it would need to be in a 4x4gig config.

 

The h55 chipset that the MB uses can not use 8 gig modules. So I am sorry to say that you'll have to return those and find a suitable 4x4gig set.

 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news there! :)

[Sniss]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, it's much appreciated.

[RAM GUY]

In addition they will have to be made with low density IC's 256M X 8 or 16 IC's on each module. And IO am sorry to say that all of our current modules are made with 512M X8 IC's and would not work with this MB.

[Hansning]

I have the same board, and have the Vengeance 1600 4x4gb. Does this also have the same 512mb x 8 issue?

[peanutz94]

Yes it would. But there are some kits floating around that are made with the smaller IC's.

 

What version number is the kit you have?

[KRT]

I'm having almost exactly the same issue with CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 sticks. They are 2x4GB sticks ver2.21. With one stick the computer infinitely reboots during POST. With both sticks it crashes immediately when booting Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (even the OS installer crashes, but I eventually installed using my old memory) and crashes within seconds of starting memtest86+. I have the most recent BIOS (F11). I'm not able to find the IC info for this product so I'm not sure if it's the same issue, and I'm not seeing any information from Gigabyte in regards to this MB and the supported memory densities or from the H55 chipset spec sheet.

 

Interestingly enough, if I boot with 32-bit Windows XP with both sticks in the correct slots it sees the ~3.6GB limit of memory and runs just fine. It seems that when an application tries to utilize the full 8GB it runs into problems. Unfortunately I don't think I can return these sticks now because it's been a couple months since I bought them and I thought everything was fine even though the OS wasn't using the whole memory space. I won't forget to run memtest86+ right away from now on though ;)

 

So I guess this boils down to how can I find the IC information if that is the issue? If these IC densities are so important why isn't it listed anywhere? I'm not convinced that this is the issue though if it runs just fine on a 32-bit system in a smaller memory space.

 

For completeness here are the full specs listed on the stick:

1333MHz 8GB (2X4GB) 9-9-9-24 1.50V ver2.21

 

Edit:

 

I just wanted to note some of the troubleshooting steps I attempted to get these to work with Windows 7. I stripped the computer to the essential components: 1 HDD, on-board display adapter, keyboard. Also tried it every slot combination to rule out a bad slot/bank. Slightly raised the voltage to 1.55V. Swapping the modules. Changing the "Turbo" settings in BIOS to "Standard". No luck.

[peanutz94]

I'm not able to find the IC info for this product so I'm not sure if it's the same issue,

 

So I guess this boils down to how can I find the IC information if that is the issue? If these IC densities are so important why isn't it listed anywhere? I'm not convinced that this is the issue though if it runs just fine on a 32-bit system in a smaller memory space.

 

 

http://forum.corsair.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68811

Version 2.21 would be the 512MB IC's , so yes you may need to find other memory made with the smaller IC's. You can check a certain version number using the DDR3 Inquiry table found to the left or the link I provided above.

 

I'm not seeing any information from Gigabyte in regards to this MB and the supported memory densities or from the H55 chipset spec sheet.

The density specs should be found in the Intel white papers. The were posted here in the forums a few times, I'll see if i can dig them up for you.

 

In regards as to why the information about different IC's is not widely known is because when your MB was first in production most memory was being made with the smaller 256IC's. As memory technology has evolved to meet the demands of newer systems, legacy boards such as yours are left out and often unsupported or QVL's not updated to reflect that newer technology. So most manufacturers have moved on to the denser chips and the smaller chips are very limited in both supply and production.

I'm not convinced that this is the issue though if it runs just fine on a 32-bit system in a smaller memory space.

It's not uncommon for that to happen . The 32bit OS is only utilizing a fraction of your total capacity which is less strain on your CPU's memory controller. This is totally plausible! And your kind of getting hit with a double whammy...not only does your chipset require 256MBIC's the first gen I3 CPU's are also carry the same limitation. The I5's and I7's do not.

 

Original Quote by Ram Guy:

Actually only Core I7 Quad channel series CPU's will support 64 Gig Core I5 D/C CPU's are limited to 32 Gig because of the number of slots and Core I3 only support 16 Gig of memory and the modules have to made with IC's no larger than 256 X8 Memory IC's so that would 4.0 Gig double rank modules or 16 Gig total. If the MB you have only has two slots then you would be limited to 8.0 Gig of Ram for Core I3 CPU's

Just to clear that up even further, your modules would need to made with a total of 16 chips. 8 on each side. The ones you currently own should only have 8 chips total on just one side of the module.

 

 

HOWEVER, there may be a chance that we can get them to run with a little tweaking of the BIOS. I don't want to get your hopes up, but there is a slight chance.

 

First and foremost is , have you tried the XMP profile? Since your system has a 1066mhz memory controller that's what it would default to when first installed. Make sure you reset the BIOS and then enable the XMP profile and restart. That setting should be in the advanced settings in the overclocking section of the BIOS.

 

If your not using the XMP profile or setting them manually,can you tell me what your exact settings for the memory? Timings, voltage and QPI voltage.

[KRT]

I can't get the XMP options to show up in my BIOS. I cleared my BIOS and these these were the default settings. No luck with the defaults...

 

Settings:

1333MHz

DRAM voltage: 1.5

QPI/Vtt voltage: 1.1

tCL 9

tRCD 9

tRP 9

tRAS 24

tRRD 4

tWTP 21

tRFC 174

tCMD 2

[peanutz94]

No worries. We can work around it.

 

Just change the frequency to 1600mhz and set the timings to 11-11-11-30

 

Leave all other timings to AUTO..

 

Set memory voltage to 1.65v and QPI to 1.35v.

 

Rerun your tests. I'm pretty certain this should take care of the issue for you. And if by chance it doesn't we'll just dig a little deeper! :)

[KRT]

My MB manual says to press ctrl-F1 to enter advanced options but it doesn't bring up any extra options. I've tried switching all sorts of options from "auto" and no extra options with XMP or eXtreme Memory Profile come up. The tweak menu is under "MB Intelligent Tweaker" where all the voltage/timing settings are found.

 

I am a little confused, however. The timing values you just gave seem like they belong to the first poster's memory, and I wanted to verify that it was intentional. What are the risks of ruining memory when messing with these values?

 

Regardless, the BIOS won't let me change the frequency to 1600. It maxes out at a 10.0 multiplier which sets the speed to 1333. Also, when I set the QPI vlotage to 1.35 it turns the number purple which seems to indicate a warning that I should be careful if using this setting. Lastly, the DRAM voltage only changes in increments of 0.2, so I can set it either to 1.64 or 1.66 (at 1.66 the value changes to purple, which again seems like a warning.)

 

Again, I appreciate the help greatly. I just don't want to physically damage the modules if I can resell them in the event that I'm SOL and just need to buy different memory.

 

I'll give the voltage settings a try and see if it gets anywhere.

 

Thanks!

[KRT]

No luck with QPI at 1.35 and DRAM at 1.64. I didnt modify the timing values or the clock frequency.

[KRT]

I tried again with 11-11-11-30, 1.35v QPI, 1.64v DRAM, and 1333MHz. It's still crashing within a few seconds of starting the memtest.

[peanutz94]

Also, when I set the QPI vlotage to 1.35 it turns the number purple which seems to indicate a warning that I should be careful if using this setting. Lastly, the DRAM voltage only changes in increments of 0.2, so I can set it either to 1.64 or 1.66 (at 1.66 the value changes to purple, which again seems like a warning.)

Yeah, sort of. It's basically just a way of getting or making sure that you realize you are setting that voltage to a value other then or higher then the default values. Dimm volatge is completely safe for both the MB/CPU and also the memory. Although 1.65v is about max for the memory , QPI can go as high as 1.55v depending on the CPU and the stepping revision of that CPU along with the frequency your trying to achieve.

 

The memory itself is guaranteed to 2.0v before you would need to worry about damaging the memory. However you would have burned up your CPU long before that. But the board should also be fine as long as you have good cooling.

 

 

 

At this point i think you've been bitten the IC size/density limitation of the CPU/MB. There isn't anything else it could be.

 

You could try to RMA them, but you would be back in the same boat since almost all of Corsair's memory is being made with the larger IC's.

 

Just to be sure, I would let RamGuy chime in and see what he thinks. He may have some other advice or way to go about this. But we have tried just about everything there could possible be.

 

I'm sorry, I wish I could give you a bit more help.:(

 

And for now, I would go ahead and reset all your voltages back to defaults. There is no point of the extra voltage if it's not needed.

[KRT]

I'm sorry, I wish I could give you a bit more help.:(

 

You've been immensely helpful. Thank you! I'd rather know exactly what the problem is and not keep buying/returning memory. It sucks, but I've learned something and I'll be more careful when buying memory in the future.

 

I do wonder, though, if Corsair's memory configurator is giving bad advice to the people with the same MB as me. Would all of the ones that it lists have issues with my MB?

 

I really wish I would've run memtest as soon as I bought this RAM!