CMD12GX3M6A1600C8 - Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R - X out of X usable

Hey

I seem to be having a lot of problems with my RAM and my Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R.

Here is my post on overclockers: http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=645426

Tried everyting here: http://i4memory.com/f54/asus-x58-6-12gb-memory-overclocking-detecting-less-memory-than-installed-19200/

Still random if all 12GB are usable.

Fast sum:

Sometimes it boots with 8GB, sometimes with 12GB. Doesnt matter if I set it to 1066, 1333 or 1600. Volt on the QPI (tried up to 1,4v) and mem (up to 1.66) doesnt matter either.

Tried with super loose timings, 11-11-11-27-110, still poo...

I have 2 days left, before its too late for me to return my mobo and/or RAM.

Tried with the XMP profil on and off, still random.

Have taken my i7 930 retail cooler on and off about 20 times, still poo.

Multiple passes on memtest86+ with 1 stick at a time, all 6 sticks (both when 8 and all 12 are usable). Not so much as 1 error in the about 7 hours I have tested them.

The CPU-Z SPD info:

800mhz 8-8-8-24-41-2T 1.650v on all 6 slots.

I have seen many post about problems with the mobo. But I have also seen many problems with other X58's.

So, what to do? hehe

Im not sure if its the mobo or the RAM. Not sure if I should return the mobo or the RAM, or both.

Thanks for reading this.

EDIT: Forgot to write that it isnt my PSU. I have tried my Corsair 550W and 850W.

Try the troubleshooting steps listed HERE.

Also, test each module individually with Memtest 4.10 linked on the left sidebar of this page.

Try the troubleshooting steps listed HERE.

 

Also, test each module individually with Memtest 4.10 linked on the left sidebar of this page.

Hmm... Thanks I guess. But if you read my post, and checked this http://i4memory.com/f54/asus-x58-6-12gb-memory-overclocking-detecting-less-memory-than-installed-19200/ you will see a more complete list then the one you linked to.

So, I have tried it. Thanks.

Also, if you read my post, you will see that I have tried http://www.memtest.org/ memtest86+ on every stick each and together for 7 hours total memtest86+ testing.

I did not go to the other forum and my point with Memtest was to be sure you used ver 4.10. Based on what you have posted, I'd suspect either the CPU or the MOBO since the RAM tests OK.

Ah ok, I am using 4.10 memtest86+. You may want to update the info you linked to.

Ill try a friends 920 then, thank.

Intel Core i7 X58 platform can result in missing DDR3 memory or incorrect physical DDR3 memory amounts being reported. Reasons and solutions to fixing these mis-detected DDR3 memory issues are outlined below with the advice also applicable to running stable and optimal memory configuration settings for your particular X58 chipset motherboard. I urge you to read this info below carefully and for more extensive help, best to start your own thread in relevant Intel motherboard / cpu forum as listed here http://i4memory.com/f21/. Don't forget to bookmark the shorter url which would be easier to remember at http://i4memory.com/ramdetect/

 

If you must start from some basic settings, I'd recommend turning off XMP profiles and setting voltages and timings manually, basic CAS-TRCD-TRP-TRAS timings I'd start with is 9-9-9-24 2T with tRFC 110 and tFAW 31 to 39. That should be loose enough to start with and you can work your way up to the values your memory is rated for via trial and error testing.

 

So to start your own thread you have list of forums where to post as follows:

 

(I'd post what bios settings you have currently tried as well - some forums here have stickies with bios templates you can use to adjust to your boards format so you can fill in with your settings i.e. here and here and here)

 

* General Intel motherboard / cpus http://i4memory.com/f55/ - for all other intel motherboards other than Asus, DFI and Gigabyte brands

* Asus Intel motherboard / cpu http://i4memory.com/f54/ - for Asus brand boards

* DFI Intel motherboard / cpu http://i4memory.com/f80/ - for DFI brand boards

* Gigabyte Intel motherboard / cpu http://i4memory.com/f90/ - for Gigabyte brand boards

 

 

Short URL Link for this page.

Bookmark: http://i4memory.com/ramdetect/

 

 

Across various forums, folks reporting sometimes that they detect less memory available in windows, bios, memtest86+/DOS, than physically installed. For example, installed 6GB or 12GB and only detecting 4GB or 8-10GB respectively.

 

I thought I'd outline some possible reasons for detecting less memory than installed:

 

1. incorrect CPU VTT (uncore) voltage set - what Asus terms as QPI/DRAM voltage, Gigabyte terms as QPI/VTT while most other boards refer to it as CPU VTT voltages. Vdimm is DRAM Bus Voltage in bios.

2. incorrect QPI/DRAM to VDIMM relationship - every cpu/mem pairing will have an optimal voltage differential between QPI/DRAM to VDIMM voltage usually between 0.01 to 0.5v difference. Fall out of the optimal differential voltage for cpu/mem pairing will = less memory detected and/or lower memory bandwidth reported compared to when optimal voltage differential is in place. You also want to read Intel Core i7 920 Overclocking Introduction Guide on X58 to observe some guidelines such as keeping Uncore memory frequency at 2x times that of DRAM memory frequency - so at 2:1 uncore to memory frequency ratio. If you set your uncore higher than 2x memory frequency you will need way more QPI/DRAM (uncore) and VDIMM memory voltage to get stable (see tests).

 

* Example, say you have 6x2GB @1333mhz working fine at 1.35v QPI/DRAM with 1.65v VDIMM. You try to overclock the memory to @1600mhz speeds, and you bump VDIMM from 1.65v to 1.75v and now only see 8-10GB detected. You've moved out of the optimal differential range for QPI/DRAM to VDIMM which @1333mhz was 1.65 - 1.35v = 0.3v. At 1.75v VDIMM you left QPI/DRAM at 1.35v so 0.4v differential voltage. Then you bump QPI/DRAM to 1.45v to keep 0.3v differential voltage and 12GB is detected again. Now this is just an example, it could be you need 1.85v VDIMM for your memory to be stable and if 0.3v is optimal differential voltage it means you need QPI/DRAM set at 1.55v

3. Setting some important voltage settings to AUTO instead of lowest manual available voltage option. See 2nd post here for suggestions.

4. faulty memory modules

5. faulty memory dimm slots

6. sort of combination of 4+5 above where memory modules like particular memory dimm slots - could come down to PCB differences for each module along with voltages for QPI/DRAM and VDIMM.

7. If you see full memory size in DOS/memtest but not within windows, then it could be due to 32bit/64bit memory addressing size being chewed up by video card and pci/pci-e devices as explained at [info] Windows maximum supported memory size and http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...8VS.85%29.aspx. So if you have 6GB installed, but have 1GB video card on 32bit OS you may only see between 2.25-3GB of memory available in windows. On 64bit OS, you may only see 3.5-4.5GB memory available. If you add other PCI-E devices like sound cards, then that also further eats into available windows memory.

8. Update: Added another possible reason, too tight tension in mounting cpu cooler to motherboard. Improper contact of cpu pads with socket might also result in less memory detected. So especially for water cooling folks to try loosening the screws and tension a tad for cpu mount. You can try removing cpu from socket as well and reinstalling/remounting cpu cooler and see if that helps.

9. Update: Apparently short circuiting the motherboard can cause memory detection errors as well i.e. check cpu cooler's back plates and if they short any part of the backside of the motherboard. Example here and here.

10. Update: For Core i7 980X Gulftown owners, the uncore to mem frequency ratio requirements changed from 2x ratio to allowing 1.5x ratio, but 1.5x and 2.0+ ratios may need more CPU VTT and VDIMM than normal, thus safe uncore ratios usually between 1.66x and 1.84x for slightly lower CPU VTT and VDIMM usage. So for 12x mem multi might try between 22-23x uncore multi instead of 24x. For 14x mem multi might try 26-27x uncore multi instead of 28x uncore multi. For 8x mem multi might try 15x uncore multi instead of 16x uncore multi. All just practical experience with my Core i7 980X - full details here.

 

 

Notes:

 

1. Also don't count out needing to tweak, IOH, IOH/ICH PCI-E, ICH voltages as well as DRAM DATA/CTRL REF voltage tweaks for each memory Channel A/B/C

2. When testing full memory dimm slot populated configurations, it's also worth testing each memory module (label them with masking tape from #1 to #6) in each of the 6 dimm slots, jot down notes as to how each module performs in each of the 6 dimm slots, then pair them up with best matching of memory modules for dimm slots. Reason is triple channel kits while sold to you as matched, they are rarely really matched in terms of overclocking characteristics - you'll always have a module or two which either does better or worse than the average of the 3 modules. Now take that to 6 modules and you can see why sometimes it might not work that well.

Ah ok, I am using 4.10 memtest86+. You may want to update the info you linked to.

 

Ill try a friends 920 then, thank.

The Memtest link on the left side of the page is up to date and is to their home site, and version 4.10.

The Memtest link on the left side of the page is up to date and is to their home site, and version 4.10.

Sorry, it wasnt the memtest link, but the troubleshooting steps link in one of the above posts.

It was the RAM.

I bought a new mobo, that didnt help. Then I bought 12GB none corsair RAM, that helped.

I have now returned the first board and the corsair RAM.

Thanks for the help.