Build problems with GA-x58A UD3R and patriot viper 6gb 1600mhz

NormanPorkinson

NormanPorkinson

NormanPorkinson

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I'm currently building an i7 build for my friend using the abovementioned ram and mobo. However, the ram is only showing 6gb with 4gb usable. Now, there are reports of this problem all over the internet with this specific board, but I can't find a specific answer or solution. I've tried each memory module individually and they are running fine, I'm on the latest bios (f5) but some of the memory slots seem to be dead! I can only get the ram to read in 2 (the white ones) of the possible 6 slots. The blue slots are totally out of action.

Is this a case of Rma'ing the motherboard or is there an easier solution?

I've heard that this can be caused by bent cpu pins, but I havent had chance to take the cpu off yet to have a look!

Regards
 
If the slots aren't reading, I would have thought that's a motherboard problem and RMA it. I have that board, and all my slots work fine, although if you're running Triple Channel memory, you need to look at using the same colour-coded slots.

There's a chance it might be the CPU pin problem, but yes mate, I would have thought that's a faulty board in the majority of cases. I guess it's worth checking/reseating the CPU though just to be sure.
 
Thus far I'd probably avoid it - this problem is a wide spread one and not just confined to this individual case! Just put '6gb 4gb usable' into google and this mobo pops up a lot!

I thought it could be to do with the motherboard not liking those speeds, but I've tried other speeds and other voltages to no avail :( The ram is present in CPUZ but it states that it's only in dual channel mode. Surely it should say tri channel??
 
I've got the board and it's working 100% fine for me. Best board I've seen for a long while at that price range.

NormanPorkinson, have you tried contacting OCUK for support? They may have come across it before and know something, or perhaps Gigabyte themselves? To be honest, any component will always have some RMAs. It's unfortunate you got one mate, but it would be worth persevering with the board, as it is VERY good.
 
I just can't understand how only 2 of the 6 channels work. Grrrr. The manual says that the blue channels should be used for tri channel, but the computer just won't post with them in those channels????
 
Can I ask what brand of memory you're using mate? Some of the problems with the BIOS only showing a limited amount of memory have been down to some "lesser" brands of memory.

I know it shouldn't, but I'm just trying to help here as I've seen this before on my board type (I spent ages looking through for this issue. In the end I felt I could handle it if it happened. Luckily it didn't with my 6GB OCZ Obsidian set.
 
Try each stick one at a time in each white slot. It should boot from any white slot with just one stick installed. Test each slot with each RAM stick. If it posts with any of the slots, then I don't think it's the memory modules.

If it doesn't post with any of those slots, then it might be the memory itself.

The optimum layout for the modules is slots 1, 3 and 4 from what I remember. Check the motherboard manual. It should have a layout in there for the 3-Channel (Triple Channel) layout configuration. I would check but I'm at work and my manuals are at home.
 
Another thing mentioned to check is in msconfig. Under the Boot Tab click the Advanced Settings. There make sure the checkbox for Max Memory is unticked and then restart. If you then check under Task Manager, the performance tab shows whether the missing RAM is simply not showing in the OS or if it is reserved for "hardware".
 
Ph4lanx said:
Try each stick one at a time in each white slot. It should boot from any white slot with just one stick installed. Test each slot with each RAM stick. If it posts with any of the slots, then I don't think it's the memory modules.

If it doesn't post with any of those slots, then it might be the memory itself.

The optimum layout for the modules is slots 1, 3 and 4 from what I remember. Check the motherboard manual. It should have a layout in there for the 3-Channel (Triple Channel) layout configuration. I would check but I'm at work and my manuals are at home.
Click to expand...

the optimum is 1,3 and 5 - I have the manual right here! These are the blue slots. However, none of them work. I've tried each individual module in each of the 6 slots, and the only ones that work are slots 2 and 6. The other slots fail to post. It can't be the ram because I've test each individual unit on both of the working slots, and they always post and proceed into windows.

I am using win 7 64bit!
 
Ph4lanx said:
Another thing mentioned to check is in msconfig. Under the Boot Tab click the Advanced Settings. There make sure the checkbox for Max Memory is unticked and then restart. If you then check under Task Manager, the performance tab shows whether the missing RAM is simply not showing in the OS or if it is reserved for "hardware".
Click to expand...

I've tried this to no avail.

Think Im gonna have to reseat the cpu when I get in from work. Apparently this can cause some of the channels to not work.
 
Yes it can. I forgot that one. I took a massive amount of care when seating the CPU. Definitely worth checking mate. Let us know how you get on.

If the memory still doesn't POST in those slots you mentioned, I would have said it's a faulty motherboard. However that's not the main problem other people have, I think you were just unlucky.

The 6gb with 4gb usable thing is on a working board, just not setup right for some odd reason (the other 2gb appears in the Performance Manager as "hardware".

Good luck mate.
 
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18107770&page=2

just found this thread on here - seems like its a common issue. I'm guessing its the cpu that's not seated properly or bent pin. What's worrying is that one guy in that thread tested each memory slot individually, all worked and booted, he concluded it was the motherboard but after 3 rma's he decided to send the ram back and it was the ram that turned out to be faulty. ?????? WEIRD!!!!
 
One further thing I might add is that I'm using the arctic freezer cooler and this doesnt have a backplate, only a plate that fixes onto the top of the mobo. Now, I've read somewhere that this might be causing the motherboard to bend and create problems. Think I'm gonna try it without screwing in the screws and just hold it firmly in place while I boot up.
 
Ah, the cooler thing is a good thought mate. I run a Titan Fenrir so I have a backplate balancing out the pressure. Worth a shot.

Also very interesting, that other thread. Definitely worth checking.

Although saying that, a lot of the problems with the motherboard and this particular issue (at least 40% of the threads I've seen) have been "something" to do with faulty RAM.
 
I had exActly the same problem mate.

It turned it was the ram and not the motherboard.

It was difficult to detect as every single ram module did work on occasion, however there was one which worked only intermittently. Therefore when I first tried to test the ram it seemed that the ram modules and slots were all fine.

I would suggest test each ram module in each slot repeatedly.

(it's obviously a lot easier to replace ram than a mobo)
 
NormanPorkinson said:
the optimum is 1,3 and 5 - I have the manual right here! These are the blue slots. However, none of them work. I've tried each individual module in each of the 6 slots, and the only ones that work are slots 2 and 6. The other slots fail to post. It can't be the ram because I've test each individual unit on both of the working slots, and they always post and proceed into windows.

I am using win 7 64bit!
Click to expand...

That does sound like it'S your mobo then. When I had this problem every slot worked.

As you have said try reseating the CPU and heatsink.
 
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