Memory speed not sticking

PorkPieCat · 23 Apr 2012 at 05:12

I'm trying to test my ram in memtest86+ on a board without anything on it except gpu (no integrated), cpu, and ram. fx 6100 proc with 996995 mushkin 1600mhz ddr3 9-9-9-24 1.5v ram. board is 970a-ds3. first of all this board had insane trouble getting memtest to boot from usb, and now it's having trouble getting ram speeds to stock. ram runs at 1333mhz, and i've tried manually putting in 9-9-9-24 and 8x multiplier (1600mhz) and sometimes i get to memtest and find out the speed's been dialled down to ddr800 (as in 400mhz), or sometimes i come out of bios and the screen says "The System has experienced boot failures because of overclocking" and the ram goes back to 1333mhz. what the hell am i doing wrong D: i thought that's kinda all you had to do... also the timings at 1333mhz are cas5 or something similarly crazy low. is my mobo trolling me? xD

sorry, totally stressed out. got to help my friend build his system in a few hours and i'm the one who picked all his parts... don't want to disappoint.

thanks for any help!

p.s when i have to change cas and ras to cas and all that stuff, the mobo makes me change like 20 other numbers as well. it's either "auto" which sets cas to 11 or "manual" in which i have to change a whole load of stuff i've never heard of before. whatever i set things to though, no luck... am i supposed to overclock the fx-6100 or something? or that bclk or whatever...

Plec · 23 Apr 2012 at 09:40

What's your spec - motherboard and memory brand/model in particular?

Remove any clock when testing the memory, if you have one, and then reset the cmos - then load optimised defaults or similar - then setup your BIOS as required. Then set the memory up manually and run the 'latest version' of memtest - a bootable CD may work better for you.

If the memory fails at rated speed test each stick independently and in different slots if required.

Once/if you establish the memory is fault free at stock then take a closer look at clocked testing...

PorkPieCat · 23 Apr 2012 at 12:42

thanks for the reply

spec is up there in op

mobo: ga-970a-ds3
ram: 996995 mushkin 1600mhz ddr3 9-9-9-24 1.5v

yeah i'm just trying to get the ram to do the rated specs as above (isn't that stock specs?). i feel like i must be doing something wrong because a. today is the first time i've messed around with this kind of stuff and b. i'm trying out 4 dimms of ram separately (2 pairs) and none of them does rated specs. but i didn't realise i'd have to change anything out of the box to get 1600mhz? i'm getting memtest to run ok from usb now, so that's not a problem.

Plec · 23 Apr 2012 at 13:49

PorkPieCat said:
spec is up there in op
mobo: ga-970a-ds3

My bad - i shouldn't reply to posts while on hold (phone).

PorkPieCat said:
yeah i'm just trying to get the ram to do the rated specs as above (isn't that stock specs?).

I meant the board/cpu - just in case you were testing on a clocked system as a whole to get your memory up to speed.

PorkPieCat said:
but i didn't realise i'd have to change anything out of the box to get 1600mhz?

That's normal - 12800 memory is essentially overclocked 10666 so will default to the original SPD settings of 1333MHz. So, with AMD setups, you have to setup the memory manually (XMP only on intel) depending on the MB depends how straight forward that is (afraid i'm not familiar with your board and i work mainly with intel systems).

However, if everything is at stock then, 'all things being equal', you shouldn't be having any issues - as you've rightly pointed out.

Have you tried testing one stick at a time - unfortunately, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that you may have 2 faulty sticks - and is the memtest latest release?

PorkPieCat · 24 Apr 2012 at 20:19

thanks for the reply. i've gotten the dimms working at rated speeds, but only on an intel system...

i've got another question. if i buy two identical kits of dual channel 2x4gb dimms, i'd have 4 sticks of 4gb in total. is it alright to mix and match them in any order to get dual channel? or do they need to be "matched pairs" or something? for example, are the 996995 dimms essentially the same as 991995 dimms from mushkin?

thanks a lot

Plec · 24 Apr 2012 at 20:26

PorkPieCat said:
thanks for the reply. i've gotten the dimms working at rated speeds, but only on an intel system...

Looks like your AMD system doesn't like that flavour memory or the chip/MB has trouble keeping 1600MHz stable. I've done 2 recent AMD builds (h67 boards admittedly so 1600MHz not guaranteed) and both could only hit 1333MHz. Surprised your board is having problems though...

PorkPieCat said:
i've got another question. if i buy two identical kits of dual channel 2x4gb dimms, i'd have 4 sticks of 4gb in total. is it alright to mix and match them in any order to get dual channel? or do they need to be "matched pairs" or something? for example, are the 996995 dimms essentially the same as 991995 dimms from mushkin?

Yes, they're essentially the same memory (the number refers to singular or matched batch) - although where possible the ideal is to keep matched pairs together - especially with known temperamental systems. But usually if the timings and volatages are the same or even similar you can mix and match memroy brands and even spec (if you know what your doing).

So, mixing same branded and spec modules is not (ususally) a problem.

PorkPieCat · 24 Apr 2012 at 20:43

oh hang on, i spoke too soon... i'm seeing red in the testing of my second kit. first kit was fine so i was hoping problems were over...
at least this time i know it's probably the ram itself.

anyway thanks for all your help. i think the second kit is being returned ^^

also on your words i'm probably gonna play it safe and keep the kits separate from one another.

edit: k, first kit showing errors in further testing. am i supposed to believe i got two faulty kits :/

Plec · 25 Apr 2012 at 00:26

I'm afraid it's all too possible - how are you testing and are you testing at 1.5V @ 2t or 1t and then 9 9 9 24 @ 1600Mhz?

If you're using 1T try 2T - this can sometimes make them stable with the other settings at optimum spec.

I have had 2 separate brand new matched pairs (different batches) each had a faulty stick. And when i had my replacements one of those pairs had a faulty stick - different make this time.

I don't trust memory until it's proved itself stable under memtest for 8hrs and then everyday 24/7 useage for a couple of weeks. Even then it's the first thing i test if i start getting random errors...

Basically, i dislike memory...

PorkPieCat · 25 Apr 2012 at 00:35

1.5v at 2t. basically i've found that one stick in four runs at 1600mhz no problem. the three other dimms are depressingly bad... one of them failed just now in the first 5% of the first pass at 1066mhz. i mean what the hell...

Plec · 25 Apr 2012 at 00:38

What's the spec of the intel system your now using for testing and have you tried different slots?

Although, it is looking pretty damning... :/

PorkPieCat · 25 Apr 2012 at 00:45

cpu: q6600
mobo: ga-p43t-es3g

don't know anything about this overclocking business (though i'm just trying to get rated specs), so i might be missing something obvious, but given that one of the dimms seems to be doing its job, i kinda doubt it...

i've tried alternate slots, and tried dual channel as well as one by one. memtest86+ versions 4.20 and 5.00a2.

thanks very much for the continued help by way

PorkPieCat · 25 Apr 2012 at 00:53

oh hang on, command rate was 1t. give me a while to test it in 2 ^^

Plec · 25 Apr 2012 at 00:57

I've just googled your MB and even the rev 3 board - link - classes 1600MHz as an overclock. Which basically means it's not guaranteed to run/be stable running memory at 1600MHz.

The above unfortunately makes your results slightly ambiguous as you can't be sure that the errors you are getting are due to the unproven MB/CPU combo trying to run the memory at full spec.

The AMD board however was rated OK for 12800 memory - and you were still getting errors so that puts the onus more onto the memory again.

If the AMD board was configured properly and there aren't any known compatibilty problems with the Mushkin on that board then it's looking like you have been very unlucky.

Ideally, to be sure, i would try and test in an intel system which is 1600Mhz guaranteed - just to be sure.

Plec · 25 Apr 2012 at 01:00

PorkPieCat said:
oh hang on, command rate was 1t. give me a while to test it in 2 ^^

hehe, ignore my above post then until 2T has been tested thoroughly as dropping the command rate from 1T to 2T can sometimes make all the difference.

If not see above post.

Best of luck - and catch you tomorrow if you don't get any immediate results soon. Test the stick that failed within 5% first...

PorkPieCat · 25 Apr 2012 at 01:05

i'll try and find a friend who has one. (personally am not in posession of one

). although, that one stick that failed at 1066mhz is kind of off-putting. surely the test at that speed should have been alright...

also apart from 1. turning on xmp, 2. setting voltage to 1.5v, 3. setting speed to 1600mhz, 4. setting timings to 9-9-9-24, and 5. trying different CMD values, what other numbers or values do you think i should be fiddling with? because apart from those there are just a heck load of other values anywhere from 0 to 150... should i just leave those alone?

thank you!

Plec · 25 Apr 2012 at 01:16

PorkPieCat said:
i'll try and find a friend who has one. (personally am not in posession of one ). although, that one stick that failed at 1066mhz is kind of off-putting. surely the test at that speed should have been alright...

If it's failing at 1066MHz (missed that) in that setup then that stick is corrupt - if the MB has no known issues.

The intel spec should be able to run all sticks at 1333MHz without any issues (memory controller adjustments allowing) and would certainly run 2 sticks without any issues at 1333Mhz.

If you're going to test in another spec that can guarantee running 12800 memory then test it at the optimum spec settings (xmp is fine but check the settings are correct after you've saved - or enter them manually if you want to be sure) - as that is what they're supposed to run at. If they fail then they're classed as faulty.

But your last post indicates that you have at least one bad stick...

EDIT: Also, you've tested the memory in two machines and both have given inconsistent results so all the signs so far are indicating that the memory is corrupt...

Plec · 25 Apr 2012 at 01:24

I'll look out for your posts tomorrow - off to bed now didn't realise it was so late :/

You should do the same too before you get the urge to throw you computer at the nearest supporting wall.

PorkPieCat · 25 Apr 2012 at 01:38

you stopped me just in time T_T. and yeah, 'tis kind of late. thanks so much for all the help!!

i'll probably give it a rest tomorrow and just try and find some friends with better mobos than mine haha. or i don't know, see how easy the warranty process is

thanks again, night!

Plec · 25 Apr 2012 at 10:21

Not a problem.

Your mobo/cpu is still a great spec - the Q6600 (g0 stepping?) is a legend and 'clocked' can still hold its own against a modern rig. Had i owned one i would only now be looking at the ivybridge chips - i would have missed out SB (although i'm glad i had the chance to play with this setup as the low voltage clocks are interesting to balance.)

This is what Mushkin quote for European returns:

European customers:
For replacement services, please visit your original place of purchase first to process your RMA. If you are unable to obtain RMA service from your original place of purchase, please email [email protected] with a description of the issues you are experiencing and your original proof of purchase attached. Proof of Purchase is a requirement for Warranty Replacement.

Looks like a standard rma service and once you're absolutly sure that the memory is faulty i would send them back - but check for retailer warranty first. Also, matched pairs get sent back together - even if only one stick is at fault.

PorkPieCat · 25 Apr 2012 at 13:32

meh, neither kits run at 1333mhz on the board in dual channel. also i have no idea how to interpret errors but i do know one thing. i haven't written the numbers down but each stick gets the same number of errors and at the same places (like 779.26mb) with each test and at each setting, overclocked or not. just going by memory of the tests, that's what seems to happen. just that one flawless dimm gets no errors. so just guessing but it seems like there are definitely faulty "bits" of the dimms (is that even a thing?). anyway i can't find a friend with a decent mobo so i'm just gonna take my chance and rma. i've done all the testing i can on this board anyhow :/

thanks again for all your help ^^