Need help regarding running ram and cpu in harmony please

connorsdad · 21 Dec 2014 at 10:00

First of all, hi everyone

I have a gigabyte z97p-d3 which states it works with 2133 ram if over clocked, the processor is an i7-4770K 3.50Ghz ( Haswell ) . The ram I have is Corsair CMY8GX3M2B2133C9R Vengeance Pro Series 16GB (4x4GB). Here is the problem, I have no idea at all what needs overclocking to get this ram running correctly, I can put components together but have 0 knowledge of bios options and overclocking. I am getting intermittent BSODs and depending on stick configurations I also get slow performance. At the moment I have a stable system using only 2 sticks in slots 2 and 4. I have enabled xmp profile 1 but I have read that although it says it's enabled in the bios it doesn't necessarily always work. After a brief chat with someone more knowledgeable than me they told me I would need to oc the processor to get the ram working correctly. Any help would be much appreciated.

setter · 21 Dec 2014 at 13:29

Hi and welcome to the forums.

You dont have to oc the cpu to get the ram running at it's rated speed. Unlike on some previous intel setups, the ram speed isnt linked to the older style cpu fsb. Setting XMP will put the ram to it's rated speed, timings and ddr voltage. I suspect your issues arise from using 16gb, for this you will have to raise the following voltages, SA, IOA, IOD. Theese voltages help to stabilise the onboard memory controller which is placed under more strain with 16gb. XMP doesnt adjust theese values. Ram speed can be checked under the memory tab of cpuz.

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

connorsdad · 21 Dec 2014 at 15:13

Thanks for your advice, how much should I adjust those values by?

setter · 21 Dec 2014 at 15:17

Id try each at 1.15v, running a bit higher on mine and havent had any issues.

connorsdad · 21 Dec 2014 at 16:20

Sorry to be a nuisance, I can't find these items in my bios, could they be labelled as something else.

connorsdad · 21 Dec 2014 at 16:32

Ah, are these it ?

CPU System Agent Voltage
CPU I/O Analog Voltage
CPU I/O Digital Voltage

At the moment they're all set to auto.

setter · 21 Dec 2014 at 16:41

Yep, thats the ones. Often auto doesnt feed them enough when using more ram.

connorsdad · 21 Dec 2014 at 16:43

The values are from -0.300v to +0.400v

setter · 21 Dec 2014 at 16:56

Try each at +0.15. Your motherboard is a bit different from mine when it comes to settings.

connorsdad · 21 Dec 2014 at 21:05

Thank you for your advice, bit scared to up the voltages incase I fry something. At the minute it is stable with only 2 sticks, if it plays up again I will then up the voltages. Thanks for taking the time to read and reply