Problems with Crucial RAM on Gigabyte mobo.

RTopsy · Nov 13, 2013

Hello

I'm in a small 'dilemma' with my computer.
I've put this rig together two weeks ago, and I've had booting issues since then, and I can't fully figure out what is causing it. (got good help from a few mates already, but nothing helped, sadly)

First off, I know my ram is not on gigabytes qvl for the board, however the board is on Crucials compatibility list.. And my my PC doesn't always behave like the RAM is incompatible, which confuses me somewhat. Sorry if I'm rambling a bit, lets get to the problem. (and hope the rambling stops)

4 out of 5 times I start my PC it get's into a bootloop on code 15 (Pre memory NorthBridge initialization is started). It'll just go on and on.
After shutting it off (pressing the button a while) and starting it again it may work or get into another loop. Usually it doesn't even manage to POST, (it rarely POSTs then restarts, but it did happen)

Occasionally it also just freezes on code 71 (PCH SMM initialization), or whilst loading windows.

I've tried lots of settings in the BIOS (can't even remember everything anymore, sorry), disabled dual channel, tried xmp profile, tried them at 1333mhz, at 1600mhz, disabled C states, tried booting with no HDD, SSD, or GPU etc etc.
Up to today I was thinking my PSU was the offender, since things seemed to have pointed to it.

So today I could get hold of my mates 2x8gb Corsair XMS3 (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) memory and, to my surprise my computer booted flawlessly.

So I took my RAM out and tried every stick alone in slot 1. > Booted every time, no problem
Tried them in slot 2 > didn't boot, > slot 3 > didn't boot > slot 4 > didn't boot.
Then proceeded to try two sticks at once. Slot 1 & 3 > no boot > slot 2 & 4 > not working either.
3 don't work either and 4 obviously aren't working well either.
I also looked that I didn't just try sticks together, but only those that were in the package with each other (got two with blue & orange leds, and two with red & green).

This might of course be something to do with the motherboard, but my mates RAM worked fine in slot 1 & 3..

So now I guess this all sounds like a compatibility issue, but the strange this is that every few tries the computer boots totally fine and runs without any problems whatsoever!? I'd have thought that if it were incompatible that it would just not work..

System:
CPU: i5 4670k
MoBo: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-OC
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracers 4x4gb (1x BLT2KIT4G3D1869DT2TXOB and 1x BLT2KIT4G3D1869DT2TXRG)
GPU: GTX 460 1gb
SSD: Crucial M4 128gb
PSU: Lepa G850-MAS

I'm very sorry if this post is a bit of a mess, I'm pretty tired by now, but I hope my problem is clear-ish.
Feel free to ask if you need more info.

Thanks!

Edit, just remembered that I'd done this video for my mates to get a picture. Sadly it's not in 720p and you can't read the codes off the mobo, but they're pretty much usually 15 or 71.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfd9HB1iuOs

scout_03 · Nov 13, 2013

if you look at your motherboard user manual 15 and 71 are regular post code the other thing you have ram with 2 separate serial number so use the same pair in the same channel also i seen a memsafe button did you try it this board also have a dual bios and with the 24 pins she also need a 4 and 8 pins atx power cable use the motherboard manual to check this and your bios seyyings to see if memory been seen as it should in it .

RTopsy · Nov 14, 2013

Thanks for your answer.

- I am using the same pair together in the channels.
- Memsafe button sadly did not change anything at all, just checked again.
- What should I be trying with the dual bios? Last time I changed the switch nothing really happened at all..
- The 4 and the 8pin power cables are both in since I did the video (my mate pointed it out back then, didn't make a difference though)
- Memory is recognized properly in the BIOS as far as I can tell.

Tradesman1 · Nov 14, 2013

Do you have the latest BIOS? Latest mobo drivers? If no, get them and then try and see, if Yes, then try sicks in 1 -3 and see if you can boot to BIOS, if so, enable XMP and then raise DRAM voltage + 0.05

RTopsy · Nov 14, 2013

Bios is updated to the latest version, F6 (2013/08/05).
Not entirely sure about the motherboard drivers, I'll update them just to make sure after I've caught some sleep. Hope it'll make a change!
Thanks for the suggestion

Edit; you mean the Chipset drivers I assume? (IMEI version 9.5.15.1730 and Intel INF installation 9.4.0.1027)
Can only find audio, sata, lan, usb and vga otherwise..

Tradesman1 · Nov 14, 2013

No worries, keep us updated, sleep good 1

scout_03 · Nov 15, 2013

link for all the driver hoose your os http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4514#dl

RTopsy · Nov 15, 2013

Well, I installed the newest chipset drivers and it sadly didn't change anything.
I then tried with memory (matching product codes) in slot 1 & 3 anyways and couldn't boot to BIOS regularly. Still upped the voltage by 0.05 when I made it, but that didn't make a difference either..
Only way I can manage to boot on every try is with 1 (any) memory module in slot 1. :S

scout_03 · Nov 15, 2013

then you will have to rma the board there is a issue with the memory slot .

Tradesman1 · Nov 15, 2013

Did you try with 2 sticks in slots 2-4

RTopsy · Nov 16, 2013

Yep, slots 2 & 4 give the same result..

I can't really say that my board is faulty as, as I said earlier, it worked fine with my mates RAM.

Tradesman1 · Nov 16, 2013

You mentioned 'matching product codes', so these are not sticks from a single package? Have you tried with the increased DRAM voltage? If so, may just be you have two sticks that don't want to play nice - happens all the time - which is why always best to buy a single set of DRAM in the amount you want

RTopsy · Nov 16, 2013

I said matching product codes because I got two 2er sets.
BLT2KIT4G3D1869DT2TXOB
and
BLT2KIT4G3D1869DT2TXRG

Both contain 2x4gb. The only difference is the LED colour, but I still do use the ones from the same package together in 1 & 3 and those from the other one in 2 & 4 just to be sure.

And yes, I tried increasing the voltage. (and switching the LEDs off too)

RTopsy · Nov 22, 2013

Just a small update;

Finally got round to trying the memory on my mates computer. Worked fine..

So it's probably my mobo.

(or PSU?)
Also noticed that my casefan I built in today won't power up properly everytime I start it (worked fine on the previous computer). It needs a small shunt and then it'll run pretty slow.. Seems like it's just not getting enough power?

Tradesman1 · Nov 22, 2013

COuld you borrow a different PSU to test with?

RTopsy · Nov 22, 2013

Yes, I've (finally) organized one for tomorrow

Tradesman1 · Nov 22, 2013

Will check back and see how it's going

RTopsy · Nov 26, 2013

So, I finally came round to try it and it really seems to be a PSU issue.
I just plugged the 24pin and the 8 and 4pin CPU plugs in and powered it up (no gpu, ssd or hdd) and it beeped everytime and go to the BIOS.

If I do the same with my PSU it won't manage to do that.

Still don't quite understand why it works with different RAM / only RAM plugged in in slot #1.. :S

Thanks for the help

Tradesman1 · Nov 26, 2013

Keep us updated

RTopsy · Nov 28, 2013

So I was at the local shop today with my PSU. The chap there tested it and found no issue at all!..

Now I really have no idea what it could be.

it works with my PSU and different RAM
it works with my RAM and a different PSU
it works with my PSU and one of my RAM in slot 1

This seems to be going in circles. I've really got no ideas anymore what it could be. I'm even starting to wonder if it's actually our house electricity causing it, but that seems a bit far fetched. (would that even be possible)

Or is it possible that my PSU doesn't like my RAM?

Tradesman1 · Nov 28, 2013

Try raising the VCCSA voltage + 0.06

scout_03 · Nov 28, 2013

we gone check 2 things first shut the system and remove the ac plug then open the case and gently move the norht and south bridge cooler if there is any movemnet in it rma the board been bad soldering to the board and cause system to boot and non boot .

RTopsy · Dec 10, 2013

^there wasn't any movement or anything.

A mate had found this thread where others were having a similar problem. http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?t=1092284
I then PMed that Dino22 chap on youtube (because OcAU don't allow you to sign up with a free email..) and he said that the problem looks very much like a PSU incompatibility, except that the some code errors I get also point to a slight RAM incombatibility issue.

Not entirely sure if it's true about the RAM, but I really couldn't be bothered having to try even longer to get everything to work together.

I now bought myself an Asus ROG Maximus VI and the problem is solved.

Will try and sell my 'old' mobo.

I hope no one else will have the same issue, but if it does happen I hope this thread will somewhat be a help.

Thanks a lot for the ideas!

Tradesman1 · Dec 10, 2013

Should love the ROG, they all handle DRAM rather well and OC well, welcome to the ROG

Problems with Crucial RAM on Gigabyte mobo.

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