Replaced old CPU cooler, now RAM won't run at 1866MHz

Beef4104 · Jun 3, 2014

I replaced my FX-8320's stock fan to a CM Hyper 212 Evo and when I turned my PC back on it would crash during the "starting windows" phase. The machine would just reboot and I would be back at the BIOS POST screen. So I went ahead and cleared the CMOS which defaulted my RAM back down to the AM3+ platform's native 1333MHz. After booting up and seeing my CPU's temperatures were great I went ahead and tried to get my RAM back up to its max speed. The problem I'm faced with is that I can only get it back up to 1600MHz. Whenever I set my speed up to 1866MHz I get the Gigabyte BIOS message that there was a problem booting. Either that or sometimes it gets to the "starting windows" phase before crashing and then sending me back to the BIOS POST screen again. This happens when both manually setting the speed or using both XMP profiles. At one point I did get it back up to 1866MHz but the system would only detect one of my 8GB sticks, which is obviously single channel (as reported by CPU-Z).

I've done everything here from switching between which DIMM slots I've used but no matter what it won't boot with it set to 1866MHz. I even set my my memory's timings manually (9 - 10 - 9 - 28 + CommandRate 2) which didn't work. Then I tried looser timings which still didn't work. Neither XMP profiles worked, which is how I had it at running at 1866MHz previously. I've spent hours resetting the BIOS and trying different settings but whatever I do it just won't run at full speed. I even stopped my 4GHz overclock to see if that would fix it. I also raised the RAM voltage which did nothing. I also tried using the FSB instead of the multiplier to get it up to speed but that would just continue the crashing trend.

I'm really perplexed here guys. How the hell did changing my CPU cooler make it impossible for my memory to run at full speed? When I pulled my CPU out, to change coolers, maybe some how I damaged the chip's memory controller, or is that just stupid for me to even think? Maybe I can borrow my friend's FX-8320 next weekend and see if changing chips will fix it. I'll probably have to run memtest tonight now that changing the DIMM slots didn't fix anything.

For the record, this is my RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231627

Here are my specs just in case, any help is REALLY appreciated guys as I'd really love to run my RAM at 1866MHz the way I paid for it run.

AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz Vishera
Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 rev 4.0
G.Skill Sniper 16GB DDR3-1866 RAM @ 1600MHz
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB WindForce
Western Digital Black 2TB SATA-III HDD
Antec 1100 Illusion case
Antec HCG 850W PSU
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64

i7Baby · Jun 3, 2014

Does your cooler hit the top of the ram? Can you move the cooler without it touching the ram?

bgunner · Jun 3, 2014

Possible bad ram stick and or possible bad ram slot. The memory controller is inside the CPU so to damage that you would have to touch the pins on the CPU.

Beef4104 · Jun 3, 2014

i7Baby :

If in DIMM1 it does but right now I'm using DIMM2 and 4 so no it's not touching the cooler currently.

i7Baby · Jun 3, 2014

Where is it supposed to be per mobo manual?

If you moved slots, did you redo XMP in bios?

Tradesman1 · Jun 3, 2014

Try resetting the CMOS then try the sticks, it's all possible you have the new cooler too tight in a corner or on one side unblanacing the CPU, could try loosening the cooler then snug it down

Beef4104 · Jun 4, 2014

i7Baby :

Yes I retried all my XMP profiles as well as specific manual settings, but even after changing DIMMs the best I can get is 1600MHz. For dual channel operation the motherboard manual states that it should be like this:

[empty] [RAM] [empty] [RAM] (Current setup, so the cooler isn't touching)

Although the manual states it can also be reversed like this:

[RAM] [empty] [RAM] [empty]

If all four DIMM slots are full (which they aren't) the platform supports a max speed of 1333MHz, although a lot of people with the FX series would get 1600MHz stable unlike those still with Phenom II's.

bgunner :

That's what I'm afraid of so I'll run memtest soon. I actually pulled the chip out of the socket to remove the the old thermal compound before putting on my new cooler. The fact I handled it just makes the question come up in my head. But let's be honest here dude, if it was the CPU's memory controller I doubt the thing would POST at all.

Tradesman1 :

I'll try this when I have an opportunity. I've actually already scheduled a day to trouble shoot this with my buddy. His specs are nearly exactly the same so I'll be able to isolate every single one of my parts in his computer and vice versa. Tonight I'm probably going to be running memtest while I sleep so I'll be sure to update this if I encounter any errors.

Thanks for all the replies so far guys.

i7Baby · Jun 4, 2014

Download and run MemTest.

Beef4104 · Jun 4, 2014

i7Baby :

Ran memtest on both sticks at the same time. I had to keep them at 1600MHz instead of 1866MHz because whenever I would try to boot with the higher speed I'd get the boot failure prompt by the Gigabyte BIOS. After 6 hours of running while I was asleep I checked on it, no errors.

Any other ideas my friend?

i7Baby · Jun 4, 2014

Might be something screwy with your motherboard.

Did you tighten the cooler down onto the ram at any stage?

bgunner · Jun 4, 2014

just for info, due to the style of the fan brackets on the Hyper 212's you can actually move the fan up a little to add some clearance for the ram.

This being said, Is it possible for you to do this and get your ram back into the first slot? IF so, try setting your system back to the 1866 speed with the ram in the original slots.

6R1M01R3 · Jun 4, 2014

It is possible that you need to increase the NB frequency and voltage to get the ram running @1866Ghz. Something similar happened to me when I wanted to run my sticks at that speed with an A10 5800k+ ASUS FM2a85-le

Beef4104 · Jun 4, 2014

i7Baby :

Negative, when I put on the cooler I had the fan detached so that there wouldn't be any contact with the RAM at all. Either tomorrow or Friday I'm going to test my memory at 1866MHz in my friend's machine (same motherboard except rev 1.1 instead of 4.0) and I'm also going see if my motherboard can run his memory at 1866MHz. I'm also going to swap his FX-8320 for my FX-8320 and see if that makes a difference in the ability to set my RAM to 1866MHz. This way we can isolate if it's RAM, CPU or Motherboard related if I can get different results with different (although identical) hardware.

His PC is nearly identical in specifications so I'll be able to isolate every single one of my components by using his hardware as a testing bed.

bgunner :

Fully aware of that, I actually have it slightly higher to allow for more clearance. I'll give using the original slots a go when I have the time. I'm also going to give memtest another shot except doing one stick at a time this time, and also seeing if I can get each individual stick (by itself) up to 1866MHz (and perhaps even higher) to see if it's a problem only when I run both sticks at once.

6R1M01R3 :

I'll give that a shot too, but it seems unlikely since I was running at 1866MHz perfectly (using XMP profiles) before I attached my new cooler.

Thanks for the replies so far again guys. Once I have my friend's PC to do some cross checking with I'll report back in to let you know of any new discoveries.

Beef4104 · Jun 6, 2014

Update and bump:

I got my friend's house and ran my RAM in his system, which has an FX-8320 and GA-990FXA-UD3 rev 1.1. My RAM booted perfectly at 1866MHz. I also put his RAM in my system and at 1866MHz it still crashes despite being different RAM. The only way to get his RAM stable was to lower it to 1600MHz, just like mine. This should rule out that it's my RAM that is faulty. For the record he has G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (8GB x2) DDR3-1866 (10-11-10-30) while I have G.Skill Sniper Series 16GB (8GB x2) DDR3-1866 (9-10-9-28)

Up next we'll be switching CPU's to try to narrow if it's my CPU that has a damaged memory controller or if it's my motherboard.

Thanks for the replies. If you have any additional ideas let me know.

Tradesman1 · Jun 6, 2014

Good plan, I'd guess a weak MC (memory controller) in your CPU (amd in general has weak MCs (comparitively speaking to Intel MCs), but may well be the mobo

i7Baby · Jun 6, 2014

OK - so its not your RAM if yours works in his pc and his ram doesn't work in yours.

Its very rare to find something goes wrong with a cpu memory controller. I'd say its 95% sure that its a mobo problem. eg Static discharge, mechanical deformation, etc.

Beef4104 · Jun 6, 2014

When I pulled my CPU out I was surprised to find a bent pin. We bent it back in place and tested in his GA-990FXA-UD3 rev 1.1. My CPU is fine despite this annoying set back. However, now my board won't boot with either of our CPUs (major bummer). I guess pulling my CPU out one more time was the last straw; we've come to conclusion I have a defective socket/motherboard, so now I'm completely without a working computer (wow LOL). I'll be contacting Gigabyte for an RMA, and will probably go to Fry's tomorrow and pick up another GA-990FXA-UD3 to use a temporary board. If I have any problems after that I'll report back in. Thanks for everything guys.

Tradesman1 · Jun 6, 2014

Bummer, will be looking for an update

Beef4104 · Jun 7, 2014

Tradesman1 :

HUGE bummer, but for a small update: I ran my system without a CPU in it at all. The fans spun but there were no beep codes or anything, which only cements in my mind that it's the motherboard. I hope that Fry's has my model in stock when I get there tomorrow.

i7Baby · Jun 7, 2014

Did you pull the cpu out for any reason previously? I'm just wondering how the pin got bent.

Beef4104 · Jun 7, 2014

No I haven't. The only times I've ever removed the CPU were to put the new cooler on and today to troubleshoot. The fact it won't boot with either processors makes me think it's the board man. If I get a replacement board tomorrow and it doesn't work I'll be furious, although my processor is confirmed to work in my friends motherboard. It's just a shame this had to happen, I loved this damn rig.

i7Baby · Jun 7, 2014

Ah - that's what I was thinking. Any reason for pulling the cpu out to put the cooler on?

Beef4104 · Jun 7, 2014

It was just to inspect it and clean the old thermal compound off.

i7Baby · Jun 7, 2014

They are fiddly and delicate. I would've cleaned the paste off in situ.

Beef4104 · Jun 7, 2014

I had to take the old mounting bracket off and put the new one on so I think it was a situation where it was acceptable.

Replaced old CPU cooler, now RAM won't run at 1866MHz

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