G Skill RipjawsX. Added additional 8gb of the same RAM. Won't boot at specified 2133mhz, only 1600mhz.

warriner

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Feb 14, 2015
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I built my PC about 2 years ago and used the G Skill RipjawsX, 2 sticks of 4gb each. I manually adjusted the timings in BIOS and everything has been fine. Today I added another 2 sticks of 4gb so I am running 4 sticks of 4gb each now. My PC didn't boot at first, it booted on the third attempt (it restarted itself) and the BIOS was automatically back to 1600mhz, but the same timings. (11-11-11-30).

I tried changing it back to 2133mhz but every time I have done that my computer won't boot properly. It self restarts a few times and BIOS automatically changes the setting back to 1600mhz.

Does anyone know what the problem might be? Is it worth worrying about? Would there be a big difference between 2133 and 1600?

Specs
Windows 7 64bit
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3
Processor: i7-3770 3.4Ghz
Memory: G Skills RipjawsX, 16gb
Graphics: Nvidia GTX660 Ti
 

pills161

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Nov 11, 2013
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There isn't a significant difference between the two speeds but if they are all rated to do 2133 then I'd want to figure out what is going on. Have you tried taking out the old sticks and running the new sticks at 2133 with desired timings to rule out the new memory is bad? Are the SKU's different between the two sets that would cause some compatibility issues? If the new sticks are exactly the same model as the old ones then maybe the system just doesn't like those timings with so many sticks installed. Have you tried leaving timings all at default and just try toggling the different XMP profiles?
 

warriner

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Feb 14, 2015
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I just tried your suggestion, of running the new RAM in place of the old RAM with the same settings I was using for the old RAM. It failed to boot and BIOS changed the frequency automatically after it restarted. I have a feeling it might be bad RAM. Does that happen often? I took the new RAM out and am just running the old RAM at 2133mhz with the proper timing.

They have the same SKU's, it is identical RAM.

I think that settles it though, thank you for the assistance!
 
The LGA1155 Ivy Bridge CPUs are specified to work with memory speeds no faster than DDR3-1600. Adding more memory modules greatly increases the load on the memory controller and makes it much more likely that running the memory way above spec will not work. (Many CPUs actually have to decrease memory speed as you add more memory modules due to this reason.) Your BIOS apparently set the memory back to its "officially supported" speed which is DDR3-1600 after your massive memory overclock caused the system to fail to boot. (That is pretty nifty- we always had to short the CMOS jumper to reset the BIOS if that happened "back in the day.")

I'd start first with trying to see if your system runs at DDR3-1866. Your RAM will have an XMP setting for DDR3-1866 as DDR3-1866 is the speed between DDR3-1600 and DDR3-2133. If it works, stick with it as it's as fast as you can go- your system fails at DDR3-2133. If it crashes too, load the XMP settings for DDR3-1600 (probably 7-8-7-21) instead of the failsafe JEDEC 11-11-11-30 timings as tightening up timings can increase performance as much or more than increasing frequency.
 

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum


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XMP per norm has two XMP profiles, generally both for the same spec freq - 1 is 'stock' the second is considered an enthusiast set (often simply the tighter CR of 1T or 1N is used instead of 2T/2N....there aren't multiple XMP profiles for different data rates - you are probably thinking of the JEDEC profiles
 

warriner

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Feb 14, 2015
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Thank you guys for all the insight and knowledge! I really appreciate the quick assistance, and I'll definitely check out tomshardware more often.

As for the issue, I really do think it was bad RAM. I installed only the new RAM as pills161 suggested and my system wouldn't boot up when I ran it with the same settings I was running the old RAM. It would only boot up at 1600. I think it is weird, and I don't know if that is something that happens often or not. I think if it was bad it would be bad across the board, not just at certain frequencies.

I completely took out the new RAM and have the old RAM running at 2133 like I usually do, for now.
 

SergeKV

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Jul 1, 2015
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My BIOS is resetting ram speed to 1333 :( I just can't cope with it.... I have managed to run PC on 1860 speed , but I sometimes still get messages''' hardware Error and blue screen'' or PC crushes while gaming.
My RAM 2133 COrsair 8GB (2x4)gb speed and Processor AMD A10-7850K
I have heard that I just have not compatible RAM for my MOBO :( do you think it is a case or it is all cause of CPU as you said?
Sorry what timing do I have to try to set RAM in 2133 and what vaultage and if possible please temm me same configs for 1866 if you can.
I have AI SUITE 3 Software which came with my MOB and it shows that my DRAM Voltage is 1.5 CPU Voltage 1.43750
I know you said to adjust DRam and MC vaultage, but what is MC sorry ?
I also have VDDNB Voltage shown 1.23750 and SB1.1 Vaultage 1.10