Help setting the proper RAM speeds on my Crosshair V Formula Z

Zentropa · Dec 7, 2015

Hi all! I have perused the forums for similar instances as the one I'm about to post about, but none were 'identical' though they did offer insight. Hopefully this is a simple fix.

For the sake of brevity here are my pertinent specs:
ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD FX 9590 H20 Cooled AM3+ 8C DT 220W BE H2O Processor FD9590FHHKWOX
G.SKILL Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin 2133 MHz (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-2133C10D-16GAB

Upon viewing a few youtube videos on "how to" maximize RAM speeds, I have done as instructed but I continue to see in Speccy and CPU-Z that my RAM speeds are not indicative of the advertised 2400MHz (OC) of the board, or the RAM's DDR 2133 (PC3 17000) though I've had success manually setting the timing to 10-12-12-31 which it advertises.

Despite building my own desktops, I am really an amateur working within the BIOS.. Below are the screenshots from CPU-Z of my RAM, followed by Speccy's shot of the specifications of the same thing:

I am almost positive I have set the correct RAM frequency within the BIOS but it's as though it reverts to a lower one after rebooting. Am I reading this incorrectly; the random 1.5V (the memory says it's 1.6v) the low MHz nowhere near 2133, etc. Or is this functioning at a far lower speed than it ought to due to my negligence within the BIOS?

The full CPU-Z Validation report is here: http://valid.x86.fr/s1m85t

Any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated. I love my desktop and want to get the most out of it

ayashi · Dec 7, 2015

barto · Dec 7, 2015

Well it looks like you're using XMP 1.3 which is what you should be using for overclocking RAM. What's interesting is the RAM looks to be running at 814 Mhz (~1600Mhz) (DDR = Double Data Rate) and not the 1067 you've set in the XMP profile. Have you tried leaving the timings in auto but increasing the frequency?

Zentropa · Dec 7, 2015

barto :

Thanks for the prompt response barto. No, I haven't tried that; primarily because I have absolutely no idea how or what that is/entails. Could you possibly offer some instructions or screenshots that would help navigate me to this setting? Pretend you are dealing with one of those higher functioning autism types who can build a computer with their eyes closed, but cannot understand the BIOS if my life depended on it :??:

barto · Dec 7, 2015

Zentropa :

Okay well that explains everything. And, it's not a big deal. I talk to non technical people everyday about technical problems. I'm used to it.

What is XMP?
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php/700532-What-exactly-is-XMP

How do I change my RAM?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dih6rEeDYcQ

Edit: Try without manually modifying timings or modifying the voltage.

Calvin7 · Dec 7, 2015

You write about advertised 2400MHz (OC) of the board.

FX CPU's support:
1866MHz with one DIMM per channel
1600MHz with two DIMMs per channel
higher frequencies require an overclocked system (OC).

(OC) example
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1752459/dominator-platinum-8320.html

Zentropa · Dec 7, 2015

Calvin7 :

You are correct, however my current speeds aren't even near either 1866/1600MHz. I'm going to try barto's suggestion if I can wrap my mind around it and post my results as soon as I complete it--providing I don't blow up something in the process

Zentropa · Dec 7, 2015

barto :

I tried as you said, though it doesn't appear to have brought fruition.. Here's what's shown in the SPD tab in my BIOS now:

And once more, CPU-Z and Speccy's RAM stats:

Something tells me I'm not going to emerge victorious in this RAM debacle -_-

Zentropa · Dec 7, 2015

Also, I'm not sure if it make any difference since functionality hasn't wavered since I threw the rig together, but my two 8GB sticks are occupying slots 2 and 4, rather than 1 and 3 like my previous machines traditionally did. I figured it didn't make a difference since it still displayed as dual channel. I don't know if it means anything, but the "JEDEC" row is where the memory speeds decide to show a fraction of its promised performance. I see no way of changing this in the BIOS. So yea, total loss here. I could get the memory from that video you posted but I'd prefer not to spend any extra money on something that I don't believe is a flaw in the hardware..

Calvin7 · Dec 8, 2015

CROSSHAIR V FORMULA-Z has two ways to setup the memory.
1) D.O.C.P. (Dram OverClock Profile)
2) Manually

DOCP will set memory to XMP (eXtreme Memory Profile), however you don't want 2133MHz speed for a non-overclocked FX-9590.

You want to set it to 1866MHz and can do so manually.

Looking at the downloadable Asus manual. (8.94 MBytes - update 2012/09/25)

1) page 3-6 .. Change Ai Overclock Tuner to [Manual] from [Auto].
2) page 3-7 .. Change Memory Frequency to [DDR3-1866MHz] from [Auto]
3) page 3-8 .. DRAM Timing Control
Your memory is listed as using Timing 10-12-12-31 at DDR3-2133MHz. Since you are going to run at 1866MHz you can run tighter timings so you can reduce the numbers. Use 9-11-11-30.

Looking at page 3-8.
Load 4GB Settings [No]
Load PSC chip settings [No]
Looking at page 3-9
Primary Timings
DRAM Cas# Latency - set your first timing number here to [9]
Next number to [11]
Next number to [11]
Next number to [30]
4) DRAM Voltage
default value is 1.5 volts
your RAM is listed as 1.5v at 1333MHz or 1.6v at 2133MHz
Looking at page 3-13 .. DRAM Voltage change to 1.6v from [Auto]

Save and Exit BIOS

Zentropa · Dec 8, 2015

Calvin7 :

Thank you so much for digging into the manual Calvin. Thing is, I just threw in two 8GB sticks of PNY PC3-14900 / 1866 from another rig I built to see if I encountered the same issue..and I didn't..

Nonetheless, I will put the G.Skill memory back in and go over your steps to see if I neglected anything. I followed the steps in the video posted in response to my very first post to the letter, including the manual setting of the timings and voltages,
however I definitely didn't set the timings according to the 1866MHz timings (9-11-11-30). Everything else seems to have followed what you so kindly posted from the manual. I will post back with the results.

Calvin, I cannot help but ask, given the new sticks I slapped in being PC3-14900 / 1866MHz / CAS10 / 1.5V, would you use the same timing settings you posted above since essentially, the factory settings of these other memory sticks are what the G.Skill ones are being set 'down' to?

Forgive me for taking advantage of your knowledge, I desperately need it and you were very thorough. You have my thanks. I am curious if I should set the CAS to 9 on these PNY sticks given they appear to be stock at 10, but again, I am miserable when it comes to most things RAM related.

Zentropa · Dec 9, 2015

Even with the new PNY Memory I tried I managed to score higher frequencies, but Windows Experience Rating dropped the previous 7.9 to a 7.8 (not that it's truly accurate.)

I know I'm missing something really simple. If I don't want to overclock anything, how should I go about doing this? Calvin's notes are what I'm following but I'm missing a few things (DOCP? Extreme Tweaking Mode?) Nearing the end of my wits here; At work now but I'll find my manual when I get home tonight and try one more time with the original memory (G.SKill)

All advice is verrrry welcome.

Zentropa · Dec 10, 2015

Alright, updates and screenshots. I've done as Calvin recommended, along with quite a few other things. The results are varying but (for what it's worth) my RAM performance is still a 7.8 instead of 7.9. May the computer gods smile upon me for once with this endless madness my RAM is beginning to manifest.

Here are the BIOS settings I'm currently using:

Here are shots of CPU-Z and Speccy's results to the above BIOS setting. I still can make no sense of it, or why the performance has seemingly ended up lower than it was initially.. I'm at wit's end, and while I regularly overclock my 9590 to around 5GHz I gain no actual benefit from it aside from what my ego appreciates, so I'm willing to sacrifice any settings just to get my RAM working at its fastest possible state.

I will have my eyes perpetually on this thread so please, please let me know if you've any ideas or thoughts how to rectify this stupidly annoying debacle.

gskill support · Dec 10, 2015

Do you have the latest BIOS?

I suggest not adjusting CPU clock and etc. First get the RAM stable, then you can OC however you like.

The motherboard and CPU should be able to handle 2133 with two modules in the same color slots furthest away from the CPU.

First step is to try DOCP alone. Enable it, test either one module or both together to see if the system can work properly. You can also manually reduce DRAM frequency to 1866 to see how that works. Because if 1866 is stable but not 2133, you can consider increasing the CPU-NB Voltage.

If DOCP does not seem to work well, you will need to try manual settings. This involves inputting DRAM Frequency, timings, and voltage as shown on the RAM. Depending on the results of this, you may also need to consider manually setting the CPU-NB Voltage.

Don't worry about any other settings. Focus on the task at hand first, once this is resolved, everything else can fall into place. Keep us posted on the results.

Zentropa · Dec 10, 2015

gskill support :

Thanks for the prompt response! Are you saying to put the RAM in the two furthest (from the CPU) slots, disabling dual channel? I'm guessing no since they would be two different colors, meaning that's what I currently have as my RAM setup (slots 2 and 4 are occupied instead of 1 and 3). No problem if so, just confirming. Also, I will set everything back to default/optimized defaults, then enable DOCP.

Do I need to reset the CMOS or anything? I have seen people suggest that while digging for similar issues/solutions to this but nothing stood out as concrete.

Lastly, if I only utilize DOCP, should I leave DRAM Frequency as [AUTO] as well as the 1.5 voltage? I don't want to goof up the advice you were nice enough to offer so I'm erring on the side of caution before I do it

Thanks again, I'm really hoping it'll work this time--I will try it once I hear back from you and report the results.

gskill support · Dec 11, 2015

Hard resetting CMOS is a good idea when starting fresh and trying to avoid any possible incorrect settings. Things can change on accident or we forget to change them back when trying something so reverting to default can help.

With DOCP enabled, DRAM frequency, timings, and Voltage should be set to what is shown on the RAM itself.

Zentropa · Dec 13, 2015

Well, I did as you suggested (it was a good try) setting everything to optimized defaults and DOCP as the OC setting, touching nothing else--then reset the CMOS and did a full boot. The frequencies went from 667 to around 866ish, but still nowhere near 1866, or 2200, let alone even 1333.

I'm at a loss here but I can't believe it's faulty hardware--or maybe I just don't want to.. Any other suggestions guys? I'm out of ideas. Even manually setting the frequency and saving it does nothing. BIOS are the most recent as well, which was the last thing I checked before posting.

Has anyone successfully utilized the higher frequencies of G.SKill Ares DDR3 RAM? I have seen nearly all enthusiasts with my motherboard using Corsair Vengeance, without issue--practically plug/play. I saw no conflicts on the supported memory list on the manual either for G.SKill Ares.

Dunno, now I'm just shooting out ideas for shiggles. I really want this to work

gskill support · Dec 14, 2015

The frequency is double if you are looking at DRAM Frequency in the memory tab of CPU-Z

667MHz is DDR3-1333
800MHz is DDR3-1600
933MHz is DDR3-1866
1066MHz is DDR3-2133

Zentropa · Dec 14, 2015

I truly didn't know that! My CPU-Z Validation shows:

Memory (RAM)
Total Size
16384 MB
Type
Dual Channel (128 bit) DDR3-SDRAM
Frequency
814.7 MHz - Ratio 1:4
Timings
10-12-12-31-40 (tCAS-tRC-tRP-tRAS-tCS)
Slot #1 Module
G.Skill 8192 MB (DDR3-1337) - XMP 1.3
Slot #2 Module
G.Skill 8192 MB (DDR3-1337) - XMP 1.3

But 814.7 + 814.7 is 1629.4.. but it's stating DDR3-1337. I...just don't even know anymore.

gskill support · Dec 14, 2015

Correct, notice your CPU bus speed is ~203.68MHz, with an 8X memory multiplier you get DDR3-1629.44 (814.72MHz)

The slight overclock might be because you used memOK or some auto tune feature..

For 1866 and higher, you need to manually input settings correctly and not use any auto OC options since they don't necessarily utilize optimal values.

Help setting the proper RAM speeds on my Crosshair V Formula Z

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