MSI X99 Will Not Post In Quad Channel

bchan31 · Apr 9, 2016

Parts List: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/g96xhM

Motherboard will not post with 4 ram modules. However, it has no issues in single, double, or triple channel.

It started when I tried a new XMP profile which caused the motherboard to not post at all. I cleared CMOS and dumped caps which did not help. I then tried to re-seat all the memory modules which did not help either. I was afraid that I may have damaged a module, so I tried a single stick in slot 1, which posted!

So I subsequently tested all four sticks and they are all functional. This led me to try in dual and triple channel which all posted just fine. However, when I try with the forth stick in slot 7, as the mobo manual states as the correct dimm slot for quad channel, it will not post. The mobo shows debug 55 which coincides with "no memory found." It also quickly shows debug 04 and 60. The 04 code could be D4, its hard to tell.

So then I tried the module in all other slots, thinking maybe I could run all 32gb in triple channel mode, but this did not post either. I have flashed my bios to no avail. Could I have some how damaged a dimm slot by trying an XMP profile? I am sure that the memory module itself is not the issue, as it works fine when I swap it out with any of the other 3 sticks.

Anyone have experience with this issue? The Googles yielded a few identical results, but no solution to the problem. Please help if you can! Thanks in advance.

EDIT: If anyone finds this post in the future, hopefully this will help someone. These are my results so far with testing on default BIOS settings:

- Checked CPU cooler for over tightening: Failed to post.

- Removed CPU and checked for bent pins and reseated CPU and cooler. Did not find any noticeable hardware problems: Failed to post.

- Tried RAM modules in odd configurations for reference. I am currently running 3 sticks in slots 1, 5, and 7. System posts and is running in triple channel config! This alleviates my concern that DIMM slot 7 is faulty. Tried all memory modules in all three slots and posts with no problems. This confirms that all modules seem to work and all slots seem to work. However, it will still not post when I add the 4th stick to slot 3: Failed to post in quad channel.

- Tried increasing System Agent Voltage (1.0v to 1.1v to 1.15v) to help the memory controller. Still will not post. Not exactly sure what the safe range is for SA voltage so will hold off on this for now: Failed to post.

-Increased VCCIO slightly to see if it affects memory controlling: Failed to post

- Underclocked memory to 1600mhz: Failed to post.

At this point, it looks like all the ram modules are fine and all the DIMM slots are fine. CPU socket looks fine on close inspection, so the only things left are CPU itself and PSU. Not sure how the PSU would affect it, but maybe I will try to fiddle with the mobo and cpu power connectors to see if maybe that has any effect. The only logical thing left is that the CPU has a faulty memory controller, and I'm not sure how to check that as I don't have another Haswell-E laying around haha. I will continue to post findings as I go. Hopefully someone will see this.

Darkbreeze · Apr 9, 2016

I've notified our resident memory guru about your problem. He's usually pretty good about helping out on difficult memory related threads so I expect he'd have been along before too long anyhow. Just out of curiosity, you're saying that all four slots that are populated when attempting quad channel have been tested when only operating dual or triple channel?

Are you populating as follows:

bchan31 · Apr 9, 2016

Hey thanks for the reply.

Yup I've tried dual channel in slots 1,5 and 1,3 and it posts. I've tried triple channel in 1, 3, 5 and 1, 5, 7 and that will post as well. This is after clearing CMOS for each config. When I tried to simply swap the module to a different slot on the same BIOS save, it would give me q-code 55 as well. But no matter how many times I try CMOS clearing, including removing the CMOS battery, I cannot get it to post with 4 modules installed, regardless of the order that I install them.

I was wondering, is there a logical chain of sorts to removing all onboard bios configs? The way I did it was I removed the CMOS battery, then memory modules, then the CPU, and reinstalled them in that order after checking. Is there a more efficient or effective chain of operations to get the board back to complete factory settings? And where would a BIOS flash fit into all of that? I wonder if I should try to flash back to v1 of the BIOS or whatever it shipped with. I'm not even sure how to check that. Thanks again.

helpstar · Apr 9, 2016

Did you clear the CMOS by jumper while psu was plugged off the wall socket

Tradesman1 · Apr 9, 2016

Try the DRAM voltage up + 0.05 initially with all 4 sticks - if no joy there, leave it and set the VCCSA to 1.2 and try

bchan31 · Apr 9, 2016

Hey helpstar thanks for the reply.

I removed the power cable completely when removing the CMOS battery, but I just turn off the PSU on/off switch when using the CMOS Clear button on my I/O board. I have not cleared CMOS by shorting it on the board itself.

bchan31 · Apr 9, 2016

Tradesman, I will try that when I get home from work tonight. Thanks for the advice.

Also, just for more context, the initial XMP profile that I tried which caused the issue changed the BCLK to 127. Not sure if that helps but I thought it might be relevant. Obviously, I am now back on default 100 BCLK.

Tradesman1 · Apr 9, 2016

Will be around

bchan31 · Apr 10, 2016

No dice, Tradesman. Increasing DRAM voltage and VCCSA to 1.2 did not post. Is there anything else in BIOS that may impact memory compatibility or memory controller functionality? I'm curious as to what VCCIO controls on Haswell.

Darkbreeze · Apr 10, 2016

http://www.overclock.net/t/1519310/what-does-vccsa-and-vccio-actually-do

bchan31 · Apr 10, 2016

I actually read that same post earlier today, but it seems like there are a lot of contradicting reports as to what actually affects the memory controller. There seems to be a few threads out there where VCCIO, especially the IO/D voltage affected memory stability. Either way, I've since tested lots of combinations of DRAM voltage, VCCSA and VCCIO and still none are getting past triple channel. This is odd haha. The most frustrating part is that I can't even isolate the piece of hardware that may be having an issue. So we keep testing then. Thanks again for the input.

Darkbreeze · Apr 10, 2016

Have you tried the configurations seen here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2452098/msi-x99s-sli-ram-issue.html

bchan31 · Apr 10, 2016

I have tried the configs shown. This was actually one of the first threads I saw about the issue. It seems odd that he is able to run in quad channel using slots indicated for two channels, A and B. I will give this another shot though and see if I can get something different. Thanks for the heads up.

On another note, I just realized that my motherboard changed the timings it is recognizing after that initial XMP attempt. My modules are rated matched at 16-18-18-35, but my BIOS is showinf 15-15-15-36. I'm gonna mess around with some timings.

Darkbreeze · Apr 10, 2016

There are usually two XMP profiles embedded in a given module. You may need to use a different one for quad operation or manually configure the settings to match the advertised specs. It almost sounds to me as if the motherboard is faulty though, or one of the modules is either faulty or just isn't playing nice with the others or with the memory controller. You might need to RMA the memory with the explanation that they won't play together in quad despite much effort to do so. Sometimes even matched and tested modules, just don't play together well.

I usually like to use G.Skill as I rarely have had a configuration or really any kind of issue with their Ripjaws or Trident modules.

bchan31 · Apr 10, 2016

I think that will end up being my first attempt at hardware swap, as it will be least expensive if they refuse an RMA. Gonna try some timings first and perhaps fiddle with cache ratios and voltages slightly as I've been reading that L3 cache can affect the memory controller. Thanks again.

bchan31 · Apr 10, 2016

OK, so the a faulty module finally reared it's ugly head. After trying more configurations and voltage settings, one module finally stopped working in any channel configuration. It seems like it was on its way out, but managed to boot a few times, trying to confuse me into thinking my CPU was the culprit. Darkbreeze, since I ordered the kit from Amazon and it has not been 30 days, they're offering a refund which is great and ordering a Ripjaws kit now.

Thank you guys for all your help!

Darkbreeze · Apr 10, 2016

Absolutely bchan. Our pleasure. Glad you got it figured out.

MSI X99 Will Not Post In Quad Channel

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