Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 7
BIOS Version F8 (flashed to latest)
Intel Core i7-4790K CPU @ 4Ghz
RAM KIT: 32GB G SKILL RIPJAWS X (F3-1066CL9Q-32GBXL)
DDR3-1333 CL9-9-9-24 1.50v
PC3-10666 8Gx4
Searched forums at length already but I've done all other basic troubleshooting all other threads suggest before suggesting RMA or contacting Gigabyte support.
CPU WILL boot with 1 or 2 sticks but NOT with 3 or 4 sticks.
CPU will boot with 1 or 2 sticks but ONLY if those sticks are in slot "1" or "3".
Slot "1" is slot 1 of memory channel "A"
Slot "3" is slot 1 of memory channel "B"
This means that CPU will only boot with RAM in slot 1 or memory channel "A" or "B".
If I install a stick in slot "3" or "4" (slot 2 of channel "A" or "B"), lights come on, fans start, two-digit code on MOBO cycles from C0-C5 then stops at C0, CPU starts continuous fast beeps for maybe 15 seconds then everything kills to totally off for maybe 5 seconds. Then above cycle automatically repeats indefinitely.
This means that for some reason... CPU just won't boot with RAM in slot 2 of channel "A" or "B".
I'm reusing this memory from my old machine so I know it all works just fine. It's been rock solid for years. Just to be safe however, I've done all of the typically suggested troubleshooting. I've tested each stick in the slots I know are working and they all cause CPU to boot to OS just fine.
And here's where it gets weird...
Several forums/threads suggest that I "simply enable XMP".
This has worked for me in the past, I think.
However, in the BIOS, the XMP option is set to "disabled" and greyed out.
So I researched XMP and it should be compatible with my specific MOBO, CPU and RAM as far as I can tell. Incidentally, there are several G SKILL "Memory Overclocking Profiles" that are selectable but I've tried selecting them (they don't match the specific model of my RAM anyway) and nothing happens.
So my questions are:
A) Does XMP have anything to do with it at all to begin with?
B) If so, how do I enable it and why is it greyed out?
C) If not, why can't I boot with more than 2 sticks of RAM?
Also to save the trouble of asking: I've visually inspected slots 3 and 4 and don't see anything physically damaged about them. They look perfect and it doesn't seem worth getting in there and cleaning the contacts with isopropyl, etc... Ergo, I can't GUARANTEE that slots 3 and 4 aren't physically damaged causing a hardware RMA issue... but it seems unlikely to me that only slots 3 and 4 would be damaged and 1 and 2 would be fine. Just a feeling but it seems to me more like a setting somewhere as opposed to damaged hardware.
Unfortunately, I don't have other RAM to test the slots with but I want to avoid having to buy more RAM just to test the slots that I'm reasonably sure are fine. Especially when I know my RAM is just fine as well.
I also have my MOBO and everything installed in my case so I'm not looking forward to ripping everything out and replacing the board so trying to avoid that if possible.
I've built PCs before and I know there's always some problem solving along the way. I've always been able to figure things out in the past but I'm completely stuck here.
I'm definitely not a noob but I've never messed with any overclock settings and have usually left these settings at "auto" for the most part. I have a feeling messing with some of these settings could solve my problem but I'm cautious about digging in past "auto" without knowing what I'm doing.
Please help. THANKS
BIOS Version F8 (flashed to latest)
Intel Core i7-4790K CPU @ 4Ghz
RAM KIT: 32GB G SKILL RIPJAWS X (F3-1066CL9Q-32GBXL)
DDR3-1333 CL9-9-9-24 1.50v
PC3-10666 8Gx4
Searched forums at length already but I've done all other basic troubleshooting all other threads suggest before suggesting RMA or contacting Gigabyte support.
CPU WILL boot with 1 or 2 sticks but NOT with 3 or 4 sticks.
CPU will boot with 1 or 2 sticks but ONLY if those sticks are in slot "1" or "3".
Slot "1" is slot 1 of memory channel "A"
Slot "3" is slot 1 of memory channel "B"
This means that CPU will only boot with RAM in slot 1 or memory channel "A" or "B".
If I install a stick in slot "3" or "4" (slot 2 of channel "A" or "B"), lights come on, fans start, two-digit code on MOBO cycles from C0-C5 then stops at C0, CPU starts continuous fast beeps for maybe 15 seconds then everything kills to totally off for maybe 5 seconds. Then above cycle automatically repeats indefinitely.
This means that for some reason... CPU just won't boot with RAM in slot 2 of channel "A" or "B".
I'm reusing this memory from my old machine so I know it all works just fine. It's been rock solid for years. Just to be safe however, I've done all of the typically suggested troubleshooting. I've tested each stick in the slots I know are working and they all cause CPU to boot to OS just fine.
And here's where it gets weird...
Several forums/threads suggest that I "simply enable XMP".
This has worked for me in the past, I think.
However, in the BIOS, the XMP option is set to "disabled" and greyed out.
So I researched XMP and it should be compatible with my specific MOBO, CPU and RAM as far as I can tell. Incidentally, there are several G SKILL "Memory Overclocking Profiles" that are selectable but I've tried selecting them (they don't match the specific model of my RAM anyway) and nothing happens.
So my questions are:
A) Does XMP have anything to do with it at all to begin with?
B) If so, how do I enable it and why is it greyed out?
C) If not, why can't I boot with more than 2 sticks of RAM?
Also to save the trouble of asking: I've visually inspected slots 3 and 4 and don't see anything physically damaged about them. They look perfect and it doesn't seem worth getting in there and cleaning the contacts with isopropyl, etc... Ergo, I can't GUARANTEE that slots 3 and 4 aren't physically damaged causing a hardware RMA issue... but it seems unlikely to me that only slots 3 and 4 would be damaged and 1 and 2 would be fine. Just a feeling but it seems to me more like a setting somewhere as opposed to damaged hardware.
Unfortunately, I don't have other RAM to test the slots with but I want to avoid having to buy more RAM just to test the slots that I'm reasonably sure are fine. Especially when I know my RAM is just fine as well.
I also have my MOBO and everything installed in my case so I'm not looking forward to ripping everything out and replacing the board so trying to avoid that if possible.
I've built PCs before and I know there's always some problem solving along the way. I've always been able to figure things out in the past but I'm completely stuck here.
I'm definitely not a noob but I've never messed with any overclock settings and have usually left these settings at "auto" for the most part. I have a feeling messing with some of these settings could solve my problem but I'm cautious about digging in past "auto" without knowing what I'm doing.
Please help. THANKS
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