Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > General Motherboard > Help! Installed 6GB DDR3 but POST shows only 2GB

Help! Installed 6GB DDR3 but POST shows only 2GB

Forum Motherboards & Memory : General Motherboard - Help! Installed 6GB DDR3 but POST shows only 2GB

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tony123   09-21-2009 at 06:02:56 AM


I just completed my first build I7 920 on ASRock X58 Extreme, installed 6GB of OCZ OCZ DDR3 1600 MHz Gold RAM, everything looks good after installed Windows 7 64-bit, except I only see 2GB in both POST & Win7 computer property, despite cpuz shows 6GB available. I've updated the motherboard with the latest version of BIOS from ASRock (v1.40, released on 9/8/09) but it didn't help.

At POST, 2GB was shown as installed in B1 (white), the other 2 sticks on A1 and C1 (all white) were missing, I've tried to putting different sticks in different combination on A1 & C1, the results were the same that only 2GB were shown, if I put the memory in A1 & C1 only the computer won't even boot.

So to me, I probably got a bad motherboard that memory on A1 & C1 doesn't work. Any other thoughts or things I should try?

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Twoboxer   09-21-2009 at 07:31:03 AM

You didn't give the part number(s), so I need to ask:

What is the part number (ideally from the sticks themselves)?

Are all sticks identical (part numbers)?

What is the voltage specification?

You can get it to boot with just two sticks . . . will it also boot if you replace those two sticks with the other two?


Message edited by Twoboxer on 09-21-2009 at 07:31:52 AM
Reply to Twoboxer
tony123   09-21-2009 at 07:46:16 AM

The sticks are OCZ OCZ3G1600LV6GK DDR3 PC3-12800 1600 MHz Gold XTC 6GB. they are 3 identical DDR3 2GB each (http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-OCZ3G1600LV6GK-PC3-12800-Triple-Channel/dp/B001IT4BWA/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_0), I didn't change anything in BIOS so the they should be at stock voltage (I'll double check and get back to you).

Yes, I can boot the computer with 2 sticks when one stick in installed in B1 but still 2GB shown at POST, it won't boot when 2 sticks are installed in A1 & C1.

I appreciate your help, let me know if any other information you need.

Reply to tony123
tony123   09-21-2009 at 07:52:20 AM

CPU-Z showed all 3 sticks are at 1.5v.

Reply to tony123
Twoboxer   09-21-2009 at 08:00:02 AM

Sorry, my bad. Check BIOS as I said, then:

Please boot with *one* stick in the mobos recommended first slot (A1). What happens?

Repeat with Stick #2 only. What happens?

Finally with Stick #3. What happens?

Then, regardless of what BIOS says, set the voltage and timings to the RAM's spec manually. And try to boot with 3 sticks (A1, B1, C1).

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to Twoboxer
Twoboxer   09-21-2009 at 08:01:49 AM

Just saw your post - You might try manually inputting the voltage (1.65) and check the timings to see if they match spec.

Reply to Twoboxer
tony123   09-22-2009 at 04:11:23 AM

Thanks for the suggestions.

I tried booting with a single stick in A1, it won't boot with any of the three sticks.

Regarding setting voltage manually, I'm not sure how to do it. Any suggestions?



Twoboxer wrote :

Sorry, my bad. Check BIOS as I said, then:

Please boot with *one* stick in the mobos recommended first slot (A1). What happens?

Repeat with Stick #2 only. What happens?

Finally with Stick #3. What happens?

Then, regardless of what BIOS says, set the voltage and timings to the RAM's spec manually. And try to boot with 3 sticks (A1, B1, C1).


Reply to tony123
Twoboxer   09-22-2009 at 05:14:44 AM

Power Up (or Restart) and press F2 a few times after the first image appears onscreen to enter BIOS Setup Utility.

On the "OC Tweaker" page, select "DRAM Frequency", press enter, then set:
DRAM tCL = 8
DRAM tRCD = 8
DRAM tRP = 8
DRAM tRAS = 24

On the "OC Tweaker" page, select "DRAM Voltage" and set to 1.65V (or 1.64V if you cannot set 1.65V).

Reply to Twoboxer
tony123   09-22-2009 at 05:58:43 AM

No luck. Changed to 8-8-8-24 under DRAM Timing Control and 1.654v under DRAM Voltage, it boot up with 2GB still.

Anything else should I try?

Reply to tony123
shadow703793   09-22-2009 at 06:27:08 PM

^+1. Something's wrong. RMA the board. Also, the RAM is installed in the correct sockets?


Message edited by shadow703793 on 09-22-2009 at 06:27:30 PM
------------------------------ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3815217176_0a5be7955d_o.gif
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3553/3818083596_1a772f7162_o.gif
 Reply to shadow703793
tony123   09-22-2009 at 10:43:06 PM

Yes, I'm going to RMA the board. ASRock tech support also suspects problem with it.

Yes, the sticks are in correct slots, and I've tried all possible combination of 1 stick, 2 sticks and 3 sticks with different stick in different slots, only the stick on B1 is recognized.

Reply to tony123
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