Help Troubleshooting Ram

Are you mixing ram or have the same kind? Also I would check and see if there is a bios update for your board. Good luck...

All the ram is the same exact kind. I haven't checked for a bios update yet though, I'll do that and see if it helps any.

Edit: I have checked my bios and it is the latest version.

Do you know what frequencies and timings your RAM is running at? If not, install CPUZ and report what it says on the "memory" tab.

RAM
Memory slots
Memory
Type DDR3
Size 12288 MBytes
Channels # Dual
DRAM Frequency 665.2 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 9 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 9 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 9 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 24 clocks
Bank Cycle Time (tRС) 33 clocks
Command Rate (CR) 2T
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules 3
Slot #1
Type DDR3
Size 4096 MBytes
Manufacturer G.Skill
Max Bandwidth PC3-10700 (667 MHz)
Part Number F3-10666CL9-4GBRL
SPD Ext. EPP
JEDEC #4
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 25
tRC 34
Voltage 1.500 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 31
Voltage 1.500 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 20
tRC 27
Voltage 1.500 V
JEDEC #1
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 17
tRC 23
Voltage 1.500 V
Slot #2
Type DDR3
Size 4096 MBytes
Manufacturer G.Skill
Max Bandwidth PC3-10700 (667 MHz)
Part Number F3-10666CL9-4GBRL
SPD Ext. EPP
JEDEC #4
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 25
tRC 34
Voltage 1.500 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.500 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 20
tRC 27
Voltage 1.500 V
JEDEC #1
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 17
tRC 23
Voltage 1.500 V
Slot #3
Type DDR3
Size 4096 MBytes
Manufacturer G.Skill
Max Bandwidth PC3-10700 (667 MHz)
Part Number F3-10666CL9-4GBRL
SPD Ext. EPP
JEDEC #4
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 25
tRC 34
Voltage 1.500 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 31
Voltage 1.500 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 20
tRC 27
Voltage 1.500 V
JEDEC #1
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 17
tRC 23
Voltage 1.500 V

Sorry for the long post but I figured it would be best to copy and paste all the details of my ram in case I missed something.

So, technically, your RAM is running at timings that are very slightly more aggressive than they are rated for. I kind of doubt that this is the problem but lets try to fix it anyway.

Go into your BIOS and find the RAM timings. Set them to:

CAS# Latency 9
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 25
tRC 34

You should only have to change the last two. The labels in BIOS might differ slightly but the order should be the same. You are going from 9-9-9-24-33 to 9-9-9-25-34. Give that a shot and report back.

I went ahead and gave that a try, it didn't change anything for me. It was set on an auto detect overclock by my mobo.

Ok. Your RAM might not be getting quite enough voltage for some reason. Go into BIOS and manually set your RAM voltage to 1.5 V (this is according to your RAM's spec). If that doesn't help, try again but bump the voltage up by small increments - maybe 0.02 V - your BIOS may allow you to set a value or you may have to select one. Rinse and repeat until you see some improvement. If you get to 1.65 V and it's still not stable, then stop bumping the voltage.

Ok I've tested that theory and this is what I got. At 1.52 i lasted maybe an hour before the blue screen. At 1.54 I got 2 hours. At 1.56 I got like 15 minutes. And at 1.58 I couldn't even get logged in without it crashing so at that point I stopped because it seemed like it was only gonna get worse. Also sorry I took so long getting back to you I missed the reply notification email. A thought did strike me though. would it be possible that the one gig of built in ram in each graphics card counts towards the total 16 gig capacity of my motherboard? It never occurred to me before because I figured it wouldn't since it wasn't actually my motherboard's ram but my graphics cards ram.

Ok in my BIOS the lowest setting allowable was the 1.5v so I couldn't bring that down. I did underclock the memory one step to 1066 if I'm remembering it correct and its been running without a hitch for almost 12 hours straight now so I think that adjustment has made the system stable.

Cool! It's odd that the memory is unstable at its rated speed, though. It bothers me a little.  

You might download memtest86+ (you install it on a floppy or jump drive) and run it overnight just to make sure you don't have a bad stick of memory.

Yea it bothers me too. Especially since the motherboard is supposed to be able to overclock any stick of 1333 to 1866 and yet I am having to underclock it to even get them running. Thanks for all the help. I'll try the memtest too. One last question though, since I'm being forced to run the four sticks at 1066 but can run the three sticks at 1333 and possibly 1866, whats gonna give me the most effective use of my ram? In other words whats better to have for a heavy gamer, the ram speed or the ram capacity?

Best answer selected by lurkingwolf.

In your case, it's going to be speed. 16 GB is way more than you need for gaming. Even 8 is generally more than is necessary. Your best configuration might be 8 GB (two sticks) as fast as you can run it. The difference might be small, though. You can experiment with Furmark or some other benchmarking software. Keep in mind that small differences in benchmark scores (or even large ones!) might not actually translate into anything you'll notice in a game. You will, however, notice a BSOD. IMO, having a really stable system is preferable than having one that's slightly faster but BSODs occasionally.

If your system is stable very stable with 16 GB RAM@1066, you can try tightening the timings to 7-7-7-20. If that works well, you can try and switch your command rate to 1T. This will help offset having to run your RAM at a lower clock.

Thanks you've helped so much I really appreciate it. I think I'm good to go now, I couldn't have done it without you.  

You're welcome.