1600MHz RAM Running at 667MHz

[SWKineo]

Hello,
I have a set of 4 memory sticks rated at 1600MHz, but my motherboard recognizes them as having a max of 1333. Worse still, Windows only recognizes them as running at 667MHz. Any suggestions?

Details:

• 
  ■ G-Skill Ripjaws F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL (2 x 2GB, 9-9-9-24 timings)
  ■ 2 x Corsair Vengeance CMZ4GX3M1A1600C9 (1 x 4GB, 9-9-9-24 timings)
  ■ Each set of sticks is in the correct lanes (G-Skills in lane 1 and 3, Vengeance in lane 2 and 4)
  ■ I have tried swapping the lanes, using only one set or the other, and even using separate lanes for each module. Nothing changes the problem, and nothing makes it worse.
  ■ The problem began after I updated the BIOS on a MSI 990XA-GD55 to v22.5, and then v23.2 (with the same problem recurring on each version)
  ■ Prior to this upgrade, Windows recognized them as running at 1333MHz (without changing anything in the BIOS to make them run at 1600)

 

[MysteryINC]

Some MoBo's have to be adjusted. Just change them to run at 1600MHz.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Are you reading it correctly .....Its DDR so its running at 667 x 2 which is 1333 Hz ... that is the default speed for RAM generally which says 1600 on the package. The 1600 is typically the XMP profile which needs to be enabled in the BIOS.

Your configuration mixing brands may result in some difficulties. It may not run at all, or you might be able to get it running with increased voltage, at reduced timing or reduced speeds.

 

[SWKineo]

Are you reading it correctly .....Its DDR so its running at 667 x 2 which is 1333 Hz ... that is the default speed for RAM generally which says 1600 on the package. The 1600 is typically the XMP profile which needs to be enabled in the BIOS.

Your configuration mixing brands may result in some difficulties. It may not run at all, or you might be able to get it running with increased voltage, at reduced timing or reduced speeds.

I've tried setting the RAM to 1600 in the BIOS, and it doesn't seem to be having any effect whatsoever.
Mixing brands definitely doesn't seem to be the problem, either, since I've tried both the G-Skills and the Corsairs on their own, and, in the case of the G-Skills (the ones that were packaged as a dual channel set), I tested them in both lanes 1&3 and 1&2. It didn't seem to make any difference at all.

As for the speed itself, I'm taking that reading from Windows Task Manager (which I'm fairly certain handles the doubling of the reading prior to displaying the number). It shows up like this:

Edit: If you suspect a mistake in the bios, look around in these screenshots.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

pairs should generally go 1st in slots 2 and 4 first, followed by 1 and 3

cant speak to Windows TM, never used it for that purpose.... what does CPU-Z say ? Mine says 800 for the DDR3-1600

 

[SWKineo]

pairs should generally go 1st in slots 2 and 4 first, followed by 1 and 3

cant speak to Windows TM, never used it for that purpose.... what does CPU-Z say ? Mine says 800 for the DDR3-1600

Huh. Well, it turns out that Windows TM was the problem >_>.
I was using it because it was easier to launch upon every boot than CPU-Z, but it turns out that Windows TM must not be very good at reading RAM speed. CPU-Z reads the RAM as running at 800MHz, so there mustn't be anything wrong.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I'll sleep better knowing you'll sleep better now ... ..... Happy Trails

 

[Brandon Jaffe]

Windows has issues with reading ram speeds... On my laptop it says my corsair vengeance is running at 20Ghz

 

[DeathAngel74]

I had this very same issue with my dell xps 8700. I was very frustrated.. Thank you to all that contributed to this thread. I have a dell bios and dell motherboard, so no xmp 1.2 settings for me. I had to put both dimms(2x8gb) in lanes 1 + 2 or lanes 3 + 4 for it to post 1600mhz in the bios and windows 7 x64 sp1 ultimate, instead of 1333mhz. If I try to add more than 16gb @1600mhz, the bios drops the speed back down to 1333mhz. Thank you again!