Asus P8Z77-V-Pro memory troubles

[lukasdesign]

Dear all,

I built my system around a Asus P8Z77-V-Pro.

i bought a set of two sticks Kingston HyperX (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX). Beforehand I checked the QVL and saw that the KHX1600C9D3X2K2/4GX (2*2GB) is supported. However they don't mention the 2*4GB which I finally bought. the stock at my supplier was dire...so I risked it.

When building the system I noticed that the system won't boot with both sticks in slots A2B2 as suggested by the manual.

I removed the one in B2 and it works (however the BIOS puts the speed down to 1333MHz, which I can correct manually). I swapped the single RAM and it boots with either on, so I am sure that it is not a defect RAM. However it doesn't boot if the single stick is placed in B2.

The system also doesn't boot when A2 and B1 are filled.

All I get is the MemOK lighting red, pushing the button leads to a reboot, the blinking LED, until it lights again continuously.

Now my question: is it possible that the a RAM in 4Gb is not supported while the 2GB stick would be...then I could go and by a another set of fully supported RAMs. What makes me wonder is that the system puts down the frequency to 1333 even when only one stick is placed. On the other side the fact that it doesn't boot at all with a single RAM in one of the B1 or B2 makes me think that maybe the board is really damaged...

I am tempted to buy another RAM set, just because I don't fell like removing the whole MB...going to the shop and get it replaced. Or would you guys say it is useless because it is most likely the MOB?

Thanks to all!

BTW: I updated the BIOS to the latest version, as it states that memory compatibility is improved..but no effect

 

[jaquith]

First, QVL or not I don't recommend 1.65v kits next QVL cannot prevent a 'bad' stick, and the QVL isn't the issue.

By Default the RAM, any, is going to run at DDR3-1333 speed and anything faster you need to not only set the DRAM Frequency but the DRAM Voltage and CAS Timings. The simplest is to set AI Overclock Tuner -> XMP this will in turn set the DRAM Frequency, DRAM Voltage and CAS Timings.

So get '4GB' vs '2GB' out of your head, and if possible exchange (long-term) for a DDR3-1600 CAS 8/9 4x4GB @ 1.50v set or better 1.35v set. Examples:
1.50v - Low Profile:
Corsair CML8GX3M2A1600C9B - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233196
Corsair CML8GX3M2A1600C9 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
Mushkin 996995 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226191

1.35v - Low Profile:
Mushkin 996988 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226184
G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-8GBXM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231477

 

[abekl]

Jaquith is right. Your issue is voltahe. You bought 1.65v memory, and should have bought 1.5v memory.

 

[lukasdesign]

thank you guys!!! I will give it a shot!
Hope it's gonna be worth the additional money

Corsair Vengeance, 2x4GB, DDR3-1866, CL9@1.5V (CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9)
Corsair Vengeance, 2x4GB, DDR3-1600, CL9@1.5V (CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9)


These are the two options my retailer has in stock (both are on the QVL) The second one is cheaper, which one should I take? or should I look for another retailer? not that easy here in Switzerland :-(

 

[abekl]

Corsair Vengeance, 2x4GB, DDR3-1600, CL9@1.5V (CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9)

 

[lukasdesign]

Thanks to both of you!

I will go for that one!

 

[smorizio]

it a bad motherbord or a bent pin. I have an asus z77 sabertooth and it has two dead ram slots. if it was a ram issue then the mb would not have posted with the ram in any slot. as it posted fine in one slot but not in the others..it could be a bad motherboard or a bad cpu as the ram controller is built into the cpu now. i would start first by looking to see if you have a bent pin under the cpu then check if you over flexed the cpu or mb.

 

[jaquith]

Sure bad: bad RAM stick(s), bent CPU pins, bad CPU, bad MOBO, grounding shorts, you name it can cause a problem.

The Vengeance series are fine, but might interfere with your HSF if any part of the RAM's cooling fins are too high. Example Noctua NH-D14 - Vengeance are too tall ; see:
MOBO - http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=compatibility_gen&products_id=34&lng=en#LGA1155_Asus
RAM - http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=compatibility_ram_gen&products_id=34&lng=en#DDR3_Corsair

CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 - incompatible.

IF height is not an issue and you want 4x4GB consider the blue CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9B or black CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9

Q - What HSF?

 

[lukasdesign]

I am aware that it might have a ton of different reasons...I just hope that it isn't related to the CPU or


my HSF is the Noctua NH-12P SE2, so the Vengeance is fine as i can

a) see no blocking of the second slot
b) I could push the fan up

and I don't need 16GB to play games

It's gonna cost me 60 bucks to find out, but then I can demand for a replacement of the CPU or the MoBo if the error persists.

 

[jaquith]

Frankly, I did these posts in the early AM and why I went from 2x4GB kit to 4x4GB kits -- ???? -- "two sticks Kingston HyperX (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX)" -- translated into 2 * 8GB pre-coffee reading.

Either the CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 or CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B kits are fine...

 

[lukasdesign]

Problem still persists...

i have to send the board back. The new RAM behaves just like the old one

Is there a way to exclude a CPU error? as I would hate to deal with ASUS, just to find out that the problem acutally is the CPU RAM controller...

thx

 

[jaquith]

If the CPU were the issue then the CPU LED would stay lit; see manual 2-15. Now the onboard diagnostics aren't 100% fool proof. As said, I've seen "Sure bad: bad RAM stick(s), bent CPU pins, bad CPU, bad MOBO, grounding shorts, you name it can cause a problem."

'Typically,' this is a RAM problem. If you're using an aftermarket HSF then that can cause a 'grounding short' IF there's any metal-to-MOBO contact ditto if you have a case with 'punch-out' MOBO standoff's vs the normal standoff's - http://biorobots.cwru.edu/server/howto/buildcomp/mountmobo/standoff2.jpg

Before sending off the MOBO to anyone I'd try a full breadboarding with the Stock HSF. Then if that fails it's FASTER (days vs month) to RMA to the Retailer OR request a Cross-Ship from ASUS.

 

[lukasdesign]

ok i will try to use the boxed cooler. Standoffs i can exclude as the same issue happened already when i pre-assembled the pc outside of the case 8with external GPU und without). I will do that just before bringing it back to the retailer.

 

[jaquith]

Good Luck!

 

[maxc mark]

lukas, ur processor???

 

[daamz]

ok i will try to use the boxed cooler. Standoffs i can exclude as the same issue happened already when i pre-assembled the pc outside of the case 8with external GPU und without). I will do that just before bringing it back to the retailer.

Luka, how your problem now? Solved? now Asus website already put the 2X 4GB hyperx (8GX) in the QVL list.

I got same problem with you. My pc wont boot.. arghhhhhhhhh

 

[kokaza]

Hey bros this is my first post ever
I was having the problem u guys were having which is why i looked this up
im doing my first build tonight and i wasnt going to let this *** slow me down]
so i figured out the problem from another forum
this dudes wife figured it out.

since there is one moving hinge on the ram
on this board the need to put in the stationary side first
and push till you hear it click
then apply pressure to the hinge side and close the hinge
it should work

here is the reference
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2248492

 

[daamz]

Hey bros this is my first post ever
I was having the problem u guys were having which is why i looked this up
im doing my first build tonight and i wasnt going to let this *** slow me down]
so i figured out the problem from another forum
this dudes wife figured it out.

since there is one moving hinge on the ram
on this board the need to put in the stationary side first
and push till you hear it click
then apply pressure to the hinge side and close the hinge
it should work

here is the reference
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2248492

bro,

i'm not sure about others.. but my problem apparently not from RAM.. it is from bent pin of MOBO... 1 pin bent, thats crazy.. now im waiting for the replacement by ASUS..

 

[veezy21]

I had the same problem but i got mine to boot up with the 2 kingston hyperx black 1600 mhz 2x4gb in dimm sockets B1 and B2 now i know this isn't the recommended way of doing it on this mobo (Asus p8z77-v Deluxe) but is that gonna be a big deal to continue running my computer this way? Given the fact that i have already installed windows and all my programs.. or would you suggest i fix the problem? I also noticed from the beginning of the build that the mobo cpu slot had 3 or 4 bent pins but i never bent them so i assumed they were supposed to be that way and i never touched them.. Do you think this could be the problem and if so should i just continue running my computer with the ram installed in B1 and B2 dimm sockets?

 

[pzis]

I had similar problems. I had RAM that wasn't listed as supported in the manual (G.skill ripjaws 8gb x 2) and they didn't work. So I went and bought 2x4gb supported RAM's and didn't work either. Then I realized that only slots A1 and A2 don't work, B1 and B2 did work. After some furious googling and trying everything, I finally found the reason as some have suggested: a bent pin under the CPU. I didn't force the CPU or anything, just dropped it in place, so I'm a little angry at Asus for selling motherboards with broken components. I didn't want to wait for replacement mobo so I took a very small needle and managed to bent the pin in place and voilà, everything works as supposed now! Now I have 24gb of RAM then...(previous 2x8gb and new 2x4gb)

 

[kokaza]

It was my first build so I guess I was just being a fool. I was scared of breaking the RAM so it turns out that I wasn't putting it in tightly enough. I did it again and got a click noise and it worked.

 

[tourist_07]

pzis, thank You so much. I have asus-z77v-lk with the bent pin on cpu socket. I fixed it with a needle and ddr sockets a1 anb b1 are functioning again!

 

[-Fran-]

Not trying to do necromancy, but I've seen this topic a lot and I had this issue myself. Besides the bent pins, there might be another reason and it is described with great detail here: https://hardforum.com/threads/tools-to-flash-and-recover-bios-on-asus-p8xxx-boards-fd44editor-ftk.1726429/

Basically, there is a UEFI patching bug of sorts in all MoBos which leave some sectors not up-to-date with the latest and cause a problem.

Cheers!

 

[Nikolas_1]

Solved

I spend 3 days with bios setting trying to set the follow kit at 1600. The motherboard is second hand
Memory problem not run at 1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233532&cm_re=CMY16GX3M2A1600C9B-_-20-233-532-_-Product

CORSAIR Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMY16GX3M2A1600C9B (Blue)
steps
1- Replace motherboard 3V button battery (clear cmos with the respective jumper was not necessary)
2- Boot, go advance and set XMP enable and the ram frequency manual at 1600
3- F10 save and reboot
You are ready!!!
2 MHz minus for cpu-Z