Can 24GB Dominator Memory @2000 run in Rampage III Extreme

[mkingdom]

I upgraded the Dominator memory in my Rampage III Extreme from 12GB to 24GB and cannot run anymore it at 2000MHz. The maximum speed I am able to run the memory without failure at boot is 1600. Is it a limitation in the memory speed to 1600 when running 24GB on Windows 8 Pro 64 bits on an ASUS Rampage III Extreme?

 

[Pinhedd]

I'm assuming that you upgraded the memory by installing a second set of DIMMs, bringing the total to 6 from 3 correct?

If this is the case, you will almost certainly need to bump the memory controller voltage and DRAM supply voltage up a bit.

Memory modules are organized into what are called "ranks". Each rank is a formed from a set of DRAM chips that when combined form a 64 bit data bus. Common examples are 4x 16 bit DRAM chips, and 8 x 8 bit DRAM chips. In terms of organization, all of the ranks on a memory channel share the same data and control busses. To prevent obvious conflicts, only one rank can be active at a time by virtue of a "chip select" which is unique to each rank.

Physically, ranks are organized onto DIMMs. Value memory modules often have only one rank per DIMM, but higher density desktop memory will often have one rank per side for a total of two ranks per DIMM. High density server modules will have two ranks per side, for a total of 4 ranks per DIMM. DDR3 supports 8 ranks per channel.

There is very little difference electrically between two DIMMs with one rank each, and one DIMM with two ranks.

Since each rank must be able to receive electrical signals on the chip select pins at all times (they cannot be disabled or set to high impedance using a tristate buffer), the electrical impedance on certain bus lines will decrease when the number of ranks increases. This reduces the signal quality with each added rank and increases the electrical load placed on the memory controller. Since enthusiast memory already operates with very little electrical overhead remaining, going from one DIMM per channel to two DIMMs per channel may push the memory outside of the bounds of stability for which it was rated. Most of the time this can be rectified by giving the memory controller and the memory modules a bit more juice to work with, which boosts the signal quality.

Another solution is to set the memory modules to use a 2T command rate rather than 1T. 1T is very, very hard to run stably with two DIMMs installed, and may even be very hard with dual-rank modules. There is a slight performance loss from using 2T rather than 1T, but this will be made up by running the modules at a higher speed. This may not be an option if it is already running at 2T.

 

[Tradesman1]

Make sure you have the latest BIOS, try enabling XMP the add +0.05 to the DRAM voltage and QPIVTT to about 1.45 to start and try that, also what is the OC on the CPU

 

[mkingdom]

Thank you very much for your reply and detailed explanation.

I am using:

6x identical modules Corsair Dominator GT 24GB (6x4GB) DDR3 2000 MHz (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory (CMT12GX3M3A2000C9).

 

[Tradesman1]

So two sets as I was guessing, that can always be problematic, the mixing of sets, I'd start with what I suggested and then play slowly with the voltages, starting with trying to raise the QPIVTT a little at a time, don't think I'd exceed 1.54 and keep an eye on temps, may have to drop them to 1866

 

[mkingdom]

I am using the latest BIOS on ASUS website.

CPU is runing at 4156 (multiplier 31x).

If I unable XMP, then the OC fails. I have all OC setting in the OC set to AUTOMATIC, except the CPU multiplier (at 31x) and the memory (at 1600 MHz).

If I understand well all of you, it is possible to run 24GB memory at 2000 MHz. It is just a qestion of right OC (2T, DRAM voltage, QPIVTT, etc.). Right?

 

[mkingdom]

I'll try your suggestions this week-end. Thanks for the guidelines.

I don't think there would be any problem with temperature since the entire MOBO (NB, SB, CPU, GPU, and MEM) is watercooled. The max. temperature I am reaching when running burn out test is 47°C (measured by 8 temp. sensors in the watercooling circuit controled by 2x TMS-200 from Koolance.

 

[Tradesman1]

Hopefully, there's no guarantee of them playing at 2000, 1866 or even at all, XMP won't work, XMP is programmed by the packaged set, while both packages have the same base timings a 3 stick set will have different advanced/secondary timings than a 6 sticks set, i.e. with my Tridents a 2 stick set calles for a tRFC of 208 while the 4 stick set require 314.... Also when buying a full set, you would have gotten 6 sticks tested to all work together at the specified freq, with tolerences as tight as they are it's possible your two sets might play together at the spec freq but no guarantee, and chances are good they won't which is why you have to play with voltages.....This is something I've preached for years, but in particular at this site I see time after time people telling others 'just add more sticks', it's not like the DDR and DDR2 days or even the DDR3 days, generally it's easy at 1333, but hte more sticks and the higher the freq, the harder it gets

 

[mkingdom]

Thanks for your help.

I was finally able to run the 24GB at 2086 after a lot of trials and system is stable for 7 days now. No XMP, only playing with multipliers.

 

[Tradesman1]

Glad to hear, have fun!