Can not run Memory at rated 1600 MHz

dangrousperson

Honorable
Mar 31, 2013
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10,540
Hello.

I own Quad Channel 32 GB Mushkin 994050 Blackline RAM.

Rated at 1600 MHz 9-9-9-24 1.6V

My problem is, I can not get the RAM to work with these settings. I tried setting these settings manually as well as using X.M.P.

Usually I can't get Windows to boot when running the RAM at 1600 MHz, but when I do, I get BSODs and rounding errors in prime95.
I tried increasing the DRAM Voltage from 1.6 incrementally to 1.7 which didn't help either.

The RAM works flawlessly in my BIOS auto/default settings of 1330 MHz 1.5V, with overnight of errorless prime95.

If I run Memtest86+ on the 1600 MHz RAM I get no errors in 24 hours of testing.

My rig:

Motherboard: MSI X79A-65GD
CPU: Intel i7 3930K over clocked to 4.7 GHz
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition Sapphire Vapor-X
RAM: 32GB Mushkin 1600MHz Blackline 994050 (4x8GB)
PSU: Cougar GX1050/R 1050W
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i (with two Noctua NF-F12)
Boot SSD: Mushkin Chronos
HDDs: 3x Seagate Barracuda (varying capacity and age)
OS: Windows 8

What else could I try?

Is the speed improvement even worth the trouble?

Thank you very much in advance.

Cheers

dangrousperson
 
Solution
I have 12GB RAM in my system -- they are 1600MHz, but I downclock them to 1333MHz, because Intel says so, however my platform is different than yours.

Anyway, the performance difference between 1600MHz and 1333MHz is minimum, and only noticeable in benchmarks. So until you find a final solution for the issue, I would leave it at 1333MHz, with no worries.
G

Guest

Guest
Reset the bios and run everything at stock speed and voltage,use X.M.P to set your memory and test the system...
IF it is stable then O.C
 

dangrousperson

Honorable
Mar 31, 2013
43
0
10,540


Same problem. Everything on default settings with X.M.P. enabled lead to rounding errors in Prime95.
 

jemm

Distinguished
CPU and motherboards manufacturers usually do not tell us if the memory will work properly at its maximum capacity at higher speed. They say it supports 32GB Ram, but they do not tell you if it will work at the maximum frequency -- it is a bad marketing policy.

In my opinion 32GB at 1600Mhz is a way too much for the CPU memory controller to handle -- that´s why you manage to make it to work at lower frequencies.

One thing you could try is to try it with higher latencies, like 10-10-10--26, but do not increase voltages.

 

dangrousperson

Honorable
Mar 31, 2013
43
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10,540


According to MSI it supports up to 8*16 GB 2400 MHz RAM. So I think 4*8 GB 1600 MHz RAM should not be a problem.

Is the improvement in speed even worth the hassle? Will I notice any performance difference?
 

jemm

Distinguished
I have 12GB RAM in my system -- they are 1600MHz, but I downclock them to 1333MHz, because Intel says so, however my platform is different than yours.

Anyway, the performance difference between 1600MHz and 1333MHz is minimum, and only noticeable in benchmarks. So until you find a final solution for the issue, I would leave it at 1333MHz, with no worries.
 
Solution

dangrousperson

Honorable
Mar 31, 2013
43
0
10,540


OK. I will just leave it at 1333 MHz.

Thanks everyone for your help.