Question Games crashing on new system ?

[Geoff Leven]

So basically I've just updated to the following specs:

OS: Windows 11 Pro
MAINBOARD: Gigabyte Z790 Gaming X AX
CPU: i9 13900KF
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i
RAM: 32GB Teamgroup DDR5 7600mhz (XMP3.0) SK Hynix CL 36 46 46 84
VIDEO CARD: Gigabyte Gaming 24gb OC RTX 4090
MOUSE: Logitech Gaming 300s
KB: Corsair K70 MK.2
MONITOR: 27GL850, AOC G2460PG G-Sync
HDD: Samsung Evo 850 Pro 512GB
HDD: Samsung NVMe M.2 Evo Plus 970 1TB
Power: Silverstone ST1200w Platinum

The new components are the CPU, MB and RAM, everything else is from my previous build

However now, just about every game is crashing after playing for a few minutes.

Using MSI Afterburner's OSD to keeps tabes on CPU/GPU temps while gaming - temps seem ok, CPU is not throttling.

Checking Windows event viewer is of no help - its not showing any errors at the time of crashes.

I am using the XMP3.0 profile for the RAM and have also tried adjusting RAM settings manually to match the XMP profile (this was suggested in a previous post) does not help this time.

Tried a fresh install graphics drivers using DDU has made no difference.

From here I'm not really sure where to start troubleshooting, other then a fresh install of Windows?..

 

[COLGeek]

Double-check your motherboard model. The one listed is not compatible with your stated CPU.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z390-GAMING-X-rev-10/support#support-cpu

 

[Geoff Leven]

Double-check your motherboard model. The one listed is not compatible with your stated CPU.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z390-GAMING-X-rev-10/support#support-cpu

Sorry typo, its Z790.

 

[COLGeek]

Since this is a "recycled" OS install, that is likely the root of your problem. What was your config before the CPU/mobo/memory swap?

Also, make sure your motherboard is running the most current version of BIOS.

 

[Geoff Leven]

Before I had:
19 9900KF
Gigabyte Z390 Aorus elite
Corsair Vengeance 16GB 4000 mhz CL 18 22 22 42

 

[Geoff Leven]

So, A fresh inbstall of Windows is next best step?

 

[COLGeek]

So, A fresh inbstall of Windows is next best step?

Yes. Also, everything at stock speeds. No OC. Establish a stable baseline first.

 

[Geoff Leven]

I just finished trying a game with stock RAM speed settings and it didnt't seem to crash. I try a longer session again and see if I get the same result - no crash.

If the XMP profile is the cause, is there something I can do to maske it more stable? i.e A tiny bit more voltage?

 

[COLGeek]

Try a lesser XMP setting, if available. Not all memory will work at rated speeds in all configs.

 

[Geoff Leven]

Unfortunately I dont have a lessor XMP setting for my brand of RAM. Other brands have options in the BIOS but I do not. Any ideas?

 

[ChickenPopCrunch]

Try dropping the dram frequency a step at a time and test for stability using occt memory or other ram testing programs. My build had problems running the default xmp profile on a 7200 kit, and managed to get it stable at 6600. Hoping a new bios update will improve memory compatibility in the future. These high speed ram are kinda just luck since the quality of the imc on each cpu is different, so even if the manufacturers have tested them, the cpu they used could have a better imc than what yours has.

 

[Geoff Leven]

I'll try that cheers. Could anyone recommend a good site explaining how overclocking works and the relationship the cas timings have with each other. I've never understood RAM overclocking but think it's about time now

 

[Geoff Leven]

it may seem that downclocking the RAM via bios helps stability. I'll do further checking and post back here.

 

[Geoff Leven]

Ok so,

I've been testing and playing for the last week and so far downclocking the RAM from 7600mhz to 7000mhz seems to so far stop the crashes. However I'm not happy I can't get the RAM to run at its advertised OC setting. The RAM in question is an officially supported kit as listed on Gigabyte's website (https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z790-GAMING-X-AX-rev-1x/support#support-memsup) mine is listed 3rd from the top.

I have created a support ticket with Gigabyte and now awaiting for them to report back after they said they'd do some testing to see if they can recreate the issue on their end. Also today I've created a support ticket with TeamGroup as well and awaiting their reply.

In the meantime, I would like to know which part is actually the cause of the issue? The RAM or the mainboard? Or the CPU? As mentioned above the IMC (wherever its actually located, MB, CPU) is responsible for controlling the memory in some way? (I'm not sure how it works).

Lastly I would like to hear of anyone else's experience with this RAM kit and were they were able to get it running full speed ot not.

 

[ChickenPopCrunch]

Ok so,

I've been testing and playing for the last week and so far downclocking the RAM from 7600mhz to 7000mhz seems to so far stop the crashes. However I'm not happy I can't get the RAM to run at its advertised OC setting. The RAM in question is an officially supported kit as listed on Gigabyte's website (https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z790-GAMING-X-AX-rev-1x/support#support-memsup) mine is listed 3rd from the top.

I have created a support ticket with Gigabyte and now awaiting for them to report back after they said they'd do some testing to see if they can recreate the issue on their end. Also today I've created a support ticket with TeamGroup as well and awaiting their reply.

In the meantime, I would like to know which part is actually the cause of the issue? The RAM or the mainboard? Or the CPU? As mentioned above the IMC (wherever its actually located, MB, CPU) is responsible for controlling the memory in some way? (I'm not sure how it works).

Lastly I would like to hear of anyone else's experience with this RAM kit and were they were able to get it running full speed ot not.

The IMC is on the CPU, so that's the lottery part, one CPU might have a better IMC than another even if they're both the same generation and SKU. Just to take my RAM kit as an example, it's rated at 7200mhz, but I haven't actually gotten it stable at that. After changing motherboards, I was able to get it to load its XMP profile and actually not crash right away testing with OCCT memory, however, it would cause an error after a while on Prime95. The previous board I had would error out within 10 seconds with OCCT. So I think both CPU and motherboard quality matter a lot in terms of RAM overclocking

 

[Geoff Leven]

The IMC is on the CPU, so that's the lottery part, one CPU might have a better IMC than another even if they're both the same generation and SKU. Just to take my RAM kit as an example, it's rated at 7200mhz, but I haven't actually gotten it stable at that. After changing motherboards, I was able to get it to load its XMP profile and actually not crash right away testing with OCCT memory, however, it would cause an error after a while on Prime95. The previous board I had would error out within 10 seconds with OCCT. So I think both CPU and motherboard quality matter a lot in terms of RAM overclocking

Understood. I guess what I really would like to know for now is how to adjust the timings on the RAM to see if it helps running the RAM more stable above 7000mhz. If that's even an option. I've been looking at some guides online but its incredibly complicated from what I've seen.

 

[Geoff Leven]

Do vdeo drivers have any effect on the stability of the RAM? Just updated to the very latest nvidia driver again as before I got the new hardware I was getting some graphical artifacts in some games - and now games havent crashed yet. Will do more testing though.

 

[Geoff Leven]

Forget what I said above. This ram has been impossible to run stable at XMP settings. Going to RA this kit.

 

[COLGeek]

Did you ever verify that you are running the most current version of the motherboard BIOS?

 

[Geoff Leven]

Yes, I've updated to the current BIOS myself. Version F4.

 

[ChickenPopCrunch]

Yeah, from what I've seen, getting DDR5 to run stable above 7000 requires really high end parts, some luck with hardware lottery, and a lot of time/patience to tweak the BIOS settings. I managed to get my 7200 kit stable using XMP2 on my Asus board, where as XMP1 was unstable, and with my previous 2 boards, 1 wouldn't even boot with XMP, and the other would crash on stress tests 10 seconds in.

Another thing that might be an issue could be temperature on these DDR5 kits causing instability. Mine was running as high as 68C yesterday running Testmem5 and OCCT memory, so I would imagine your higher frequency kits probably would run even higher than that.

 

[LesterLaserBeam]

Same brand mobo/cpu/gpu here as Geoff except I have Gskill 7200. It loads fine at stated xmp. When I try to play MW2 for example crashes every time. Maybe increasing voltage for cpu to handle the higher ram speeds? Can't pinpoint what it is, temperature or any other physical factors, I also suspect that the game software just isn't compatible at those higher speeds.