[HELP] Asrock z87 extreme6 won't boot with mixed ram

[icefox1983]

MB: Asrock z87 extreme6

Old ram: Patriot Viper 3 DDR3 1600 4GBx2 9-9-9-24 Cas Latency 9 Voltage 1.5V

New ram: G.Skill Ripjaws X DDR3 1600 4GBx2 9-9-9-24 Cas Latency 9 Voltage 1.5V

Symptoms: With only the old or the new ram sets in any slots, the system boots fine. However if I mix the two sets, no matter how many and in what slots, the system won't boot into bios. It would power on, then power off after 1 second, then power on, then power off after 1 second, then power on and repeat a 3-long-beep pattern for a minute, then power off and repeat. The MB has a diagnostic LCD. It quickly displays 01 and 51 when the system auto reboots, and E5 when it's beeping. I checked and 3 long beeps and E5 mean "no memory detected".

Thoughts: I didn't think twice when buying the new ram. It's the same everything except brand with the old ram and I never expected incompatibility. I tried clearing cmos, updating bios, and turning off all fancy memory features in cmos to no avail. I suspected XMP, but couldn't figure out a way to turn it off. The XMP dropdown box only has Auto and Profile 1 in it. How exactly am I to disable XMP? Should I manually configure the ram? But I can only do it with one set of ram and when the new set is plugged in the system might again resort to XMP.

Any thoughts are appreciated. Cheers

 

[R4lNM4N]

Mixing RAM - even the same speed/capacity (AND even same brand modules) that where purchased at a different time can cause these "ghost" issues. This is why it is considered best practice to purchase all the RAM you need at one time in a "matched kit." This way - they are guaranteed to play nice together. Here are a couple of VERY helpful links, put together by a member of this community...

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/ddr3-dram-faq,review-33220.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr-dram-myths,4155.html

 

[icefox1983]

Thank you very much. It looks I found out about the myth the hard way. I've always build my rigs with not too much memory, and add ram in a few years when the needs arise, smoothly... until this time.

Besides returning the new ram, is there anything I can try (that I haven't) that may make them work together?

Mixing RAM - even the same speed/capacity (AND even same brand modules) that where purchased at a different time can cause these "ghost" issues. This is why it is considered best practice to purchase all the RAM you need at one time in a "matched kit." This way - they are guaranteed to play nice together. Here are a couple of VERY helpful links, put together by a member of this community...

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/ddr3-dram-faq,review-33220.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr-dram-myths,4155.html

 

[R4lNM4N]

Glad to be of service. Usually something like this is fine - I have certainly gotten away with it in the past; but sometimes they don't like to work together. "RAM can just be weird like that" is as far as most tech's knowledge goes.

One thing I would try is installing the sticks in corresponding "dual channel" slots. Usually they alternate but check your motherboard manual to be sure.

Let us know how it goes

EDIT: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/asrock-z87-extreme6-motherboard/3/ show's that you'll use alternating slots for dual channel. Try populating one brand in slots 1&3, the other brand in slots 2&4

 

[R4lNM4N]

Here's a possible solution from 2 of this community's experts on a similar thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1703384/asrock-z87-extreme-memory-cards.html

 

[icefox1983]

One thing I would try is installing the sticks in corresponding "dual channel" slots. Usually they alternate but check your motherboard manual to be sure.

Let us know how it goes

EDIT: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/asrock-z87-extreme6-motherboard/3/ show's that you'll use alternating slots for dual channel. Try populating one brand in slots 1&3, the other brand in slots 2&4

that was the first thing i tried. no good. but thanks anyway. I will probably play with xmp a bit more before going to eBay. got the 4x2 for $30 and i may get more than that back on eBay even after shipping and fees.

 

[icefox1983]

Here's a possible solution from 2 of this community's experts on a similar thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1703384/asrock-z87-extreme-memory-cards.html

helpful! will follow