[SOLVED] Help me!!! (Please) My ram is showing the wrong speed

May 3, 2020
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I’m hoping someone on here can help.

I have a HP Z440 workstation with an E5-1630v4 processor and 64gb of ecc ram (4x 8gb 2133 and 4x 8gb 2400, I know, “dON’t MIx rAM SpEEdS” but I’ll get to that in a second). The mobo chipset and Cpu can support up to 2400 of ecc ram with this cpu as per hp’s manual.

So, I know what you think I’m going to ask, why is my ram only showing 2133 total or why does it show 1086 in cpu-z? You’d be wrong, it’s showing 1866 in both windows task manager and the bios and 933 in cpu-z. I’ve tried the 4x 2400 and it shows 2400, I’ve tried the 2133 and it shows 2133, I’ve tried 4x 2400 and 2x 2133 and it shows 2133 but if I put the last 1 or 2 sticks of 2133 the configured speed drops to 1866. To get the 2133 speed I have to put 4x 2400 in the 4 slots to the right of the cpu (black/white/black/white) and 2x 2133 in slots furthest away from the cpu on the left (black/white).

Am I doing something wrong or just being really dumb here?
 
Solution
The timings are odd. With six sticks it's running at 1066/2133 with CL timing of 15. Fairly normal. But once you go to 7 or 8 it's running at 931/1833 but with tighter timings of CL 13. I would expect the opposite if anything on the timings.

It boots with all 8 correct? Can you set it for 1066 with the 1:16 ratio, but increase the timings to 15 or even 16? You want it running with the timings in the first chart. Don't try to get 2400. You want the more relaxed timings and 2133.

Ralston18

Titan
Moderator
Seconding @4745454b

What motherboard is installed in the HP Z440?

You need to refer to that User Guide/Manual to learn what RAM and RAM configurations are supported.

Plus the User Guide/Manual is very likely to refer you back to some other website (HP or a specific motherboard manufacturer) for the latest updates.

Details matter: motherboard version, fine print, notes, cautions, references to other relevant sources, etc..

\
 
May 3, 2020
7
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When using all ram slots/banks, ram speed normally goes down. How much depends on the controller. 1866 might be the best it can do with all slots filled. Is there a mention of this in the manual? Turning off ECC might help.


I’ve had a look through the manual and it doesn’t say anything about dropping the ram speed if all (Or some) dimms are filled. These are the sections in the manual regarding the memory and an image of how I have it configured (channel 1 and 3 are the 4x 2400’s and channel 2 and 4 are the 2x 2133)

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IMG-2616.png

IMG-2614.jpg

IMG-2617.jpg


Seconding @4745454b

What motherboard is installed in the HP Z440?

You need to refer to that User Guide/Manual to learn what RAM and RAM configurations are supported.

Plus the User Guide/Manual is very likely to refer you back to some other website (HP or a specific motherboard manufacturer) for the latest updates.

Details matter: motherboard version, fine print, notes, cautions, references to other relevant sources, etc..

\

It’s HP’s own motherboard, I believe the model is a 212b which runs a c612 chipset.
 
Last edited:

Ralston18

Titan
Moderator
Check the following link:

https://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/getpdf.aspx/c04400038.pdf

Do verify that I correctly matched the motherboard.

In the QuickSpecs refer to the Memory information on physically numbered Pages 12 and 13.

And the Notes in blue font.

Note 2, bottom of Page 12 - the phrasing before the "or" is relevant. If I read your specs correctly you do not have any 32GB modules.

But you do have 6x memory DIMMS not just 4x.. That implies the need to have Memory Cooling solution requirement - at least as I read the note.

The overall rule is that memory will only run at the speed of the slowest installed module(s). Faster modules are backwards compatible in that they can run at slower speeds.

Per the note on Page 13, the system has been tested "to work with" 2666 MHz RAM.

That does not mean that it will run at 2666 MHz.
 
May 3, 2020
7
0
10
Check the following link:

https://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/getpdf.aspx/c04400038.pdf

Do verify that I correctly matched the motherboard.

In the QuickSpecs refer to the Memory information on physically numbered Pages 12 and 13.

And the Notes in blue font.

Note 2, bottom of Page 12 - the phrasing before the "or" is relevant. If I read your specs correctly you do not have any 32GB modules.

But you do have 6x memory DIMMS not just 4x.. That implies the need to have Memory Cooling solution requirement - at least as I read the note.

The overall rule is that memory will only run at the speed of the slowest installed module(s). Faster modules are backwards compatible in that they can run at slower speeds.

Per the note on Page 13, the system has been tested "to work with" 2666 MHz RAM.

That does not mean that it will run at 2666 MHz.

I have 8 dimm's in total, 4x 2133 and 4x 2400 so it should run at 2133 but inserting more than 6 drops the speed to 1866. I have the cooling solution installed as per the note in the manual.
 
May 3, 2020
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System board specs - Pages 19 and 20.

Compliance? Slot loading order?

I tried loading the 2400 in the 4x black slots (slots 1/2/3/4 or dimm 1/3/6/8 in the diagram) and it runs at 2400 but if I then add a 2133 in any of the white slots it drops to 1866 straight away. If I put the 2400 in slots 1/5/3/7 it runs at 2400 and I can add 2133 in slots 2/4 and get 2133 but if I add 2133 to either 6/8 it drops to 1866.
 

4745454b

Titan
Moderator
The timings are odd. With six sticks it's running at 1066/2133 with CL timing of 15. Fairly normal. But once you go to 7 or 8 it's running at 931/1833 but with tighter timings of CL 13. I would expect the opposite if anything on the timings.

It boots with all 8 correct? Can you set it for 1066 with the 1:16 ratio, but increase the timings to 15 or even 16? You want it running with the timings in the first chart. Don't try to get 2400. You want the more relaxed timings and 2133.
 
Solution
May 3, 2020
7
0
10
The timings are odd. With six sticks it's running at 1066/2133 with CL timing of 15. Fairly normal. But once you go to 7 or 8 it's running at 931/1833 but with tighter timings of CL 13. I would expect the opposite if anything on the timings.

It boots with all 8 correct? Can you set it for 1066 with the 1:16 ratio, but increase the timings to 15 or even 16? You want it running with the timings in the first chart. Don't try to get 2400. You want the more relaxed timings and 2133.

Yes, it boots fine with all 8, just shows 1866 in bios and windows task manager and 931 in cpu-z. Thing is, I haven’t changed the timings, the HP bios is locked for overclocking, it changes itself just by adding the extra dimms. I’d be happy getting the whole 64gb to run at 2133 but the max I’ve got up to yet by swapping around sticks into different slots is 48gb at 2133, maybe there’s a combination I’m missing. Are there any windows programs that allow me to set the fsb:dram ratio or change the timings in Windows 10?
 
May 3, 2020
7
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UPDATE - I managed to get 4 sticks of matching 2400 ram and have tried it in the pc, it’s all working fine and shows 2400 in windows and 1197.2 in cpu-z so it must just be an issue with mixing the 2133 and 2400 on this board. Anyone want 4 sticks of 2133 ecc ddr4 ram? 😂