Need Help with XMP

[cooler110033]

Hi all, I'm trying to enable XMP on my RAM. I used the command prompt (and CPU-Z) and it looks like the memory is running at a lower frequency than it should, so I'm trying to increase it.

When I tried to turn XMP on, I get the following BOOT FAILURE screen on startup:
https://imgur.com/faH9Gjh

These are my complete up-to-date specs:
https://imgur.com/rRp5ObC (taken a few minutes ago)

Is it because I have two sticks of 4GB and two sticks of 8GB RAM? They're the exact same make and model, same CAS Latencies, voltages, etc. It's just two are 4GB and the other two are 8GB.

These are the sticks:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231627

I have a GIGABYTE motherboard:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128514

Can anyone tell me what my problem is?

 

[Darkbreeze]

See this thread. The reasons your system are not booting with XMP enabled are almost certainly the same reasons outlined here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3754112/ram-unstable-rated-speeds.html#21189309

Plus the fact that you have two different sets of modules, and they may simply not be compatible together at higher speeds. Likely though if you increase the performance of the memory controller with a slight to moderate overclock and increase in core voltage, they may then run together. Honestly, AM3+ is terrible, horrible, and not good, when it comes to running high speed memory with more than two modules installed. Sometimes it works fine, sometimes it takes a great deal of fiddling around and other times on that old platform it just won't work at all. I've had to ditch four module configurations on a number of AM3+ setups and opt instead for only two modules that equaled the amount of RAM I wanted in total.

This is a known issue and always has been.

 

[jojesa]

When you mix different RAM kits not tested to work together you might not be able to use the XMP setting. So the RAM defaults to the standard specified by JEDEC.
Extreme Memory profile (XMP) will work with RAM that has been tested to work with your motherboard.

 

[Darkbreeze]

That's true, however, the XMP settings and voltage requirements for all those modules are the same despite having different part numbers. The bigger issue is not that the XMP settings are not compatible, but that the two kits are likely comprised of different configurations utilizing different IC's, ranks, etc., even though specs are similar.

This can have a variety of effects from nothing at all and works fine, to won't work together at rated settings, to won't run in dual channel all the way up to won't even post.

Even if you had four modules though, all tested together in a kit, on AM3+ systems it is very hard to get four modules at 1866mhz to run on the same board. Even on very high end boards this is difficult and it's even more difficult when you are running at the stock CPU frequency and have no overclock to bolster the memory controller.

 

[cooler110033]

See this thread. The reasons your system are not booting with XMP enabled are almost certainly the same reasons outlined here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3754112/ram-unstable-rated-speeds.html#21189309

Plus the fact that you have two different sets of modules, and they may simply not be compatible together at higher speeds. Likely though if you increase the performance of the memory controller with a slight to moderate overclock and increase in core voltage, they may then run together. Honestly, AM3+ is terrible, horrible, and not good, when it comes to running high speed memory with more than two modules installed. Sometimes it works fine, sometimes it takes a great deal of fiddling around and other times on that old platform it just won't work at all. I've had to ditch four module configurations on a number of AM3+ setups and opt instead for only two modules that equaled the amount of RAM I wanted in total.

This is a known issue and always has been.

Thank you for responding! I'm not very experienced with computers. Can you explain how to increase the performance of the memory controller? I tried googling that, and I got nothing: http://

And by core voltage, do you mean the CPU cores? How would I increase their voltage? Also, is there a way to ensure that my power supply can handle the increase in power drawing?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Core voltage is CPU/Processor core voltage or CPUID voltage. There are other terminologies used by different manufacturers.

This is a good place to start. You will need to learn at least some very basic knowledge of overclocking. It will be necessary to get your memory to run at speeds higher than the default speed of 1333mhz most likely.

https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?44467-Overclocking-Tips-Beginner-and-Advanced-Guide-to-Overclocking


It will be difficult to tell you what your system may or may not be able to do without knowing the specifications, and your CPU-Z screenshots are fine for some basics, but it would be helpful if you could outline the following for easy reference including EXACT model or part numbers where possible.

CPU
Motherboard
Memory modules
Graphics card
Power supply

 

[cooler110033]

Sorry for the late reply, this is my setup:
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/pwLxt6

I have tried manually setting the frequency, CAS timings, and voltage but still no dice. I took a look at the overclocking beginner's guide. Gosh darn, that is a lot of information. If that is what I have to understand to see this sorted out, I'm afraid I'm in over my head here.

If I have to overclock my CPU, how would I go about finding out how much I have to overclock it to before it can run the memory listed on the RAM sticks?

 

[Darkbreeze]

I am currently working on a beginners overclocking guide that is actually tailored and intended for, beginners. Not just beginners to advanced overclocking. Beginners to overclocking in toto. I'll let you know when it's complete. Unfortunately, I don't have the time or patience to go through every step and procedure for every person, so I'd prefer to only do this one time, for everybody, and I think it should be like my other tutorials which are intended to be able to be understood by a layman, rather than by somebody who is already an advanced user like most of the overclocking tutorials.

 

[cooler110033]

Cool, that sounds like a more worthy investment of your time. I understand. In the meantime, when Monster Hunter World comes out in a week, and the computer I paid $1200+ for continues to underperform with really low RAM speeds, I guess I'll just have to stomach any frame rate drops.

I wish the XMP feature just worked. It worked for my two friends who just flipped the switch and presto, but for me, there's all kinds of nonsense.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Even at 1333mhz, for gaming there will be virtually very little difference. The same applies to newer systems when you compare 2133mhz to higher frequencies like 3200mhz. There are minor improvements, but generally speaking you won't see it in games. You'd see the difference in performance from overclocking your CPU far more than any change in memory speed.

 

[cooler110033]

Really? Well, that's good to know then. But I'm concerned overclocking anything will lower its longterm lifespan, so I'd prefer to avoid it unless it's absolutely necessary. Anyway, thank you for responding and I look forward to your guide!

 

[Darkbreeze]

Overclocking doesn't lower the lifespan of anything unless you're doing it to extreme levels where you exceed the recommended thermal specifications. So long as you are still within the thermal specifications, life expectancy is exactly the same, more or less, than at default configurations. Manufacturers purposely under-configure hardware to ensure the average user doesn't have stability issues but the thermal range most hardware is intended to run safely within is generally much higher than what you'll see on a stock configuration.

In other words, it's safe as long as you do it right and don't get stupid carried away with it.