Only 2 memory sticks work with i7 5820K CPU

[mrmon]

Hello,
New build computer:
Motherboard: MSI X99SLI PLUS LGA2011-3 8xDDR4
CPU: i7 5820K
Memory: G.Skill 16GB (4x4GB) DDR4 2400MHz CL15 Non-ECC (F4-2400CL15Q-16GRR)
Graphics: MSI NVidia GeForce GTX960 2GB GDDR5 Gaming 100ME
Monitor: SAMSUNG 24" HD monitor
Power Supply: CORSAIR RM 750 80 PLUS Gold Fully modular
Disks: _Plextor 128GB M6G-2280 M.2 SSD
_Western Digital WD Caviar Black 1TB 7200RPM
CPU cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212X (RR-212X-20PM-R1) with extra fan: XtraFlo 120mm
Problem: started computer with all 4 memory sticks: no picture, tried monitor on my laptop: OK, connection to the monitor was done with the same HDMI cable
_Only one stick in DIMM 1: monitor OK
_Second stick in DIMM 5 as per MSI user guide: no picture
_Tried all sticks one by one in DIMM 1: monitor OK for all sticks
_Tried to add second stick in the other DIMM slots one by one: have picture only when there is a second stick in DIMM 2 also
_ Tried the same with the other sticks: picture only when second stick in DIMM 2 also
So: I only have picture when there are memory sticks in DIMM 1 and/or in DIMM 2
BIOS: can see the installed memory, 4GB when one stick, 8GB when 2 sticks installed.
Anybody can help me out?
Thanks,
mrmon

 

[Darkbreeze]

Update to the latest BIOS version. If that does not solve the problem then make sure you have enabled the correct XMP profile that matches the proper speed, timings and voltage settings for your modules specifications.

The latest BIOS version is 1.7 and there are several prior version notations, as well as the most recent, that specify memory compatibility improvements.

http://us.msi.com/support/mb/X99S-SLI-PLUS.html#down-bios

 

[mrmon]

Hello darkbreeze, thanks for your help.
I enabled XMP (it was not enabled as a default setting).
Updating the Bios to version 1.7: the Bios says it is version 1.1, MSI live update says my Bios is up to date??? I have send this to the MSI support team and waiting for answer on this isue, they are out of office for a few days because of the Chinese new year.
Now I have installed windows 7 pro 64bit and it is running fine, never saw a computer this fast (my humble experience), for information the windows Experience Index :
Processor = 7.8
RAM = 7.8 (with only the two sticks in DIMM 1 and 2)
Graphics = 7.9
Gaming graphics = 7.9
Primary HD = 7.9
I am very happy with these results and the performance of my new computer, but I have 110 euros worth of RAM sitting on my desk. Will see what the tech boys at MSI will say about the Bios update.
Again thank you,
mrmon

 

[Darkbreeze]

There's nothing for them to say or that they are likely to say. It's a well known fact that the automatic BIOS utilities basically NEVER are accurate. The update servers change, and unless you manually update the BIOS firmware to include the address of the new server, it won't show any new versions.

There are many other reasons as to why they don't accurately reflect whether updates are current such as the fact that they do it on purpose so that they can allow for some time on the newest of firmware versions to be highly sampled in order to determine if there are remaining issues. Usually they label those updates beta, but not always, and automatic utilities almost never detect those either. I'd just update it now manually using the utility included in the BIOS update download as noted here by MSI:

Users who download BIOS from here (not using Live Update) should use the flash utility included in the downloaded compressed file when doing the BIOS update. To avoid BIOS update failure, please do not use older versions of the update utility or utilities not provided by MSI.