Question Problems with Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3_v1.3 Motherboard Installing RAM

[eh936]

So I could use some answers from you experts. I've got the following motherboard GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 rev 1.3 and I can only get the board to POST when memory (pair of DIMMS) are installed in Channel B (DDR3_1 and DDR3_3) DIMM sockets. Any memory installed in Channel A (DDR3_2 and DDR3_4) will not allow the system to POST. I have the following DDR3 RAM as follows for which I have tried every combination that I could think of but it won't POST with 32GB (4 x 8GB). I've also tried just populating DDR3_1 and DDR3_2 DIMM sockets with no POST and same for DDR3_3 and DDR3_4 no POST. ONLY WHEN DDR3_1 and DDR3_3 are populated with 2 x 8GB DDR3 1600MHz memory will the system POST.

1. G.Skill F3-1600C11D-16GIS (DDR3-1600 CL11-11-11-28 1.5v 2 x 8GB)
2. Mushkin Blackline PC3-12800 10-10-10-27 1.5v (2x8GB)
3. Kingston HyperX HX316C10FK2/8

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

why are you trying to use 3 different kits in the same setup?
even if only using 2 separate kits at a time it's possible that the combo setup, or maybe one of those particular kits, just won't work with this board.

have you checked the Gigabyte compatibility chart for this board to see if any of these RAM kits are not included?

ONLY WHEN DDR3_1 and DDR3_3 are populated with 2 x 8GB DDR3 1600MHz memory will the system POST

some boards may allow 2 single channel modules in slot 1&2 or 3&4, but for dual channel use of 4 modules you would have to have a compatible kit in slots 1&3 and another in 2&4.

if you are mixing kits it could be that this board just doesn't play well with them and won't allow it.

GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 rev 1.3

was this board previously in use;
a previous system,
purchased used, etc?

do you have the latest BIOS installed?

 

[eh936]

Hello, and thank you for the comments. I have these kits because I have tried to use all three kits in the respective dual channel format to no avail. I'm not mixing ram sticks of one kit with ram sticks of another kit. I'm installing a single kit in Channel A and another kit in Channel B not mixing sticks and installing them in Channel A or mixing another set of sticks in Channel B.

I'm not sure how to check to see if any of these ram kits are incompatible or not, could you point me to the Gigabyte webpage that talks about this please ? Keep in mind each of the three kits work in Channel B but not in Channel A. When you say that for dual channel use of 4 modules you have to use a compatible kit of say (4 sticks all same brand/model and same speed and same voltage) in order to make use of both channels yes ? Because if that's the case then this could be my issue. I was thinking that the board has a defective Channel A sockets.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

I'm installing a single kit in Channel A and another kit in Channel B not mixing sticks and installing them in Channel A or mixing another set of sticks in Channel B

this would still be mixing kits.
if you are looking to use 4x 8GB modules, then you should be looking for a 4 module kit.
not 2 different 2 module kits.

not sure how to check to see if any of these ram kits are incompatible

check the motherboard's manufacturer support pages for this particular model and compare the kits you have to their compatibility chart.

 

[eh936]

Thank you JohnBonhamsGhost.

 

[35below0]

...could you point me to the Gigabyte webpage that talks about this please ?

The link is here: https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3-rev-13/support#support-doc

As mentioned above, when mixing two kits (a kit being what a manufacturer sells as a package, and is manufactured in a series so all the sticks are identical, whether it's 1 stick, 2 or 4 sticks. They are all one "kit"), the memory controller on the motherboard has to do some gymnastics in order to make memory work at all. Usually speed is sacrificed or two (or four) kits work at the speed of the slower one.

Memory controllers also have extra work to do when 4 RAM slots are populated, vs just 2 slots or 1. This leads to a lower speed limit when using a 4x kit. It is why it is advisable to buy a 2x kit with double the memory instead. It will run faster, or to put it another way, it will not be speed-limited.

Also, some motherboards just don't like certain RAM kits. Memory support lists show which kit the manufacturer tested and confirms can work. Also the possible configurations and native & overclock speeds.

 

[eh936]

Thanks 35below0. I did take a look at that document but the highest denomination it mentions of a single module is 4GB not the 8GB modules that I'm using. But I think both of you guys are right that I should be using all same brand/size/speed identical modules. This is where I'm beginning to think the problem lies.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

I should be using all same brand/size/speed identical modules

even identical modules may not be supported when mixing separate kits.

two separate 2x 8GB kits of the same make & model is still not the same as a single 4x 8GB kit.

 

[35below0]

even identical modules may not be supported when mixing separate kits.

two separate 2x 8GB kits of the same make & model is still not the same as a single 4x 8GB kit.

This is because they *may* or may not be part of the same production run. Kits with identical specs can come with bits and pieces sourced from different manufacturers, as factories change sources due to what's available to them. Or there may be slight variations in production line setup which results in ever so slight differences in RAM, even if it's the same thing on paper.

This doesn't have to cause problems, but sometimes motherboards or CPUs can be very sensitive to memory. It's the reason it's highly recommended to use identical memory modules as much as possible. Kits are sticks of RAM that came of the same production line and are as like as can be.

Again, this does not have to cause problems but when it does, it leads to issues like slower than native speeds, no XMP, or sometimes even no POST.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

This is because they *may* or may not be part of the same production run.

and even if they *may* be, slight differences in the manufacturing/stamping of materials can be different from one module to the next even from the exact same production run.

that is why they are put through rigorous testing to ensure compatibility before they are packaged together.