Question DDR3 1600MHz and 1333MHz RAM compatibility - - and help with minidump files and BSOD ?

[dimmel]

I have the following configuration

• intel core i7 4770
• Gigabyte H87-HD3
• Gigabyte GTX750
• Windows 11 24H2

Initially, I had a pair of Kingston KHX1600C10D3/8G (total 16GB) without any BSOD or any other problems. RAM worked at 1600MHz. Then I bought another pair of Patriot PV316G160C9K (2x8GB) and several BBSODsSOD appeared, especially after waking up the PC.

After running Memtest86+, I found an error in Patriot RAM sticks. Since they were the newest ones I had changed, I decided to replace them with a pair of G.Skill F3-12800CL10-8GBXL.

G.Skill sticks are advertised at 1600MHz with the same timing as the Kingston. However, after replacing them, the speed dropped to 1333MHz. I realized that the cause of this drop is the new sticks because even by using only them, the speed remains 1333MHz.

XMP is deactivated since Kingston sticks do not support it. I decided to manually override auto settings and set the speed and timing equal to both channels, with those advertised.

My question is, why G.Skill sticks run at a lower speed, and if I make it correctly by setting the speed slightly higher and timing the same and not risking "burning" something?

I am familiar that 1600MHz is indeed an OC profile of the JEDEC 1333MHz standard but I expected that the OC profile will be automatically chosen. All RAM sticks are in the Gigabyte's supported list.

Unfortunately I still got one more BSOD. Can anyone help me with the minidump?

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AmUtIpeUq86Zh6VD2Y319SG8k-Paqg?e=o6LP5t

 

[Lutfij]

Are you mixing and matching rams? If you are then, please stop and source the exact same kit of ram to populate all 4 slots. The latencies on either of those kits mentioned above are not the same, they don't come from the same assembly line nor do they share the same IC's.

You don't put 4 different tyres on the 4 corners of your car, now do you? You invest in a matched set of 4 tyres on your sedan.

 

[Misgar]

G.Skill sticks are advertised at 1600MHz with the same timing as the Kingston.

I bet you only looked at the first three Primary timings (10-10-10). Did you compare the Seconday and Tertiary timings too? There's a whole bunch of additional SPD timings accessible in the BIOS, some of which are displayed in Aida64.
https://www.aida64.com/downloads

It's unlikely all the Primary, Seconday and Tertiary timings will be the same on the three different kits you tried. In other words, they're mismatched.

Similarly, the physical memory chips on each set of DIMMs will probably not be identical and may be from different manufacturers. You can check the chip type with Thaiphoon Burner. In the example below, the chips are from Micron Technology.
https://thaiphoon-burner-official.com/

Even if you fit two "indentical" pairs of DIMMs from the same manufacturer with exactly the same part number, the memory chips will most likely be from different "bins", with subtly different characteristics when overclocked.

That's why it's recommended to buy a single kit of 4 DIMMs (not 2 different kits) so you know they'll be matched, with a better chance of stability.

In any case, installing 4 DIMMs usually places more strain on the CPU's Integrated Memory Controller channels, making overclocking more difficult.

If a manufacturer states their kit of 2 DIMMs can run at 1600MT/s, it doesn't mean that 4 DIMMs will run as fast. More loading on the CPU IMCs equates to potentially slower speeds.

Motherboard manufacturers sometimes specify lower XMP speeds when you fit 4 DIMMs instead of 2, especially on DDR5 systems.

Apart from benchmarks, the difference between 1333MT/s and 1600MT/s is often marginal in real world apps. Most of my DDR3 systems are running at 1333 or 1600 (depending on the maximum XMP speed). I have one system at 1866 and another at 2133, but both have only 2 DIMMs per mobo.
https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/1333-vs-1600-ram-does-it-really-matter.2451070/

It's better to run a stable system at 1333MT/s, even if you have to sacrifice a few FPS in a game, than put up with system crashes at 1600MT/s. If you need more speed, consider a modern DDR5 system where 6000MT/s is the norm on AMD and 6600MT/s on Intel.

However, after replacing them, the speed dropped to 1333MHz.

The BIOS may have spotted 4 DIMMs and automatically reduced the memory clock speed from 800MHz (1600MT/s) to 666MHz (1333MT/s) to maintain stability.

XMP is deactivated since Kingston sticks do not support it.

https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KHX1600C10D3B1_8G.pdf

The Kingston memory does support XMP (1600MT/s). As I suggested above, the BIOS may have reduced memory speed from 1600 to 1333MT/s for greater stability with 4 DIMMs.

XMP ratings are not an automatic guarantee of success in all circumstances, especially when using 4 DIMMs or mismatched pairs. Life's like that.

 

[Misgar]

You don't put 4 different tyres on the 4 corners of your car, now do you?

I love the analogy. Very apt.

I once had a DDR2 system with 3 DIMM slots filled with 3 different DIMMs and odd capacities. Rather surprisingly, it worked. Cross-ply and radials on the same axle?

A bit like Dell Boy's Reliant Robin.
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money...Regal-Supervan-Fools-Horses-goes-auction.html