[SOLVED] RAM from QVL list doesn't want to run in dual channel, OS sees half of it

majaczos22

Prominent
Dec 8, 2018
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Hi,
As my LGA775 mobo died I decided to do a little (and very budget oriented) upgrade - Ryzen 3, Asrock AB350M-HDV, 2x4GB Ballistix 2666 CL16 RAM. That RAM is on the QVL list of the motherboard, at least for Raven Ridge. CPU-Z or HWInfo64 readouts look perfectly normal:
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So what's wrong? Well, my OS (64-bit freshly installed Win10) says that there's just 3,93GB of available space out of 8GB installed. More - BIOS from the very beginning shows that my RAM runs in single channel only:
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Even though it identifies it correctly:
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As for XMP there's only one profile that I don't know if loads correctly because if I choose it my mobo fails to post three times and then loads the defaults (which appears to be still 2666?).

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I tried different hings like swapping the banks, manually lowering the frequency to the base 2133MHz, increasing the voltage to 1,3V, no result - three failed posts and succesful loading of the defaults.

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Any tips what else can I try? How can I determine which part is faulty (if it is) when I don't have an access to modern computer parts? Thanks for any help.
 
I tried swapping the banks but I didn't try to start with just one stick of RAM in each slot. And I think I solved my issue - with one stick there was a post in both RAM slots but with the other there was no post whatsoever.
 
And that's why it shows that I have just 3,93GB of RAM? I don't have an issue with frequency (well, a bit as XMP profile fails to load) but with capacity and running in single channel mode instead of dual channel.
 
And that's why it shows that I have just 3,93GB of RAM? I don't have an issue with frequency (well, a bit as XMP profile fails to load) but with capacity and running in single channel mode instead of dual channel.
Sorry, I was looking at another post and clicked away and got the wrong page when I responded to yours.

You may have a faulty motherboard or CPU since it appears to be reading both modules, but setting it to single channel mode. Although that seems odd, since the motherboard only has two ram slots.

You can try resetting the bios to defaults, but you might just need to update bios if you haven't yet.
 
That's what I thought and got suggested as well but if either CPU or mobo is bad then why everything works fine with one stick in either slot and doesn't even post with the second stick?

Updating the BIOS is not that easy as ASRock's recommendations are not very clear:
 
That's what I thought and got suggested as well but if either CPU or mobo is bad then why everything works fine with one stick in either slot and doesn't even post with the second stick?

Updating the BIOS is not that easy as ASRock's recommendations are not very clear:
https://www.asrock.com/MB/AMD/AB350M-HDV/index.asp#BIOS

Confirm what Bios version you have first.

The order for installing your motherboards bios updates are:

Bios 3.20 first.

Then to 3.40 and install AMD all in 1 with VGA driver ver:18.50.16.01_WHQL.

Then update to 5.50 and if you still have memory issues try bios 5.90.



Do not install 6.00 or 6.10. *ASRock do NOT recommend updating this BIOS if Pinnacle, Raven, Summit or Bristol Ridge CPU is being used on your system.

If you are running a Ryzen 1000 series CPU, it will stop working on your motherboard with bios update 6.00 and 6.10.
 
I have the 5.50 BIOS with AGESA 1.0.0.6 which is meant to improve RAM support. To install 5.80 or 5.90 (5.90 introduces Ryzen 3000 support, I don't know wether I need that with my 1200) they want me to install "AMD all in 1 with VGA driver ver:18.50.16.01_WHQL", thing is - 18.50.16.01 is a number of the chipset driver, not the graphics one.
Either way the file they linked tries to uninstall my current graphics driver which is newer. Meanwhile it says "* Please install "AMD all in 1 with VGA driver ver:18.10.20_NHDA" or a later version before updating to this BIOS. " I have Radeon Adrenalin 20.4.2 so I think it is newer.
 
I have the 5.50 BIOS with AGESA 1.0.0.6 which is meant to improve RAM support. To install 5.80 or 5.90 (5.90 introduces Ryzen 3000 support, I don't know wether I need that with my 1200) they want me to install "AMD all in 1 with VGA driver ver:18.50.16.01_WHQL", thing is - 18.50.16.01 is a number of the chipset driver, not the graphics one.
Either way the file they linked tries to uninstall my current graphics driver which is newer. Meanwhile it says "* Please install "AMD all in 1 with VGA driver ver:18.10.20_NHDA" or a later version before updating to this BIOS. " I have Radeon Adrenalin 20.4.2 so I think it is newer.
Oh, yeah I just noticed I grabbed the wrong AIO version when copy pasting.

The VGA driver for your Ryzen 3 is in that AIO install package I listed already, AMD all in 1 with VGA driver ver:18.50.16.01_WHQL. If you already have that chipset version installed and the VGA driver from that AIO, then you should be fine to install bios 5.80 first and then 5.90 if you're still having issues.

Right now, the only thing I can suggest is something is wrong with the motherboard or the CPU. You could pull the CPU out of the socket and check all the pins to see if you bent one. It might be causing an issue, but normally that would mean an entire memory channel would stop working. You showed A1/B1 functioning so you have both channels working and I don't think it's the CPU that is at fault.

The motherboard may just be faulty with some kind of weird defect. I would RMA the motherboard first to get it replaced assuming it's actually defective. You could try to get another Ryzen 3 1200 or 2200G to test with and then send back if the memory works properly, because that means your CPU is defective.

If the CPU is defective AMD will likely replace it, but if a pin is bent, they won't replace it because it voids the warranty and you will have to pay full price for a new one.
 
So it's a chipset driver or a graphics driver?

It's difficult to get more parts especially with an ultra budget build. But! I got my hands on a set of brand new HyperX Predators 2666 for a second and my motherboard posted immediately with both sticks running in dual chanel mode. I had no time to play with XMP or something like that but I think combined with my previous test (one stick of my RAM works in both slots, the other doesn't work in either) I think it's safe to assume that I should start by RMA-ing my RAM.
 
So it's a chipset driver or a graphics driver?

It's difficult to get more parts especially with an ultra budget build. But! I got my hands on a set of brand new HyperX Predators 2666 for a second and my motherboard posted immediately with both sticks running in dual chanel mode. I had no time to play with XMP or something like that but I think combined with my previous test (one stick of my RAM works in both slots, the other doesn't work in either) I think it's safe to assume that I should start by RMA-ing my RAM.
That's interesting that a different kit worked with no problem, which possibly means it was just a ram compatibility issue all along. It's just one of those problems you can't really diagnose without other hardware to test with.
 
Not just compatibility as my RAM is on the mobo's QVL list. One stick appears to be half dead that's why I can't start my computer with it while the other works fine. Half dead because the mobo can read some info from the controller. Oh well, we'll see, time to RMA it.
 
It says that I have 3,9/4.0GB of RAM in total.
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Use Windows search to find msconfig and open that program. I don't know what it would say in what I'm guessing is Polish, but click the boot tab (second tab in from left side) and then click advanced options to the left of the two grayed out buttons. Make sure that the maximum memory option is unchecked on the top right of the window that comes.