Question RAM not showing right speeds and not working in dual channel mode ?

[simon_m65]

Computer specs:
CPU: Ryzen 5 2600
Motherboard: MSI B450 Gaming Plus
GPU: Gtx 1660ti Zotacgaming
Memory: (2x8gb 3000mhz) Corsair Vengeance LED Ram

Basically when I first got my pc like a year ago everything worked fine, both sticks working at 3000mhz using xmp

But around this month it changed. The RAM runs at 2133mhz and only 8gb is useable, the other 8gb is “hardware reserved”.

I have tried so many things to fix the ram and it just won’t budge, only one stick works at a time at 3000mhz doesn’t matter which one they both work, these are the things I tried:

- Motherboard update (Bios update)

- Swap the memory around and one stick at a time

- amd chipset driver update

- Dusting the ram and ram slots

- Changing the XMP profile, the default Xmp profiles are:
Xmp #1: 2800Mhz 2-15-17-17-17-35
Xmp #2: 2933Mhz 2-15-17-17-17-35
None of them work they just revert the sticks back to 8gb hardware reserved running at 2133Mhz

- Changing the timings and voltage of the ram (1.35V and 1.4V)

- This is pretty much everything I have tried. At one point I made both sticks work somehow at 2133Mhz I didn’t actually do anything they just decided to work and also when I was trying to fix it by fiddling in the BIOS I made both sticks work at 16GB 3000Mhz but shortly after it booted, the OS froze up and I couldn’t do anything. I can’t reproduce this anymore.

Will replacing the RAM kit do the job or is this a problem with the CPU or motherboard, Thanks for reading

 

[thestryker]

I've seen people with this issue before with AM4 and usually it's some sort of hardware issue.

If your DRAM is currently in A2/B2 try putting them into A1/B1 this will usually tell if it's the specific DRAM slot (if they're not in A2/B2 put them there and try it).

If this doesn't work try putting a single DIMM into B2 (I'm assuming you were trying them in just A2 before).

If the PC doesn't POST this way then you'll know the B channel is the issue. At this point it's possible that the problem could be the CPU or motherboard (if it does POST it's most likely the CPU).

If you have thermal paste I'd suggest pulling out the CPU to check the socket and pins for any sort of damage. It's possible for the issues to be caused by heatsink mounting pressure being off (could be too little or too much) as well.

I do not think there is any issue with your DRAM since you've tested the sticks individually, but it's not impossible.

 

[simon_m65]

Ok so I have tried Slot A1/B1 and with the #1 XMP Profile and the PC posts but once again with only one stick working the other one is “Hardware reserved” also at the wrong speed of 2133 Mhz

I will try Slot A1/A2 now.

With my ram in the slots A1/A2 my pc isn’t posting, the dr debug light is stuck at DRAM which leads me to believe the slot A2 doesn’t work?

I’ll try slot B1/B2 now.

With my ram in the slots B1/B2 my PC posted it actually registers all 16GB of ram running at 2133Mhz with XMP on, which means it should run at 2800Mhz but it’s not.

Manually changing the DRAM Frequency speed to 2800Mhz with XMP enabled still makes the pc post the Ram works!?!?!

I have read somewhere that the Ryzen 5 2600 can only support up to 2933Mhz ram so I will try that now.

With the DRAM frequency set to 2933Mhz the pc once again posts. The RAM once again works at 2933Mhz.

So I believe that the A2 slot is the one causing problems.

I must ask, because the RAM is working in slot B1/B2, will it take advantage of dual channel ram?

Thank you so much


Edit: While the ram was running and I was typing this reply, it froze up. Nothing was responsive. Booting up the pc again the ram still works but I think it’s bound to freeze again, if it does I’ll set the ram to run at 2800Mhz.

Edit 2: Seems to be completely working now at 2933Mhz

 

[thestryker]

Ok so I have tried Slot A1/B1 and with the #1 XMP Profile and the PC posts but once again with only one stick working the other one is “Hardware reserved” also at the wrong speed of 2133 Mhz

I will try Slot A1/A2 now.

With my ram in the slots A1/A2 my pc isn’t posting, the dr debug light is stuck at DRAM which leads me to believe the slot A2 doesn’t work?

I’ll try slot B1/B2 now.

With my ram in the slots B1/B2 my PC posted it actually registers all 16GB of ram running at 2133Mhz with XMP on, which means it should run at 2800Mhz but it’s not.

Manually changing the DRAM Frequency speed to 2800Mhz with XMP enabled still makes the pc post the Ram works!?!?!

I have read somewhere that the Ryzen 5 2600 can only support up to 2933Mhz ram so I will try that now.

With the DRAM frequency set to 2933Mhz the pc once again posts. The RAM once again works at 2933Mhz.

So I believe that the A2 slot is the one causing problems.

I must ask, because the RAM is working in slot B1/B2, will it take advantage of dual channel ram?

Thank you so much


Edit: While the ram was running and I was typing this reply, it froze up. Nothing was responsive. Booting up the pc again the ram still works but I think it’s bound to freeze again, if it does I’ll set the ram to run at 2800Mhz.

Edit 2: Seems to be completely working now at 2933Mhz

So it's the entire A channel that isn't working right because you're getting hardware reserved no matter what and a no POST when the DRAM is in just A. That means it falls under either the CPU or the motherboard as the problem.

This would be the time to check out the CPU if you can.

If you can't do the steps I mentioned previously then you can at least check the cooler mounting. What CPU cooler is being used?