[SOLVED] RAM reading Single Channel in CPU-Z when its Dual Channel

[MisterFresko]

Hello everyone,

When I open CPU-Z and click on the Memory tab it shows that I have Single Channel memory installed, when in fact its Dual Channel memory that I have on the system. I did check the GSKILL website to verify that the RAM I bought was indeed Dual Channel. Could this be a Windows issue?
Here are my specs:

CPU - AMD Threadripper 2950X
GPU - Radeon VII
Mobo - Asus ROG Zenith Extreme Alpha x399
RAM - G.SKILL Trident Z Royal Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Model F4-3200C16D-32GTRS
SSD - Samsung 970 Pro NVMe M.2 1TB
PSU - Corsair HX1000
AIO - Corsair H115i Platinum
OS - Windows 10 Professional 64bit

What I have tried so far to correct the issue:

1. Fresh complete re-install of Windows 10 (wiped 970SSD for a clean install)
2. Reverted back OC from 3200MHz to 2133MHz(stock) of the above mentioned RAM
3. Cleared CMOS (due to constant crashing while on Facebook and Youtube browser)
4. Updated Graphics Card Drivers
5. Updated Chipset Drivers
6. Updated BIOS (2001)
7. Ran memtest86 the results were - 0 errors on all tests ran
8. Removed both modules and seated them firmly on Dual Channel slots according to my Motherboard Manual.

I've yet to find the smoking gun and its frustrating the hell out of me!

Addendum: Images of CPU-Z and my RAM Configuration
These are the Slots being used:

Slot2:

Slot6:

Memory:

RAM Currently config on my system:

 

[MisterFresko]

Usually with more severe symptoms. An example of a thread the other day.

https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/b450-tomahawk-max-ram-issues.3594208/#post-21692142

Anything is possible, there's many pins, it just takes one out of place.

Alright i'll check this out tomorrow after i disassemble it.

 

[Darkbreeze]

it seemed compatible using part picker

And you believe a utility website that tells you that a B450 Tomahawk max may not be compatible with a Ryzen 3000 series CPU?

I assure you, G.Skill, who MAKES the memory you are using, knows FAR better what hardware their product IS or IS NOT compatible with, than ANYBODY else, including PCPP. That includes the motherboard manufacturer as well. G.Skill does far more testing to ensure that their products are compatible with SPECIFIC motherboards than the motherboard manufacturer, who only tests to ensure that their boards are compatible with a small selection of memory modules, does.

PCPP has a very few, limited compatibility filters that are mostly based on some general guidelines that may or may not be accurate for given hardware. General compatibility guidelines should be fairly accurate on PCPP, for example, it knows that a specific CPU and platform chipset for a given motherboard are compatible with a specific type of memory, DDR4 for example, but it is not going to give you an accurate assessment of exactly WHAT DDR4 is compatible. A further example of this can be seen by going to PCPP, selecting the Ryzen 3600 CPU, selecting the MSI B350 Tomahawk which we KNOW cannot support any memory kits over 3200mhz, technically, because it is listed right there on the motherboard specifications page on the MSI website, yet when you select those components at PCPP and then click on memory you are given the option for memory kits all the way up to DDR5-5000mhz. So yeah, that's not something you can trust for fine tuning the specifics of a build.

If you had any idea how many problems similar to yours have been resolved by simply swapping out memory, memory that in fact the owners of the hardware insisted was compatible with their system despite the fact that I showed them clearly that it was not, that were resolved when they finally bit the bullet and either returned or replaced the memory with a kit that had been validated as compatible either on the G.Skill memory configurator, the Corsair memory finder or the motherboard QVL list, you'd likely be working on doing exactly that right now.

 

[Darkbreeze]

A bent CPU pin? would that have an effect on RAM functions? I hope that's not the case!

Of course it would. Everything is run through the CPU. Memory bus, PCI bus, SATA bus, it ALL goes through the CPU, and it seems that in my experience it almost always ends up to be the case that if there are ANY bent pins, even one, regardless of the platform or generation, it usually translates into some kind of memory error or fault, at least, when it doesn't simply disallow the system to POST at all.

I have not however, as far as I can remember, seen a situation where a bent pin caused not a lack of the memory being recognized, or not being recognized in the correct amount, but a lack of dual channel operation. The only time I see a bent pin cause a lack of dual channel operation is when all or part of the memory capacity of one of the sticks is not being recognized. For example, if you had two 8GB sticks installed but it was only showing up as 8GB total, or maybe 12GB total, then it would be likely that in addition to that you would probably not see dual channel operation. But if all 16GB were being recognized and no obvious BSOD problems existed, and the full speed of the memory was being utilized when configured to do so, then it would be very unlikely for a lack of dual channel to happen.

Anything, however, is possible, always. Especially when dealing with computers. My advice would be to at least CHECK for bent pins, and not just on the CPU. I'd also check to see if there are any buggered "gold teeth" on the memory module, or any bent pins in the DIMM slot. Or even any dust balls or debris down in the DIMM slot. Also, a CPU cooler that is unevenly tightened can cause a variety of symptoms that look much like a bent pin on the CPU or motherboard, so making sure the cooler is mounted correctly and that all hardware is functional and evenly assembled is of the utmost important. One side or corner being significantly looser than the others can cock the CPU in the socket and break connections much like unplugging one of the pins.

 

[MisterFresko]

So I was browsing around trying to figure out another issue that i'm having and I came across a program called Speccy. decided to give it a shot and here are the results:

Powered off my PC and removed 1 RAM module to make sure this wasn't a fluke
Here are the results with 1 RAM module installed:

 

[boju]

I suppose Cpuz could be bugging out.

Contact the developer and see what they say.

https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

Try HWinfo64 as well.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Make sure you have the MOST recent version of CPU-Z. It would not be the first time I'd seen a CPUID product misreporting something. I generally recommend users AVOID HWmonitor for this exact reason. Speccy is another utility that I generally don't trust, but not because it's never right, it's simply because I've seen reporting errors with some chipsets (Much the same as with HWmonitor) that I've seldom if ever seen problems with on HWinfo. Seems they update their software a bit more regularly too. But if Speccy is reporting dual channel then I'd want to get confirmation via another utility like HWinfo. It won't tell you on the "Sensors" window, you'll need to look at the "Summary" window and parse the data there. Usually the "sensors only" option is the one you want to use for HWinfo but in this case you'll want to make an exception. It's actually possible that Speccy is the one reporting incorrectly, so just verify one way or the other.

Another program to look at is the free version of Thaiphoon burner that tells you just about everything regarding your memory configuration but I can't remember if it reports channel information or not.