Single channel not dual channel?

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Matthew Keeton

Matthew Keeton

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Apr 25, 2015
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So New build brand new fm2a68mdg3+ motherboard and brand new pny 4gb 1333 mhz ram and went into bios and noticed only single channel and Windows 7 picks up 3.94 gbs used out of 8. And I looked at the memory compatibility but I hope I can just tweak something to make it compatible or do I really need to buy dual channel compatible memory?
 
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Are you using two different sticks of RAM?

If so, your motherboard probably doesn't like the fact that you're using two different sticks of RAM. If you buy another PNY stick then it will most likely work as intended.

Also, as above, if you're using a 32-bit version of Windows you won't get beyond 4GB of RAM.
 
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1) remove and reinsert both sticks, making sure they are fully inserted

2) if still fails, try only one stick at a time

3) if 8GB detected, run XMP which may pick a better profile (memory stick has a code. BIOS updates add memory configurations, so if one exists the XMP utility chooses what it thinks is optimal. if it's only 1333MHz though chances are that's what will be chose anyway though sometimes the timing might be better thus more stable)

4) when properly detected, run Memtest86 for a full pass to verify www.memtest86.com

5) Windows to to Task Manager and confirm the amount of memory (Performance-> Memory). I have W10, but if it's the same on the left it should say something like 3GB/7.9GB meaning it's using 3GB but has 7.9GB available (it's not quite 8GB due to some allocation to specific hardware).

6) CPU-Z should also specify if it's in Dual or Single channel. Under CPU-Z-> Memory it should say "Dual" then lower it should say 667MHz (it's effectively 1333MHz with two sticks).

*Note the motherboard manual specifies the slots to use for single and dual sticks. Not all slots work correctly. I'll post this and look up the info for you.
 
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update, re Windows 10:
While I do recommend Windows 10, memory detection and setup is done at the BIOS level which is essentially a mini operating system that starts when the computer is on.

This runs some tests (POST) and assigns the default or user modified settings such as the default or XMP memory profile.

It's only after this is done that the operating system drive starts to boot. The exact same thing happens when you run Memtest86 from a DVD or USB stick. It is a bootable media but it still needs the system memory to be setup properly before testing it.

Other:
I suggest doing the W10 upgrade from Windows, but later plan for and do a clean install. You can create a W10 install media using the Microsoft media creation tool, and even hookup ONLY the operating system drive and boot to W10.

You can even buy a blank drive, like a Samsung 850 256GB EVO ($95USD), boot to W10 media and install a clean copy to it. (do not have another drive attached, and do NOT enter a key since MS will detect after install if you had W7, W8, or W10 installed previous and sort out the activation for you).

For the W7 upgrade solution, once tested you can delete the "OLD" backup copy. It's a compressed backup of your W7 install and may be over 20GB, though it varies a lot. you can Google for how, but basically right-click C-drive, properties, disc clean up-> cleanup system files.. until you find the larger "OLD" file and a few other things. (you can only rollback to W7 for 30 days anyway)

Either way, you should also create a backup image to a separate hard drive.
 
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Yeah it's the ram its either not compatible to be run in dual channel or one stick is faulty cause tested with 1 stick works fine but the other stick and the system won't post. So I'd rather buy one of the compatible listings on asrocks website. Would that be the better idea than keeping the current sticks and messing with the software?
 
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BIOS, and DDR3 memory in manual->

1. BIOS-> nothing terribly important, and you may have already but if you overclock the CPU I'd update if you have an older version:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/FM2A68M-DG3+/?cat=Download&os=BIOS

2. APU or CPU?
I don't recommend an APU if you do any gaming. If you do have one I suggest buying a dedicated graphics card such as GTX750Ti, GTX950 or better.

*Your APU's GPU will use some of the system memory. I don't know how the BIOS reports this, though even if you had an APU I don't think it supports up to 4GB, nor should it run in single channel.

So probably can IGNORE THIS but I wanted to be thorough.

2. DDR3 memory setup->
*ONLY have two slots anyway, so it should be in Dual Channel by default. This means:

a) Bad memory stick, or
b) Memory stick not inserted fully (probably), or
c) memory slot defective

**The manual did not specify which slot to use with ONLY a single stick, so it may be possible to use EITHER. The left one is A1, and the right one is B1 so it's likely A1 if it turns out you must use one or the other.

So...

#1 - shut down, and then remove B1 stick (right) then test
#2 - if that passes, shut down and swap A1 to B1
#3 - if that passes, then we've confirmed the memory stick AND the memory slots, so then

#4 - insert the unused stick into A1 and test (if it FAILS then the memory stick is bad. If it passes, then it sounds like it wasn't inserted fully the first time though you should have tested that already).
 
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okay, you can ignore my above post.

(though please confirm you tested each stick in the SAME slot?)

Also, there's no compatibility issue with running in Dual Channel. Even if there was you'd have 8GB running in single channel. You see that in FOUR slot motherboards when they don't use the proper slots such as A1 + A2, but instead use A1 + B1 or whatever.

I would not keep the memory. I would buy a newer, faster kit, then return the memory under warranty (RMA) and keep as backup or just sell it.

Part of the issue is how long an RMA would take. It might take a few weeks whereas a new kit may take a few days.

I'd also suggest 16GB (2x8GB) since you only have two slots. I'll post a link. More than 1600MHz CAS9 often doesn't benefit, but I'll look at prices as well to see if it adds much to the cost. You also need faster memory if you have an APU, up to 2400MHz with OC for this board.

Okay, I'll go to pcpartpicker then pick one or more kits (at least one 8GB and one 16GB).

 
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Oh don't worry about it ill pick the ram directly from the memory support list on asrocks website for the board it seems like a solid bet that should do the trick cause I want get the most out of my system but make sure its all compatible at the same time. And be careful too I got almost everything from pc part picker and the ram was still bad anyway but yeah thanks everybody Kingston 1600 8gb 1600mhz will do for dual channel.
 
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16GB kit, $60USD (2x8GB, 1866MHz C10):
http://pcpartpicker.com/product/CtV48d/kingston-memory-hx318c10fbk216
or
16GB kit, $62 (2133MHz C10)
http://pcpartpicker.com/product/hGyFf7/gskill-memory-f32133c10d16gsr

or
8GB (2x4GB, 1866MHz C9)
http://pcpartpicker.com/product/KGsKHx/kingston-memory-hx318c10fbk28

So it's about $30 to upgrade from 8GB to 16GB. Even if it's not terribly useful for most people now, it probably will benefit you in the future. It really depends what you are doing.

Other:
*You can inquire if they'll send a single memory stick under Warranty. It's recommended to do use kits since even the same part may be made slightly different which rarely can cause problems. (I bought another 2x4GB kit and it works just fine, though I can see the timings are slightly different which is why manufacturers suggest not mixing like this, though we have NO statistics in if it's much of an issue. I suspect it's likely NOT.)

If they DO allow it, and you are on a tight budget this is probably ideal.
 
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Alright so I guess it really was one of the sticks but I'm slightly more confused now cause when I changed out the faulty stick with a 1 gb samsung 1066mhz stick the pny 4gb stick and the samsung 1gb now run in dual channel with 5gb of memory but I thought that 2 sticks can only run in dual channel if the sticks have to be almost exactly similar?
 
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