Z77X-D3H - 1600Mhz Memory Issues

[chrisgt]

Hi all,

I recently built a new PC, full specs include:

Intel i5 3570k @ stock 3.4Ghz/3.8Turbo
16GB Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 1600Mhz Memory
Gigabyte Z77X-D3H
Gigabyte AMD 7970 GHZ
Agility 3 120GB SSD
XFX 850w Power Supply

I built the machine, booted fine, installed Windows 8 Pro x64 onto the SSD. Note: I am using CPU-Z, HWMonitor and Prime95 Blend Test to test the build.

All was fine until I noticed the memory was only running at 667Mhz in CPU-Z. I went into BIOS and enable the XMP Profile, which was correct as per the manufacturer guidelines, 1600Mhz 9-9-9-27 @ 1.65v.

This immediately caused frequent BSODs (WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR in hal.dll). And as soon as I started a Prime95 Blend Test it would blue screen, literally in a matter of seconds. I then went back into BIOS and disabled the XMP profile, which puts the memory at 667Mhz 9-9-9-24 @ 1.50v. Prime95 Blend Test has been running for the last 2.5 hours without issue. But as soon as I try to get the memory running at 1600Mhz by matching the DRAM Voltage at 1.65v, Prime95 causes crashing.

So my immediate thought was that the Z77 chipset didn't like DRAM voltages > 1.50v. Which some Googling has since verified. Is that correct? I then tried leaving the RAM @ 667Mhz 1.5v and just OC'ing the CPU. I increased the multiplier to 38 (3.8Ghz) and then 40 (4.0Ghz), both caused BSODs under Prime95/general use respectively.

Could this still possibly be linked to the memory in some way? I am stable (so far) running the CPU @ stock and the memory underlocked @ 667Mhz. The memory is rated at PC12800 but I'm having to run it at PC10700 just to keep the system from BSOD'ing all the time! Is that right?

[absic]

What BIOS version are you running?

It might be worthwhile updating to the latest version if you haven't already done so to see if that helps.

[chrisgt]

I've been on F16 (the latest non-beta) since I built the machine, still no luck.

[absic]

There is actually a newer BIOS F17h beta for your motherboard that might be worthwhile trying.

You can get it from TweakTown here: http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/28441-gigabyte-latest-beta-bios.html (Thanks to Stasio)

[chrisgt]

Yes, I saw the beta on the official Downloads page. Would rather stick to a fully tested/compatible release...

[absic]

If the beta is avaialble on the download page then it is safe to use it. If it doesn't fix the problem you can always flash back to your current BIOS.

I have been running various beta BIOS versions on my UP5 TH since I got it. 

[chrisgt]

Just an update...

I have used three different types of RAM now, all with XMP Profiles enabled. The first 2 were MemTest86+ error-free for 12+ hours and the last was brand new:

16GB Kingston HyperX Grey @ 1600Mhz (9-9-9-27 1.65v)
4GB Corsair XMS3 @ 1600Mhz (9-9-9-27 1.65v)
8GB Crucial Ballistix @ 1866Mhz (9-9-9-24 1.5v)

All have produced a WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR when the XMP Profile has been enabled, but they seem to run fine at default 1333Mhz 1.5v however. The only way to get the system completely stable and BSOD free was to enter BIOS and change the below:

CPU Vcore: Fix @ 1.17v (disabled Auto)
CPU Vtt: Increase from 1.0v to 1.1v
IMC: Increase from 0.925v to 1.05v

The above allowed my system to remain stable and error free in Prime95 Blend Test for 9 hours. Previously it would BSOD 10 seconds in.

Is there a known issue with the Z77X-D3H (or the wider Z77 Chipset & Ivy Bridge) relating to IMC/VTT voltages and memory XMP Profiles? I've seen a number of other threads on here saying that running their memory @ 1600Mhz (XMP enabled) has caused instability.

Will there be a BIOS fix for this???

[8 Pack]

I am sure I fixed the problem on OCUK forums!!!

[chrisgt]

I am sure I fixed the problem on OCUK forums!!!

You did. I mention it in my post - those settings have made my system stable.

But what I want to know, is if Gigabyte are aware of such issues. Searching these forums brings up a few threads regarding memory and the Z77X-D3H...I want to know if they'll ever get this fixed in a new BIOS patch, more for curiosity sake.

[8 Pack]

I have a new bios to test on my board at OCUK mate.  Did not have time today as I was doing some profiling work for tech but its on my list.

[chrisgt]

I have a new bios to test on my board at OCUK mate.  Did not have time today as I was doing some profiling work for tech but its on my list.

I'm now on F17f, up from F16.

I know it sounds stupid, but I just do not get why I needed to even touch CPU Voltages when everything was on stock clocks! Luckily I wanted to OC, so had to go there eventually, but if someone just bought this motherboard and an i5 3570k, put it together and wanted to use it as it was out of the box, they'd be BSOD'ing all over the shop, like I was! Doesn't seem right to me lol

[ex58]

I have a new bios to test on my board at OCUK mate.  Did not have time today as I was doing some profiling work for tech but its on my list.

Which BIOS you have?

[cjapeterborough]

Hi

This issue may not be motherboard related as I believe the internal memory controller on the ivy bridge cpu's can vary
and can require extra voltage tweaks for stability(as demonstrated above)
I have noticed this myself with two different 3770K's one quite happily runs at 2400 whilst the other wont go past 2133 regardless of voltage changes.
I may be wrong but both ivybridge and sandybridge specs are set 1333 (could be 1600 for IB)and anything above this is regarded as overclocking and hence chip dependant etc

You may have just been unlucky -also the higher you push the overclock and vcore the harder it is to maintain the memory speed stability.
Getting a 24/7 stable overclock with ivybridge is much harder imho compared to sb.

[zerowing]

Hi

This issue may not be motherboard related as I believe the internal memory controller on the ivy bridge cpu's can vary
and can require extra voltage tweaks for stability(as demonstrated above)
I have noticed this myself with two different 3770K's one quite happily runs at 2400 whilst the other wont go past 2133 regardless of voltage changes.
I may be wrong but both ivybridge and sandybridge specs are set 1333 (could be 1600 for IB)and anything above this is regarded as overclocking and hence chip dependant etc

You may have just been unlucky -also the higher you push the overclock and vcore the harder it is to maintain the memory speed stability.
Getting a 24/7 stable overclock with ivybridge is much harder imho compared to sb.

That is not the case. The default JEDEC SPD setting at 1333MHz doesn't mean much, 1600MHz is officially supported with no overclocking by Intel on their integrated memory controllers for DDR3 on the CPUs.

http://ark.intel.com/products/65523
Intel® Core™ i7-3770K Processor
(8M Cache, up to 3.90 GHz)

Memory Specifications
Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type)
   32 GB
Memory Types
   DDR3-1333/1600
# of Memory Channels
   2
Max Memory Bandwidth
   25.6 GB/s
ECC Memory Supported
   No

-------

http://ark.intel.com/products/65520/Intel-Core-i5-3570K-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_80-GHz

Intel® Core™ i5-3570K Processor
(6M Cache, up to 3.80 GHz)

Memory Specifications
Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type)
   32 GB
Memory Types
   DDR3-1333/1600
# of Memory Channels
   2
Max Memory Bandwidth
   25.6 GB/s
ECC Memory Supported
   No

----------


Anything above 1600MHz it's overclocking and unsupported by Intel. It might or it might not work.
But if the CPU and/or the chipset motherboard have issues at fully supported 1333MHz and 1600MHz then they might be faulty if the RAM is defective free instead.