Z170x Gaming 7 Memory Overclock issue

[Gigniotron]

Whenever I enable the only XMP profile for my memory my computer screen flickers after everything is booted up and running. It gets worse as time goes on. Any thoughts on what could be the issue?

GA-Z170X-Gaming 7 (tested on F7 and F8l beta BIOS)
i7-6700k (not OC'd)
8GBx2 G Skill Trident Z 3400
onboard video

Any memory tests I can do to see if it's the memory that is bad?

[chmooreck]

http://www.memtest86.com/

[ElectroStingz]

Hello,

The internal GFX shares the same voltage supply as the memory controller so when you enable the XMP you are also automatically over-volting the GPU which needs near default voltages to function correctly. (If you didn't know, the XMP also changes voltages not just timing / frequency)

VccSA = 1.05v
VccIO = 0.95v

These are default values which the GPU requires but for the memory controller running over 2133Mhz most XMP set these voltages over 1.25v.

You will have to choose some values and see if the screen flickering stops but if you go to low your 3400Mhz OC might become unstable. Please note your board will have an offset, whatever voltage you choose it will not run at that, usually slightly over. Eg, you choose 1.10v in the BIOS, applied voltage might be 1.16v.

So where to start?

VccSA = 1.10v <System Agent Voltage
VccIO = 1.10v

Might work for both GPU and 3400Mhz.

[legal]

Whenever I enable the only XMP profile for my memory my computer screen flickers after everything is booted up and running. It gets worse as time goes on. Any thoughts on what could be the issue?

GA-Z170X-Gaming 7 (tested on F7 and F8l beta BIOS)
i7-6700k (not OC'd)
8GBx2 G Skill Trident Z 3400
onboard video

Any memory tests I can do to see if it's the memory that is bad?

I have exactly the same parts and the same problem. I've tried everything and is not stable. Decrease the speed of memory seems to cause more instability.

[legal]

Hello,

The internal GFX shares the same voltage supply as the memory controller so when you enable the XMP you are also automatically over-volting the GPU which needs near default voltages to function correctly. (If you didn't know, the XMP also changes voltages not just timing / frequency)

VccSA = 1.05v
VccIO = 0.95v

These are default values which the GPU requires but for the memory controller running over 2133Mhz most XMP set these voltages over 1.25v.

You will have to choose some values and see if the screen flickering stops but if you go to low your 3400Mhz OC might become unstable. Please note your board will have an offset, whatever voltage you choose it will not run at that, usually slightly over. Eg, you choose 1.10v in the BIOS, applied voltage might be 1.16v.

So where to start?

VccSA = 1.10v <System Agent Voltage
VccIO = 1.10v

Might work for both GPU and 3400Mhz.

I tried to slow down the speed of memories - 3200/3333/3000, but it seems that causes instability. I have the same parts and the same problem, activate the xmp with DDR4 3400 GSkill the screen starts flashing in the windows by hdmi. Sometimes windows files are corrupted, some dll, I have to format.

I tried to change the values ​​of VCCIO and VCCSA to 1.05 to 1.1, with the memories of 3200 (32x100) worked well for about 6 hours, suddenly, no rar could be unzipped, videos in mkv locking, problem with music closing by themselves, the rest normal functioning. I tried with 1:15 on both with the memories in 3333mhz and windows files have been corrupted, sometimes the windows comes with a temporary profile.

Well, I'll try 3400 (33.33 x 102 - which is the default) and VCCIO and vvcsa 1.15, it does not work, I will try to exchange the memories. I noticed that in the automatic mode is 33.33x102 VCCIO and VCCSA 1.2 with bios f8l and the VCCIO f7 1.2 and 1.3 VCCSA but this way the screen flashes with integrated Video i7 6700K.

I can not do the Vcore automatically decreases, only to let the CPU Vcore in automatic if manually put any value it fixed and not down more, even the clock decreasing.

[Gigniotron]

Okay. I reset everything on the bios cause I had been messing with a few things and wanted to start fresh. Took what ElectroStinz said and also increased DRAM voltage as well. Haven't had any issues so far. Here is what I changed:

-XMP set to Profile 1 @ 3400
-CPU Vcore should be at 1.265
-VccSA = 1.10v <System Agent Voltage
-VccIO = 1.10v
-DRAM  Voltage set at 1.35(but actually changes to 1.36)

Works so far. Watched some 2k videos on youtube and computer has been running with this setting for several hours. No blips at all. Ran prime95 to test stability and everything is kosher.

Thank you ElectroStingz for your advice. 

[ElectroStingz]

NP, keep testing hopefully it will be OK but it is always good to have an excuse, to get that GTX 1080 GFX card you always wanted

Legal, is your PC 100% stable at 2133Mhz with no file corruption?

[sygnus21]

Okay. I reset everything on the bios cause I had been messing with a few things and wanted to start fresh. Took what ElectroStinz said and also increased DRAM voltage as well. Haven't had any issues so far. Here is what I changed:

-XMP set to Profile 1 @ 3400
-CPU Vcore should be at 1.265
-VccSA = 1.10v <System Agent Voltage
-VccIO = 1.10v
-DRAM  Voltage set at 1.35(but actually changes to 1.36)

Works so far. Watched some 2k videos on youtube and computer has been running with this setting for several hours. No blips at all. Ran prime95 to test stability and everything is kosher.

Thank you ElectroStingz for your advice. 

Just FYI, you don't have to use XMP to get the most out of your memory. You can just manually set both base timings and voltage by going to the memory section of the BIOS. 

Peace 

[legal]

Legal, is your PC 100% stable at 2133Mhz with no file corruption?

Only problem with the activated XMP profile. When the memory is in 2133 works normal even I noticed that with the memory in 3400 the computer takes twice the time to start than with the memory in 2133.

[dmdilks]

Does memory in theory run faster using 3400 vs 2133. People would think so but really it doesn't. I don't really reply to people with memory problems any more. To me it is away for the MB & Memory Companies get you to buy faster memory.

[legal]

Does memory in theory run faster using 3400 vs 2133. People would think so but really it doesn't. I don't really reply to people with memory problems any more. To me it is away for the MB & Memory Companies get you to buy faster memory.

This is the worst motherboard ever bought in my life. The onboard audio is a joke and no matter the memory that you use, always have problems with instability.
I'll never buy anything from gigabyte.

[dmdilks]

This is the worst motherboard ever bought in my life. The onboard audio is a joke and no matter the memory that you use, always have problems with instability.
I'll never buy anything from gigabyte.

I have used two brands of board in the past 20yrs. Abit & Gigabyte. Yes I have tried many others but those two brands have been very good to me. I have been doing this for about 35 yrs. You will have problems with all brands out there. Plus if Abit didn't close I'll still be using them.

Yes Gigabyte has had their problems with the 170 series boards. This is just me that really anything over 2133 is a waste of time and money. But people read that WOW my board can run 3400 memory.

To me all that is a selling point and that is it. I tried 2400 memory the same memory that I'm running on my X99 board. Didn't have one problem on the X99 board but could never get it to 2400 on my Z170 board. It would only run at 2133. Got 16gb of 2133 and never had any other problem. I sold that computer and the guy loves it.

The only reason I run the 2400 is I got it at a very good price plus it is from a review too. I Have bought and sold over 200 review items. http://www.overclockers.com/author/lvcoyote/

[legal]

This is the worst motherboard ever bought in my life. The onboard audio is a joke and no matter the memory that you use, always have problems with instability.
I'll never buy anything from gigabyte.

I have used two brands of board in the past 20yrs. Abit & Gigabyte. Yes I have tried many others but those two brands have been very good to me. I have been doing this for about 35 yrs. You will have problems with all brands out there. Plus if Abit didn't close I'll still be using them.

Yes Gigabyte has had their problems with the 170 series boards. This is just me that really anything over 2133 is a waste of time and money. But people read that WOW my board can run 3400 memory.

To me all that is a selling point and that is it. I tried 2400 memory the same memory that I'm running on my X99 board. Didn't have one problem on the X99 board but could never get it to 2400 on my Z170 board. It would only run at 2133. Got 16gb of 2133 and never had any other problem. I sold that computer and the guy loves it.

The only reason I run the 2400 is I got it at a very good price plus it is from a review too. I Have bought and sold over 200 review items. http://www.overclockers.com/author/lvcoyote/

I respect your opinion and I agree in part. Just bought a 3400MHz memory it was great value and was one of the few available in the store where I bought. However, already bought knowing they are just numbers, but I was careful to check before the list of memories approved by the manufacturer, there was GSkill DDR4 3400 2x8gb, I had no doubts and bought.

It took me a while to assemble the computer and I was buying parts gradually, now imagine my surprise when I start to have problems with just the memory that the manufacturer recommends in its own support list? Incidentally, mysteriously list underwent a shrinkage say about 30% in its next revision of May and my memory is not in it more. I mean it works and now does not work anymore? They are playing with consumers.

In the one of the factors that led me to buy gigabyte gaming 7 was the audio onboard, which to me is the most negative, full of noise, unacceptable.

I have had several motherboard brands, Abit, Soyo, Pc chips, Asus, Gigabyte, Asrock, MSI among others and never experienced so many problems with this as gigabyte.