Memory Channel issue with GA-990FXA UD5

[TonyM286]

Hello,

Hope you are all well.

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1090t Retail Box
Motherboard: Gigabyte 990FXA-UD5
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws DDR3 1866 F3-14900CL9D-8GBXL
Video Card: Radeon 5850 1Gb
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 watt.

Having a problem with memory Channel 0.

Motherboard runs 2 sticks of RAM fine in Channel 1 single channel mode at 1333 or even 1600. Both sticks of RAM in Channel 1, no RAM in Channel 0. Memtest86+ reports proper bus speeds and ram speed in this configuration and passes all tests at either 1600 or 1333 settings.

Motherboard will not run with 2 sticks of RAM in Channel 0, gets to BIOS screen and locks up, no RAM in Channel 1.

Motherboard will run with 1 stick of RAM in Channel 0 either slot, get into bios and set RAM timings. However when Memtest86+ is run it reports that the ram is at a bus speed of 200Mhz and running at a speed of only 400Mhz. RAM passes Memtest86+ even though reports the slow speed.

In Dual Channel mode the system indicates that it has failed to boot due to an overclocking situation, even with the ram set at 1333 or even as low as 800.

All timings for RAM tests were at 9-10-9-28 even when severely underclocking to 800.

My question is, is this a failed Channel 0 memory controller on the CPU or is the Motherboard bad? Gotta figure out what to RMA. Which is more likely? Newegg had zero padding between the CPU and the side of the box, with the cpu against the side.

Thank you in advance for any insight into this,

Tony

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

Firstly I would just like to point out in case you have missed it that the numbering system of the memory slots has been changed on these new boards. I really don't know why it has been done but there has been some confusion because of it. Slot 1 is now towards the outside of the motherboard away from the CPU.

Next the CPU is unlikely to have been damaged due to bad packaging as long as the pins are not bent or damaged. However the CPU is more likely to be the faulty component compared to the motherboard.

[TonyM286]

Thank you for the reply,

I am also thinking it is the CPU at this point.

Any further insight would be appreciated.

Later,

Tony

[TonyM286]

Mmm...ok,

Looking at the manual RAM slot numbering is 1,3,2,4 from power connector towards CPU.  With Channel 0 being 1 and 3, and Channel 2 being 2 and 4.  Is this correct? It matches the numbers on the motherboard slots.

Currently I have both sticks in the functioning slots of 2 and 4, so Channel 0 is functional and Channel 1 is not functional, exact opposite of what I had previously written. Both sticks are set at 1333 9-10-9-28 and running fine in single channel.  Memtest86+ is still passing in this configuration.

I can not get slots 1 and 3 functional at all with 2 sticks of RAM in them.  They will function singly at 200 bus and 400 ram speed, way below specifications.  It is acting like there is a 2 times multiplier on a 200Mhz bus for 400 total RAM speed.

Slots 1 and 3 are non functional, with this new information, faulty memory controller on the CPU or faulty motherboard?

Thank you for the assistance,

Tony

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

Firstly I would just like to point out in case you have missed it that the numbering system of the memory slots has been changed on these new boards. I really don't know why it has been done but there has been some confusion because of it. Slot 1 is now towards the outside of the motherboard away from the CPU.

Next the CPU is unlikely to have been damaged due to bad packaging as long as the pins are not bent or damaged. However the CPU is more likely to be the faulty component compared to the motherboard.

[autotech]

Had a gigabyte board i sent in cause of the same proble just not this model. When it came back it worked perfect.  If it is a new motherboard send it back to retailer for RMA if over the time for retail RMA thru gigabyte explaing just as you did in this thread.

Dark i didnt realize they did that with the ram i need to go read manual is very useful information Thank You

[absic]

Before sending anything back which BIOS version are you running?

Gigabyte have just released an official update to F4 which says it improves memory compatibility with AM3+ CPU's but might also have a bearing on your system. It's worth giving it a try and it may save you having to RMA anything.

[TonyM286]

Thanks,

Did not see a new BIOS yesterday.  Will check today.  I am using the F3 BIOS.

Will give this a shot.

Thanks,

Tony

[absic]

If the F4 BIOS doesn't improve things send me a PM with your e-mail address and I will forward the F5b BETA BIOS that several of us are now using as that does seem to help with the voltage a bit.

[TonyM286]

Hello all,

Thank you all for the help going from F3 to the new F4 BIOS fixed this problem.  First run of MemTest86+ has successfully passed in dual channel mode at 1600 RAM speed.  Will let it do a few more passes to see if it remains stable.

Thanks again,

Tony