GA-990FXA-UD3 and VisionTek Memory

[strido]

Sob story:

I recently upgraded my PC with new Mobo, memory, video card, etc.  I chose the GA-990FXA-UD3 board, with an AMD FX6100 6-Core Processor.  The memory I purchased was VisionTek DDR3 @1866MHz.  I originally got 12 GB, 3 4GB sticks.  ( Should have known something was fishy there ) Anyway, that configuration didn't work so well, with BF3 constantly hanging, crashing and getting BSODs. I then removed one, leaving a 4GB stick in slot 1 and 3 for a total of 8GB.  At this point the PC became much more stable, but I had a perfectly good 4GB memory stick out of the computer, just a waste. So  I then purchased a 4th stick in order to bring the total up to 16GB, then the PC started BSODing again, and crashing and causing the PC to crash whenever I started a game. I then removed the new stick, and revered back to the stable configuration of a 4GB stick in slots 1 and 3 and it is crashing again, even though it is at the previously stated stable configuration.

I am up to date on all my drivers and the motherboard is updated with the latest BIOS version.


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Model Name : GA-990FXA-UD3(rev. 1.1)
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M/B Rev : 1.1
BIOS Ver : F5
Serial No. : 120140038513
Purchase Dealer : Tiger Direct
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VGA Brand : Nvidia      Model : GTX 570HD
CPU Brand : AMD      Model : FX6100      Speed : 3.3GHz
Operation System : Win 7 64-bit      SP :
Memory Brand : VisionTek      Type : DDR
Memory Size : 8-16GB      Speed : DDR3 1866
Power Supply : 850 W

[absic]

hi there,

Actually the latest BIOS for your motherboard is F6k (download from here: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3996&dl=1#bios ) and it might be worthwhile updating to this version.

Another thing to consider is that AMD only guarantee 1866MHz with only two sticks of RAM being used and mixing RAM kits is not really advisable. This doesn't mean that you can't run with all 4 slots populated on the motherboard but maybe, that it is going to be a little harder to achieve. For a start your RAM needs to run at 1.65V and if you have not altered anything in BIOS you are probably trying to run at 1.5V so you will need to increase this. You will also have to manually input the timings for you particular modules (possibly 10,10,10,24) and probably also the speed of X9.33.

If you are still getting BSOD's after you have done this, then I would recommend running MemTest to see if there is actually a problem with the RAM modules themselves.

[strido]

I'll update that BIOS soon - is it available via the @BIOS utility?  I ran that only 2 days ago...

I definately made sure that all 4 sticks of RAM are the same manufacturer, same type:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1438646&CatId=4534

It's 4 of those.  I bought 3 at once, then the 4th after the fact.

So if / when I populate all 4 rails with the RAM, I should down clock it to 1333MHz?  Also, all these timing changes (I'm afraid!  ) and Voltage changes are done in the BIOS?


I'm busy tonight but tomorrow after work I'll put these items to action and let you know how it goes.  Thanks!

(It's just a drag having 16GB and only being able to use 8!)

[autotech]

Amd supports dual channel ram what you bought was triple channel ram if it came with 3 sticks in a kits and therefore that is more than likely your problem. Myself i have never tried triple channel ram in a dual channel system so dont know for sure what the effects would be but i can think it might be what is happening to you.

[Dark Mantis]

I would agree with autotech regarding the memory. Using Triple Channel designed RAM on a Dual Channel board is not a good idea and then adding another unmatched module to the original three is asking for problems. The fact that they are the same make and model isn't enough.

[strido]

I guess I should ask, before I start messing with the BIOS -

Does this mean I should go ahead and buy DDR2 memory, and return my DDR3?

Or can I get it to work, just not at the speed I'd expect from DDR3?

[klh591]

DDR2 memory WILL NOT WORK in your motherboard!!  What people have been telling you is that you need MATCHED dual channel DDR3 memory, either a set of two matched OR four matched sticks.

[Dark Mantis]

DDR2 memory WILL NOT WORK in your motherboard!!  What people have been telling you is that you need MATCHED dual channel DDR3 memory, either a set of two matched OR four matched sticks.

Exactly! You must buy memory that is compatible with your motherboard. Not all DDR3 modules are the same and you need Dual Channel that are matched together and tested as such at the factory.

[deadbone]

I was not satisfied with the F6k bios, so I went back to F6f..

With F6k suddenly the mouse didn`t work or my screen "frooze" and didn`t wake up...strange things began to occur.

I have almost same setup as you, and have no troubles on bios F6f...my 16 GB ram runs 1600, and cannot run 1866..

[Dark Mantis]

Sometimes thew latest version doesn't work as well as the previous one, so it is not always the best scheme to update to the newest but is a good rule of thumb. That is where it can be useful to keep the previous version on the Backup BIOS chip as it is easy to swap back if necessary.

[strido]

I guess I'm not fully understanding the "matched" pairs thing.

All four memory sticks are exactly the same:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1636647

VisionTek PC3-14900 DDR3-1866MHz, 1.65V
I got 3, then after the fact bought a 4th.  This is where I am now^*.  Are those not matched?

*Meaning that's what I bought.  In the PC now is only 2 sticks.

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Anywho, I adjusted the memory back down to 1333MHz and now I can't even boot.  No POST, no nothing.  Just a blank screen.  I'm afraid I'l lhave to remove the CMOS battery and start from scratch.

-----------------------

Exactly! You must buy memory that is compatible with your motherboard. Not all DDR3 modules are the same and you need Dual Channel that are matched together and tested as such at the factory.

Doesn't DDR3 mean Triple Channel?  I don't get it.  If AMD supports only dual channel, then shouldn't I be replacing this with DDR2?  But I can't use DDR2?

I'm sorry but I'm getting terribly confused.  First I'm told I need dual channel, now I'm told I can't use dual channel

DDR2 memory WILL NOT WORK in your motherboard!! 

[klh591]

NO!!  DDR3 and triple-channel are 2 different things.   DDR3 and DDR2 memory sticks will not work in the same motherboard.  Dual, triple, and quad channel has to do with how many sticks can work "as a team".  AMD motherboards can be single or dual channel.  Intel has different motherboards
that do single through quad channel. DDR2 and DDR3 memory sticks do NOT fit in the same slots, physically.

[strido]

OK so what's the bottom line here?

I need to buy compatable memory?  I'm sure if I just go onto the MOBO memory compatability list, which I should have done at the outset, I'll find good memory there.

[Dark Mantis]

Forget the compatiblity list on Gigabyte's website as it is severely limited. It is better to go onto the website of the manufacturer that you want to use and check their QVL instead. Like if you want to use Corsair then go here and find your motherboard and it will list memory that is compatible.

Corsair: http://www.corsair.com/learn_n_explore/

You will need DDR3 memory but dual channel and make sure they are bought as matched pairs. This doesn't mean they look the same but that electronically they are matched.

Sell off your other memory on Ebay to help fund the new sticks.

[kosobai]

Check this out:

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=GA-990FXA-UD3&Cat=RAM

Maybe, it's not what you want, but it'll give you some ideas.