GA-970A-DU3 and 1866 RAM

[masterblast55]

New build, first time Gigabyte..

Componets:
GA-970A-D3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA
AMD FX8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz AM3+ 128W 8 Core
2X G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 X 4GB) DDR3 SDRAM DDR 1866

Covers important info I beleive, went to G.Skill for setting for RAM with a return of:
Set DRAM Freq to 1866 (I got that one OK)
DRAM Timings:  tCL 9 - tRCD 10 - tRP 9 - tRAS 28  Now I had some issues with this as there was nothing in the MIT that matched exactly.  Can I get a little help here on this?  

In the MIT after you set to manual it shows:
IT/2T
CAS LATENCY (9) ?
RAS TO CAS R/W DELAY (10) ?
Row Precharge time (9) ?
Minimum RAS active time (28) ?

I think it starts with the CAS Latency and works down from there but not sure.

Last they list DRAM Voltage 1.50V which I got OK and

CPU-NB Voltage +0.1V which didn;t really fit as the only thing close was the CPU-NB Vid which didn;t seem right.

A lot different from my old LAN Party board.  That was pretty stright forward.  Exact placement of timings and voltages would be appreciated.  Running on 16GB and 800Mz, like to see it fly.

Thanks!!  

[absic]

Hi there,

basically the items that you have listed under the MIT section should be set as:
CAS LATENCY 9
RAS TO CAS R/W DELAY 10
Row Precharge time 9
Minimum RAS active time 28
1T/2T = 2T

Don't worry too much about naming conventions as there is some disparity in the way these items are identified by different manufacturers

[masterblast55]

Thanks Absic for the info, what about the voltages? Change or just go with the timings? first time around?

I tried it the way I layed it out first time before before posting, including the voltage changes, made it past post to loading windows and then it crashed. The only thing I didn't do was set it 2T, I left that the way it was.

What do you think?

[absic]

Hi again,

not sure what the voltages are for your exact model RAM but if it states 1.5V on the packaging then leave it at that. However, usually the faster RAM requires a little more voltage and your modules may be rated at 1.6V or 1.65V. If this is the case then raise the DRAM voltage in BIOS to this.

If the default Voltage for your G.Skill RAM is 1.5V and you are experiencing BSOD's then you can try raising the voltage a little to see if that helps (gradually increase between 1.55V - 1.65V) or run MemTest to make sure you don't have a faulty module.

[masterblast55]

Will give it a try and last one, is the CPU NB and CPU NB Vid the same thing? 

[omagic]

Well I have a Corsair 2x4GB 1866Mhz 9-10-9-27 with stock 1.5V and they work perfect on these settings...
Just use the settings given as default and test it with memtest:)

[masterblast55]

Update, since I have finally had the time to fool with this, read through and any thoughts? I am thinking either BIOS or Board:

To G. Skill

Ok, took it all apart again, tried each module one at a time in Slot one.  They all posted and ran perfectly at the setting you recommended.

Next I put a second module in slot 3, again all of the remaining modules I rotated through and the board was  perfectly stable and ran fine at 1866.

I also ran Windows Mem for three passes on each module, no issues and again when there were two mounted on the board.  No issues.

However when I tried all four sticks together again, BSOD and crash dump. I even tried just 3 on single channel. Same results.

SO I can get two to run fine but not four at the same time.  Interestingly when I set the board for Optimal settings I can run and see all 16GB fine (4 sticks). I have the latest and greatest BIOS download for the board as of this month.

Thoughts?  Is there a setting I am missing?

Windows 7 Home Premium X64
AMD FX-8120 Zambezi
GIGABYTE GA-970A-D3 AM3+ Board
RAM F3-14900CL9D-8GBBXL

You will need to set the DRAM Frequency to DDR3-1866, DRAM Timings to tCL 9 - tRCD 10 - tRP 9 - tRAS 28, DRAM Voltage 1.50V, CPU-NB Voltage +0.1V.

[Vezina]

If you get BSOD-s with all 4 RAM slots taken i would say to rise the CPU NB Vid with 0,1 or even 0,2V  just for testing purposes.
You can also rise the RAM voltage to 1,65V, as it was already suggested, to see if you get rid of the blue screens.

Also make sure you are using a 2 T Command Rate.
Set all timings manually in BIOS.

It can be very well a CPU memory controller issues ,the CPU needing RMA ,but it can also be some unmatched/unidentical memory modules right from the factory.

 RMA the memory kit first and see if the replacements do the same.

You could also try to run at 1600 Mhz.

[Tiger]

Memory manufacturers don't guarantee that mixing multiple kits together will work. G. Skill does makes 16GB kits.
G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) Model F3-14900CL8Q-16GBZM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231539

[masterblast55]

@Vezina, I have done the voltage recommendations earlier and then again when I put it all together again, same results.

Interestingly G.Skill has stopped responding to information provided.

@Tiger, that is interesting to hear, I think Iwill redirect that to G.Skill for comment.

Right now I have 2 sticks X4 running very happily on thier suggested settings at 1866.  See what they have to say.

Thanks