F2A85X-D3H Won't recognize Corsair Vengeance @ full capacity

[voy108]

Hello all:
New build using Gigabyte F2A85-D3H, AMD A8-6600k APU, and 8GB of memory. Memory is Corsair Vengeance 8GB kit, 2-4GB, CMZ4GX3M2A1600C8, 8-8-8-24, 1600 Mhz, 1.50V. Only recognizes 2GB per each stick. Power supply is a Rosewill 530W. I have read all the way thru page 30 and no more F2A85 problems so posting this for help. I'm sure there is a setting I'm missing in the BIOS which is latest F3. I have contacted Gigabyte and Corsair but no reply yet. The memory is not on the compatible list but close...CMZ8GX3M2A1600C8...so I am assuming that these are compatible. Out of 40+ builds this is first memory problem but this is my first build in 6 years so...can anyone help with my getting the full 8GB?
Thanks
Doug

[autotech]

What operating system are you using windows 7 32bit or windows 7 64bit or windows 8 ?

[voy108]

Hey, thanks for the reply but...

The HDD hasn't completely repaired itself yet because of the m/b and APU upgrade. I may have to install a fresh OS.  It could be Win7 64 bit but right now I'm only going by what the BIOS has to say.  No reason to expect OS to recognize an increase in RAM if BIOS hasn't.

[voy108]

Problem solved. This is when assembling for a long time(since 1995) has worked against me. In the "old" days, memory was marked as to what the stick was. In the case of my current Corsair Vengeance memory the label indicated the "kit" total. So, as the reply from Gigabyte has verified for me:

 Dear customer,


If you're running 1 X set of "CMZ4GX3M2A1600C8" then the system is reporting the right amount of installed memory, the kit that you've listed is 2 modules X 2GB = 4Gb total.



Thanks.
Board is good...APU is good...the folks I bought the memory from on Ebay sent the wrong sticks. I bid on CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 and he sent the CMZ4GX3M2A1600C8 thinking it was also 8GB total because the label says 4GBx2 modules. Now, do I send 'em back for refund or keep 'em with a credit back to me?

[Vezina]

The APU will perform properly with 8gigs so you can reserve more RAM for the GPU side in BIOS.
4Gigs is to low for an APU based rig ,very little RAM remains for the system tasks.

[voy108]

Hey, thanks Karma:
I need to figure out where & how to allocate more RAM to the APU if that's not automatic. Never thought about that.

Now running 12Gb so motherboard is happier. Now other problems though...memory is 1600 but board will only recognize as 1333. Corsair Vengeance cmz8gx3ma2a1600c9b. May be having conflict with that original 4 Gb(1600 also) b/c I went into the 3D Bios and upped to 1600 and it didn't like it...wouldn't boot.  I didn't make any other changes so I may be doing it wrong.

Time to do more research on the forum and maybe post question on these problems in appropriate areas. Also need to re-read the manual.  :-)

[Vezina]

There is a setting in the BIOS for the GPU reserved RAM.The manual should be telling that.
For the moment i can t take a look in my Gigabyte FM2 BIOS to tell you exactly, but it is there ,a little hidden though
You should be able to change between 512megs ,1G and 2 Gigs.
I would choose the last 2.Do some benchmarking with 3D Mark 11 and see if anything changes between the choices.

So now you have 12 Gigs of RAM !?
This means you are using 3 sticks ,which is not good for the memory controller and performance.

Use 2 or 4 sticks and pair them such way that each set /pair is in the reserved slots.This allows the usage of dual channel.One stick or 3 of them will not allow the controller to run dual channel.

Look in the manual for the recommendation on where to install each KIT/pair.
The kits should be alternatively installed.One stick from a KIT in channel A ,the other one in channel B ,do the same with the other KIT.

Set voltage of DDR at 1,6V or 1,65V in BIOS and try again if they don t seem to work at 1600Mhz.
Oh ,and change manually the Command Rate DDR timing in BIOS to 2T ,for some stupid reason most BIOS-es go for the 1T setting by default ,that doesn t  run properly with AMD ,at least on higher than 1333Mhz speeds.

So set voltage and that Command Rate DRAM Timing manually before switching to 1600Mhz.

[voy108]

Hey Karma: Thanks for the info. I should have been more specific about the Corsair...it is two sticks. Notice how you looked at the # and assumed it was 8Gb on one stick...lol, that's how I got into this mess with the Corsair and the previous two sticks. The 8 indicates that it is 8 Gb and then something else on the label showing that it's 2 x 4(maybe that they are a matched set?).  I'm not sure how they indicate a single 8Gb stick...probably the same way but show it's 1 x 8. I would have to see an 8Gb stick to see how they indicate it. Kinda funky.

I kept the 2 2Gb's and got and additional 2 4Gb's for the 12Gb...all 4 slots are full.

I will try to redo my memory to 1600 after I solve my current problem.

I loaded the updated chipset drivers and Easy Tune 6. Trashed my MBR(3 times now). I used Win8 setup disk repairs and Disk Commander from the repair + another program on the repair part and got it back(this time) Last time I had to format and reload Win 8. Oh, I even loaded from the Drivers Disk the "AMD Vision Engine Control Center". Trashed the MBR again. I'm in the process of removing all of the programs the Driver Disk loaded from the system. Pain in the butt. I did go to the website and downloaded from there also but same results.  Afternoon shot but learning more.

Their new driver's do not like me.  ;-)

[autotech]

Just a side note if i might, Sometimes when you mix kits the AMD memory controller has a hard time with it. Why it is always best to use a 4 stick kit. Now with that aside i have in the past made two different kits of 2 sticks each run at 1600 but it just had a few liveable bugs crashed once a week while gaming and so on. I finally broke down and bought 4 x 4 gig kit and have never had a problem since.

The difference in my kits and yours was mine were all same size 2 x 2 gig sticks then i bought another 2 x 2 gig sticks from same manufacture but as i said it gave me problems. So when i upgraded i bought the 4 x 4 gig sticks. AMD memory controller have had problems like this for a long time. I hope you get yours running right if not you might want to try 4 sticks of the same size and manufacture might help out a bit.

[voy108]

Thanks Karma:
Yes, I remember reading that online someplace about using the same kit. But...it's always better to hear it from someone who has experienced it.  I found the video RAM size change area. Yes, well hidden but you gave me good hints...thank you. I went ahead with 2  Gb and downloaded the test. LOL, really bad specs. The A-8 6600k is not designed for heavy gaming but neither am I so it will do what I want. I will try to increase the memory to 1600 as you advised me and see. If not, when I have some extra $$$$ I will upgrade and then I will go for 2-8Gb sticks. The m/b even down grades my 2-2's from 8-8-8-24 to the other 9-9-9-24 which I don't see as a major problem. Until then, I may have to run at 1333 which with 12 Gb is still pretty good. I will post in future if I am successful b/c now I have an idea how to tinker with the memory and APU. Need to research more online before I do it. I was hoping that Easy Tune would be my answer but after it crashing SO bad, I don't trust it. That may also be due to the memory...don't know.Ya know, now that I think about it, I do know that the 2-2's are in the A slots so may switch those around so the 2-4's are there and see if there is any difference. Little things like that can make a difference.

Thanks again. I need to monitor this forum and maybe I can be of some help to others. 

Oh, also, I loaded Windows 8 in and I'm reading that it is a really sensitive OS. Who knows, I may go back to 7 which is what I'm on right now on my other system. I cloned the HDD but windows wouldn't even boot into the OS so that's why I picked up Win 8. Don't know if I'm going to dual boot a Linux system on the new system or load it on this one. I have Mint 12 on my laptop and really like it and want to do 15 so will pick one of these systems for it.
Take care.
Doug

[autotech]

I use CUPID it tells me what i am runnming at  and what i can run at. It also gives you the tras and so on so makes it easy to go into bios and change it yourself. Is always better than using software.[imghttp://

Uploaded with ImageShack.us][/img]

[voy108]

Hey Karma:
Great screen & appears to be dual. Nice.
Well, the saga continues. I took your advice and pulled the 4Gb and then ran memtest 86 on the 8Gb. After it passed I loaded Easy Tune 6 and on the reboot...crash. Able to repair off of the Win 8 disk so that saved some time. I went ahead and removed the 8Gb and ran test on the 4Gb...passed and then loaded all in and ran test...passed. I decided next check the APU so ran Intelburn Test. Passed beautifully. So...i guess all is stable but...still can't run Easy Tune 6 so am going to ignore that software(ya think). I think I will contact Gigabyte support and tell them the same story and see if they can shed some light on this problem. Also, will check on this forum to see if there are any discussions. Ignoring ET6 is easy but it also crashed in the past when I loaded the new drivers off of Gigabytes website. That could create a problem. At this point I don't know whether I can rely on this system as my everyday or not.  I may run Prime95 to see if anything comes up. I'm just on my stock CPU cooler so if it gets to the critical temp., I can always stop it.

I know I'm missing something here so back to research and see if I can solve this problem.

Perplexed in Mesa, AZ
Doug

[voy108]

Egg on face time.
I have been using Karma's name in my replies when actually I should be recognizing Autotech and Vezina. How dumb of me but it just goes to show that Newbie's have to READ all of a post. I "assumed" since Karma's name was on the post that he was the author of the reply...DUH. Sorry you guys but now I understand more about this forum and who is posting replies. I can't believe I made that error.
Doug