X58A-UD5 rev2.0 memory 6GB (usable 4GB)

[nvarga]

Hi!

I just bought my new computer with following components:

Gigabyte X58A-UD5 rev2.0
I7 920 D0
Scythe Mugen2 revB
3x2GB G.Skill Ripjaws 1600, 8-8-8-24 http://www.gskill.com/products.php?index=235
XFX 5870
XFX 850W power supply
Creative X-Fi Titanium
Intel 80GB SSD, WD and Samsung 1TB drives
Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

I have big problem with my RAM. Already tried original BIOS - FA, F9B, and F10.
Memory is sometimes recognized as 2GB sometimes 6GB, and mostly as 4GB. Programs like CPU-Z, Everest and others list all three modules as present and working. Windows says that there is 6GB and only 4 is usable.
Nothing is overclocked.
Tried setting RAM as auto (which gives 1066MHz), and tried XMS profile which gives 1600MHz and 1.6V. Also tried rising VTT voltage.
Also tried changing memory stick to different slots.

F9B BIOS has most troubles - after verifying pool data... gives Recovering lost DRAM size and reboots few times until it manages to start Windows.
F10 beta BIOS mostly gives me all 6GB of RAM but is rather unstable.
So back to FA and 4GB of RAM. CPU idle temp is 38'C.

Please help me...

[Dark Mantis]

I know that you have been getting all sorts of readings of differnt sizes but there have been several reports of bent pins on the CPU socket with this type of problem recently so you might want to check that first.

[nvarga]

I checked pins, also photographed them in macro mode and then previewed them on my computer and they all seem to be ok.

[Dark Mantis]

That's ok then but it was worth checking in the light of recent events. To be honest all the things I can come up with you seem to have already tried, like upping the voltage and using XMP setting. How high have you gone with the voltage setting?  There is certainly many instances of this happening recently.

[nvarga]

I upped VTT to 1,3V, RAM to  1,64V and all other one or two notch up. How come that different bios versions give different behaviour?

[Dark Mantis]

They tweak the settings in them to help make things work better or more compatibly.
You could see if there is any newer updates on TweakTown( http://forums.tweaktown.com/ ) the US version of our forum. They tend to get the beta versions first.

[Dark Mantis]

Have just checked the website for your memory and the manufacturer doesn't certify it for use with this motherboard. There may well be a reason for that. Did you not check before purchasing it? Neither does Gigabyte have the RAM on their QVL.

[nvarga]

There was no other options when I was buying components, and this memory ought to be compatibile whit almost every board (based on other forums and reviews). It is certified for whole range of Gigabyte's X58 boards, so I tought it shouldn't be a problem.
I also tried loosing CPU cooler a bit as stated on one forum. I have a feeling that this is BIOS related problem...

[Dark Mantis]

It's always possible that a future BIOS update could make the board and memory more compatible but that is a bit of a gamble. Was any of the updates on TweakTown any good?

[nvarga]

I checked Gigabyte's memory compatibility list and I can say that they really put so little effort in it. They tested few low end RAMs and that's it. I can replace this g.skill for few models from Corsair and Mushkin but none of them is on the list. And I would have to pay 20% more.
Which TweakTown updates you had in mind?

Btw. thank you very much for your help. I saw earlier on this forum that you are most helpful member.

P.S. Do gigabyte's techs ever look at this forum?  :-)

[Dark Mantis]

I checked Gigabyte's memory compatibility list and I can say that they really put so little effort in it. They tested few low end RAMs and that's it. I can replace this g.skill for few models from Corsair and Mushkin but none of them is on the list. And I would have to pay 20% more.
Which TweakTown tweak you had in mind?

Btw. thank you very much for your help. I saw earlier on this forum that you are most helpful member.

P.S. Do gigabyte's techs ever look at this forum?  :-)

Thanks for your kind words but there is no need. I am probably just the saddest member with nothing else to do

Gigabyte do have a member of their staff who acts as moderator on this forum called "runn3R" but he is on holiday at the moment.

Memory wise I would think that you would be better off with some Corsair RAM. I am running the UD7 board and am using Corsair Dominators 1600 and have them set to XMP with no problems at all. The kit is named TR3X3G1600C8D.

Regarding TweakTown I was referring to their BIOS updates. They are often newer than ours(beta versions) but sometimes can be usefull.

[jockc]

I'm new to this forum but have been folowing this thread (and others like it) for several days now.
In my case, I'm using a GA-EX58A-UD3R (rev2.0) motherboard but am experiencing the same problem.
Something that is interesting, though, is that this is the second one of this particular model which has exhibited the same problem for me (the first was replaced by the dealer after a day or so because of a fault but, during the periods it did work, it had the same problem.)

My new motherboard sometimes shows 12 gb after a cold boot but in most cases, it shows that slot 6 memory is not usable (irrespective of how many times I shuffle different memory boards around, it's always slot #6).

I have checked the motherboard pins but, as per above, this is the second board which has this problem so I don't believe that's the issue. This problem appears to be extensive across a wide range of manufacturers but always with an X58 chipset. I am of the opinion that this is an X58 related issue rather than any hardware fault. I suspect that an updated BIOS may ultimately resolve the problem.

I tried the latest beta (FB11) and immediately after the DMI posting, a message appeared along the lines of "Recovering lost memory size" which gave me the impression that they might finally  be on to something with this new BIOS. Unfortunately, it immediately rebooted after this message and did the same thing over and over so I had to revert to FB5.

[Dark Mantis]

I have checked the motherboard pins but, as per above, this is the second board which has this problem so I don't believe that's the issue. This problem appears to be extensive across a wide range of manufacturers but always with an X58 chipset. I am of the opinion that this is an X58 related issue rather than any hardware fault. I suspect that an updated BIOS may ultimately resolve the problem.

I tried the latest beta (FB11) and immediately after the DMI posting, a message appeared along the lines of "Recovering lost memory size" which gave me the impression that they might finally  be on to something with this new BIOS. Unfortunately, it immediately rebooted after this message and did the same thing over and over so I had to revert to FB5.

I quite agree with your statement and have come to the same conclusion myself.  I am sure it is a problem with the X58 chipset as it is occurring far too often to be down to anything else. Unlucky with the BIOS update sounded promissing there for a moment. Might be worth trying clearing the CMOS first and then running the new BIOS. But it at least sounds like they bare trying to address the issue.

[ex58]

I'm new to this forum but have been folowing this thread (and others like it) for several days now.
In my case, I'm using a GA-EX58A-UD3R (rev2.0) motherboard but am experiencing the same problem.
Something that is interesting, though, is that this is the second one of this particular model which has exhibited the same problem for me (the first was replaced by the dealer after a day or so because of a fault but, during the periods it did work, it had the same problem.)

My new motherboard sometimes shows 12 gb after a cold boot but in most cases, it shows that slot 6 memory is not usable (irrespective of how many times I shuffle different memory boards around, it's always slot #6).

I have checked the motherboard pins but, as per above, this is the second board which has this problem so I don't believe that's the issue. This problem appears to be extensive across a wide range of manufacturers but always with an X58 chipset. I am of the opinion that this is an X58 related issue rather than any hardware fault. I suspect that an updated BIOS may ultimately resolve the problem.

I tried the latest beta (FB11) and immediately after the DMI posting, a message appeared along the lines of "Recovering lost memory size" which gave me the impression that they might finally  be on to something with this new BIOS. Unfortunately, it immediately rebooted after this message and did the same thing over and over so I had to revert to FB5.

Hi mate,try latest beta BIOS FB16.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi ex58, Does this update cure the problem?