Help with GA X58A-UD3R rev1 RAM issues and other settings

[gwmbox]

Hi all, new to the forums as this is my first real issue with a Gigabyte board.

I have a GA-X58A-UD3R (rev1) motherboard with an i7 930 and have had working on it 6GB of DDR3 ram in slots 2, 4 and 6 and I just bought another set of 6GB's Ram of the same type and size with matching brand and number and installed the ram but I am only able to get 8GB RAM enabled.  the 12GB shows but only 8GB is enabled.  The RAM is 6 x 2GB sticks of Corsair XMS3 CMX6GX3M3A1600C9.  It would seem that the last 2 sticks are now working, however before adding the new sticks the last two slots had one stick on and was working fine.  I have also removed, moved around and replaced the RAM several times, plus I blew out all the dust in the PC just in case it was that too, but no luck so far and hence my call for help please.

At the same time I have in the PC 2 x SATA3 and 1 SATA2 drives, the SATA2 is only used as a store for old files but the two SATA3 (1TB each) are the main system and file drives.  I do not however think I have set them up correctly as they seem slow and therefore I am seeking assistance in what I need to change or do to get them working at the best possible performance.

The BIOS version running on the board is F6.

I have taken several photos of the BIOS with my iPhone to show you the current settings, if you could advise what I need to change to get the full 12GB Ram working and the HDD set-up correctly (with a guide on how to actually do that too) it will be greatly appreciated.  If more information is required please let me know and I will reply with any added detail.



I hope someone can help guide me to get this working as best it can, thanks

GW

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte forum.

Your first problem is you have left al the settings on Auto. That may be alright for 6GB of RAM but won't work with 12GB.

You will need to manually enter all the timings and voltages required.

The timings you need will be on the side of the modules (I expect from memory they will be 9-9-9-24). The memory voltage will be 1.65v but because of the extra loading on the memory controller you are going to have to increase that to 1.7v.

Yopu will need to set your Uncore multiplier to 2x your memory multiplier up to a maximum of 2x +2. You will also need to set your QPI/Vtt voltage and this is something that varies so I can only suggest that you start at 1.2v and try raising it as you gop until you find a stable voltage to a maximum of 1.45v

Well that gives you something to play with for now. Post back and let us know how you get on.

[gwmbox]

Thanks Dark Mantis for the info.  Yes everything is on Auto as that is how the PC shop that built the system for me set it up.  I am happy to make adjustments where needed and will try what you have suggested to see if that makes a difference or not and report back tomorrow (its 1:15 AM here now - time for bed ).

Just so I know when I go to make the change where exactly is the Uncore Multiplie and QPI/Vttr settings located?  I can fumble around and try and find them but if you know exactly where they are it will ensure I don;t make more problems for myself

Also while I have you, the SATA3 for the HDD, should that work as currently set in the BIOS (probably all set to Auto again) or do I need to change the HDD set-up to RAID or other settings?  I just find the HDDs rather slow and not what I would expect for a SATA3 set-up.

Cheers again

GW

[Dark Mantis]

I wouldn't worry about the hard drives yet otherwise you will end up getting confused. Deal with the memory first.

Most of the settings you need should be found in the MIT section or Advanced BIOS Features.

[gwmbox]

You will need to manually enter all the timings and voltages required.

The timings you need will be on the side of the modules (I expect from memory they will be 9-9-9-24). The memory voltage will be 1.65v but because of the extra loading on the memory controller you are going to have to increase that to 1.7v.

I made a few adjustments and added the timings but left the rest to Auto as I was not sure if the rest needed to be changed or not. but I cannot find where I can change the memory voltage from 1.65 to 1.7, it is not editable  If I go into the Advanced Voltage settings of the MIT I can edit the DRAM setting from 1.5 to 1.7 but the 1.7 is in a light pink (low warning) colour, is this the correct place to edit the voltage or not?

You will need to set your Uncore multiplier to 2x your memory multiplier up to a maximum of 2x +2.

I have no idea where the 'Uncore Multiplier is, is it called something else, I had a look at a lot of other settings but could not find anything that had settings like 2x  or +2.

You will also need to set your QPI/Vtt voltage and this is something that varies so I can only suggest that you start at 1.2v and try raising it as you gop until you find a stable voltage to a maximum of 1.45v

Is this the correct place to edit the QPI/Vtt as this appears to be for the CPU?

Well that gives you something to play with for now. Post back and let us know how you get on.

Thanks again for your help

GW

[Dark Mantis]

OK.

Your Uncore Clock Ratio (multiplier) needs to be set to 24 to 26 (which is 2x your memory multiplier to 2x +2 as your memory multiplier SPD is x12)

Increase the voltage to 1.7v as you saw and don't worry about the colour change. It is just a warning.

Yes that is the correct place to adjust the QPI/Vtt as it is connected to the CPU.

[gwmbox]

Firstly may I say a big thank you for your continued help.

Ok I have changed the settings to what you have suggested but still only 8 is enabled of the 12.  

Below are the latest BIOS screen shots showing the changes.  If I have missed something please let me know and I will try that.

Please continue to help me, I really want to get this to work.

Thanks again

GW

[Dark Mantis]

Mostly looks fine but I notice that you are still using the XMP support instead of manually entering the timings etc. So correct that.

Your DRAM voltage is still a bit low at 1.68v. Try increasing it to 1.70v. You may have to set it to 1.72v to achieve this.

[gwmbox]

OK, I have set as you have said but still no 12GB .  I even removed all the ram and moved the sticks around again but again still only getting 8GB enabled.

Here is the latest BIOS screen shots, please continue to help me figure this one out and again your time and support is very much appreciated

GW

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

My first question is did you take these photos before you had saved and exited the BIOS after making the changes ?

Change the DRAM Timing Selectable to Quick
and Performance Enhance to Extreme.

Download and run CPU-Z. It will be able to tell you which slots are not seeing the memory.

[gwmbox]

Yes the photos are after a save and reboot

OK here are the latest shots and the cpu-z stuff, plus two text files from cpu-z and speccy that I hope will tell you something

Any other suggestions please

thanks again

GW



Text file

http://gmwebfiles.com/g/forumposts/X58AUD3Rrev1/cpuz/?download=cpu-z.txt

CPU-Z images




Speccy



Speccy xml (txt file)

http://gmwebfiles.com/g/forumposts/X58AUD3Rrev1/cpuz/?download=my-PC_xml.txt

Windows screen-shot

[Dark Mantis]

OK I think  might have got it sussed.

Go to the Run command box and type in msconfig when it opens find the maximum memory setting and change it to12 GB. Chances ar eit is set to less than that now. Save and exit.

On reboot you should see all your memory.

[gwmbox]

No luck, it had no value set so I ticked it and set it to 12GB, rebooted and unfortunately as still only 8GB shows on the boot screen then the dram recovery thing and so on....

However when I finally got into windows after 4 reboots of the DRAM recovery thing, I went and rechecked the msconfig setting but it had a 0 in there now, not the 12288 I entered... I made sure it was run with admin priv's and it was but again after another save and reboot the same happened....

GW

[Dark Mantis]

Don't forget as well as running it with admin privs you must also remember to save the settings when leaving.

Make sure that you tick the box Make all boot settings permanent

[gwmbox]

Yes tried that twice, still no luck.  Arghhh this is so frustrating.... thanks for sticking with me trying to figure this one out.  I will have another look at it when I am more awake tomorrow

Cheers

GW