F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR + GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 coldboot error.

[Sicklybug]

GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 bios version F10 (latest per manufacturer website)
F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR (2 x 4GB)
i5 2500k
Windows 7 64bit

When I enable XMP or even enter the timings manually as 9-9-9-24 1T or 2T (I've tried both) and leave the rest of the timings on auto, I get an overclocking error on cold boot at post. However, I do not always get this error as last time it took a week before the error popped up on a cold boot. The ram will revert to pc1600 11-11-11-28 1T after the error. I am not setting the ram over pc1600. I can boot into Windows just fine with the lower timings. I have never gotten a BSOD, never had any errors with memtest86+ (only ran it on the pair, not single sticks though) or prime95 and never had any issues that I am aware related to the RAM other than the cold boot issues. The rest of my BIOS settings are set to default other than changing IDE to AHCI. My CPU isn't overclocked. The RAM is in the correct dual channel as per the mobo's manual. I'm not overheating. I'd love to run this RAM at 9-9-9-24 without the overclocking error, but I am a RAM noob. Any help is appreciated.

[Tradesman]

Do you have the latest BIOS, F10? Can be found here:

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...?pid=3853#bios

[Sicklybug]

I do have the latest BIOS version for my motherboard.

[GSKILL TECH]

Test one module at a time to see if one performs differently.

Thank you
GSKILL TECH

[Sicklybug]

Test one module at a time to see if one performs differently.

Thank you
GSKILL TECH

The modules did not perform differently than each other. When I test them in slots 1 and 3 separately memtest86+ was giving me timings of 6-6-6-20 BLCK 89MHz RAM 715MHz, DDR3-1431 on each memory stick. It was test one stick at a time. The results were the same for each stick.

When I tested the sticks on slots 2 and 4 separately memtest86+ gave me timings of 9-9-9-24 BLCK 89MHz RAM 715MHz DDR3-1431. Again each slot was tested one at a time with each stick and the results were the same for each stick.

Is this normal or is there an issue with my motherboard?

[GSKILL TECH]

So both kits have a problem by themselves? Make sure each kit is in the same color slots.

BCLK should be 100, not 89.

Thank you
GSKILL TECH

[Sicklybug]

So both kits have a problem by themselves? Make sure each kit is in the same color slots.

BCLK should be 100, not 89.

Thank you
GSKILL TECH

When I test the 2 sticks in dual channel mode (slots 1 and 2) then the timings show up as 9-9-9-24 when tested one at a time then slots 1 and 3 show the timings as 6-6-6-20. I did not change any settings between tests. They show up as 9-9-9-24 when testing slots 2 and 4 separately.

To clarify: (using "stick A" and "stick B" to denote different sticks. neither are marked as such)
Stick A in slot 1 = 6-6-6-20 with XMP enabled BLCK 89MHz.
Stick B in slot 1 = 6-6-6-20 with XMP enabled BLCK 89MHz.
Stick A in slot 3 = 6-6-6-20 with XMP enabled BLCK 89MHz.
Stick B in slot 3 = 6-6-6-20 with XMP enabled BLCK 89MHz.
Stick A in slot 2 = 9-9-9-24 with XMP enabled BLCK 89MHz.
Stick B in slot 2 = 9-9-9-24 with XMP enabled BLCK 89MHz.
Stick A in slot 4 = 9-9-9-24 with XMP enabled BLCK 89MHz.
Stick B in slot 4 = 9-9-9-24 with XMP enabled BLCK 89MHz.
Sticks A & B in slots 1 + 2 = 9-9-9-24 with XMP enabled BLCK 89MHz Dual Channel mode.
Sticks A & B in slots 3 + 4 = 9-9-9-24 with XMP enabled BLCK 89MHz Dual Channel mode.

The above are the timings from memtest86+


To help clarify the slots they appear as such on my mobo and are labeled as following according to the manual:


-------- Slots
- CPU - |4||2| |3||1|
--------

The slots are all the same color, but I do know for a fact that I am testing them in dual channel mode as per what the motherboard manual states and it is showing up as dual channel mode in CPU-Z and Speccy. Slots 1+2 = Dual channel. Slots 3+4 = Dual channel.

I changed the option "BLCK/DMI/PEG Frequency (0.1MHz) [1000] 100.0MHz" from auto to what I typed. It still shows up as BLCK 89MHz in memtest86+ even after forcing it. If there is another option that I need to change in ensure that it runs at 100MHz please advise me what it is.

[Tradesman]

Sounds like there's a problem with the mobo, could be CPU, but sounds like mobo not reading things right, do you have other sticks you could try (or maybe borrow a set)

[Sicklybug]

Unfortunately, I don't have access to any other sticks to try out. I may just try RMAing the mobo and hope that it isn't the CPU.

[Tradesman]

Let us know how it goes.