F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR, AMD FX-4100, and an ASUS M5A97 - help with RAM timings

[ftipp]

I recently upgraded my old athlon x2 system to an fx-4100, gskill F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR (2 x 4gb 1866), using an ASUS M5A97 motherboard. I understand that some of the bios settings will need to be changed in order for the ram to run at 1866, but I haven't been able to find a solution after searching through the forums. I am using the most up to date bios for the board, and the RAM has been running at 1600 just fine.

I'm also pretty new to this UEFI bios stuff, so setting all the clock speeds is a little confusing. Any help would be appreciated.

[Tradesman]

Set DRAM to 1866, timings to 9-10-9-28, 2N DRAM voltage 1.5 and may need to raise CPU/NB voltage + .05

[ftipp]

Set DRAM to 1866, timings to 9-10-9-28, 2N DRAM voltage 1.5 and may need to raise CPU/NB voltage + .05

Trying out these settings now, I'll report back on what happens.

[Tradesman]

We'll be here

[ftipp]

I just tried out these settings in the BIOS, and it was stable when DRAM was set to 1600. After I set DRAM to 1866 and restarted the computer, the displays were blank and the system would not post.

The red LED was lit next to the MemOK! button, and I had to press that button to get it to recognize the RAM again. When it booted back up and I got into the bios, the timings were all reset and the RAM was running again at 1600

[Tradesman]

What's the CPU/Host Bus at? 200? If 200 might try 233 or so and raise CPU/NB voltage another + .04 or + .05, then again the CPU might not be able to handle 1866. These FX CPU's were advertised as Native 1866, but AMD has since relented that they are 1333 and 'can' run 'UP TO' 1866 at 1 stick per channel....many haven't been able to hit 1866, so may want to tune at 1600

[ftipp]

What's the CPU/Host Bus at? 200? If 200 might try 233 or so and raise CPU/NB voltage another + .04 or + .05, then again the CPU might not be able to handle 1866. These FX CPU's were advertised as Native 1866, but AMD has since relented that they are 1333 and 'can' run 'UP TO' 1866 at 1 stick per channel....many haven't been able to hit 1866, so may want to tune at 1600

Yeah this is what I have been reading...it's unfortunate. I'm going to play around with the voltages and bus speed and then report back. Thanks for the help so far Tradesman. Hopefully this might work.

[Tradesman]

Give it a try and get back

[ftipp]

Man, this has gotten a lot more difficult than I anticipated.

So here's what's been happening (I'll take some screenshots of the BIOS to post here):

1) Whenever I change the CPU/NB voltage, or the CPU voltage, the computer will boot up fine without any problems. (Memory still running at 1600)

2) If I change any RAM timings, including setting the RAM to the timings you had above, the computer will not post on restart. I have to push the MemOK! button once again to get it to post again.

3) If I change the NB/CPU frequency (from 2000 MHz to anything else) the same thing happens as in #2. The computer restarts, the displays go dark, and the red LED above the MemOK! button lights up. I have to press the button again to reset to defaults.

4) If I change the Bus/PEG Frequency, CPU ratio, or Memory Frequency, the same thing happens, and I have to reset it.


It seems the only stable condition I can get right now is 3.6 GHz cpu, 1600 MHz RAM, 2000 MHz NB Frequency. I'm not sure what to do next. I'll upload screenshots into this post as well.

[Tradesman]

I'll try and get back this PM, and regardless will drop a line to GSkill for hopfully Mon if I'm not back, right now have a house full of people and a couple of rather troublesome rigs I've got to get straightened out tonight.

[ftipp]

Tradesman,

Thanks so much for your help and taking the time to respond. I'm going to continue playing around with voltages and timings in the next couple days. From what I've researched though, it looks like the fx-4100 could be the culprit, in that it can't handle 2 sticks of 1866 at once. It's been pretty weird because when I try to change the CPU multiplier in the bios, the system won't boot. There's also some people saying on other forums that the m5a97 has had some trouble clocking 1866 RAM at 1866 MHz.

I'll report back sometime tomorrow if I can get things working. Hopefully this thread might help someone else with the same setup. Once again thanks for taking the time to help me out.

[GSKILL TECH]

Which slots are they installed in? The two furthest away from the CPU?

Do you have the latest BIOS for the motherboard?

Test one module at a time with the proper settings to see if one module performs differently.

Thank you
GSKILL TECH

[ftipp]

The RAM slots on the M5A97 are as follows, going from closest to furthest from cpu: A_1, A_2, B_1, B_2. The motherboard manual recommends slots A_2 and B_2 for 2 DIMMs, which is what I have them installed in. I have tried the other configurations with the same results (memory still runs at 1600 MHz). I also tried out a single 4gb stick and it ran at 1600 as well.

The M5A97 motherboard has the latest BIOS (revision 9010 I think). I used the proper timings each time I tested the RAM, with no different results.

[Tradesman]

Dropped a note to GSkill Tech, maybe he has another idea

[GSKILL TECH]

Did you input the proper settings for the memory? DRAM Frequency, timings, and voltage need to be input according to the specifications on the memory.

Thank you
GSKILL TECH