Motherboard: Asus Rampage IV Formula (x79)
BIOS: 1305
Memory modules: [ RipjawsZ ] F3-12800CL9Q-16GBZL (4Gx4)
CPU: Intel i7 3820 Sandy Bridge E
Hi all,
I've got a question regarding stablity with these components.
I am NOT overclocking the processor, only using XMP mode for the memory.
Everything else is stock clocks and voltages.
I chose XMP in BIOS, mode 1. DDR3-1600, 9-9-9-24-2T (as per module design)
When I first built this system 2 weeks ago, I had BSODs popping up while trying to install Windows 7. A quick test with Memtest86 revealed memory errors all over the place, in the hundreds.
I bumped up the DIMM voltage AB and CD from the stock 1.500 to 1.530 in 0.005 increments until Memtest86 reported 0 errors for a complete loop.
Windows 7 installation worked perfectly after that.
Fast forward to last night when I finally had some time to play a game (Tribes Ascend).
The game crashed to the desktop 3 times with application errors.
Thinking it was related to using SLI, I disabled SLI for the game in the Nvidia driver profile settings. (I have a GTX 690)
I played a little bit more and it did not crash.
Then, I decided to run Memtest86 again, just to make sure main memory was still OK.
Turns out, it wasn't. At around 9% through the test, errors started appearing.
I bumped the RAM voltage to 1.535 and retested. Still some errors, but fewer of them at the 9% mark.
Bumped RAM voltage to 1.540 and retested. Only 2 errors found at the 9% mark.
Bumped RAM voltage to 1.545 and retested. 0 errors found.
I left Memtest86 running all night long. 0 errors found in 7 hours of testing (I didn't note how many loops it was, but probably at least 5 full tests).
My questions are:
Is it normal to have to bump the RAM voltage in order to get the system stable? I mean, the stated normal voltage for these modules is 1.500V.
(Keep in mind this is an X79 board with all 4 DIMM slots occupied (Formula only has 4, Extreme has 8)).
I did not bump VCCS or any other voltages. They are all on Auto. Should I have to play with those due to the higher memory voltage, or leave them alone?
Should I try changing other memory timings and bring the DIMM voltage back down to 1.500, or is a 0.045V bump not a big deal?
Just want to make sure this won't shorten the life of the RAM or memory controller on the CPU as this will be a 24x7 system.
Thanks for the help!
BIOS: 1305
Memory modules: [ RipjawsZ ] F3-12800CL9Q-16GBZL (4Gx4)
CPU: Intel i7 3820 Sandy Bridge E
Hi all,
I've got a question regarding stablity with these components.
I am NOT overclocking the processor, only using XMP mode for the memory.
Everything else is stock clocks and voltages.
I chose XMP in BIOS, mode 1. DDR3-1600, 9-9-9-24-2T (as per module design)
When I first built this system 2 weeks ago, I had BSODs popping up while trying to install Windows 7. A quick test with Memtest86 revealed memory errors all over the place, in the hundreds.
I bumped up the DIMM voltage AB and CD from the stock 1.500 to 1.530 in 0.005 increments until Memtest86 reported 0 errors for a complete loop.
Windows 7 installation worked perfectly after that.
Fast forward to last night when I finally had some time to play a game (Tribes Ascend).
The game crashed to the desktop 3 times with application errors.
Thinking it was related to using SLI, I disabled SLI for the game in the Nvidia driver profile settings. (I have a GTX 690)
I played a little bit more and it did not crash.
Then, I decided to run Memtest86 again, just to make sure main memory was still OK.
Turns out, it wasn't. At around 9% through the test, errors started appearing.
I bumped the RAM voltage to 1.535 and retested. Still some errors, but fewer of them at the 9% mark.
Bumped RAM voltage to 1.540 and retested. Only 2 errors found at the 9% mark.
Bumped RAM voltage to 1.545 and retested. 0 errors found.
I left Memtest86 running all night long. 0 errors found in 7 hours of testing (I didn't note how many loops it was, but probably at least 5 full tests).
My questions are:
Is it normal to have to bump the RAM voltage in order to get the system stable? I mean, the stated normal voltage for these modules is 1.500V.
(Keep in mind this is an X79 board with all 4 DIMM slots occupied (Formula only has 4, Extreme has 8)).
I did not bump VCCS or any other voltages. They are all on Auto. Should I have to play with those due to the higher memory voltage, or leave them alone?
Should I try changing other memory timings and bring the DIMM voltage back down to 1.500, or is a 0.045V bump not a big deal?
Just want to make sure this won't shorten the life of the RAM or memory controller on the CPU as this will be a 24x7 system.
Thanks for the help!
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