RAM BIOS crashing after setting to 1600Mhz

realism51 · 30 Nov 2012

Lets see if anyone can solve this one for me. Working with :
ASUS M4A87TD EVO - BIOS version 2001 (latest)
RAM - Corsair DDR3 4x4GB CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9 (CPU-z says max bandwith is 667Mhz)

Never had an issue until the day I changed the BIOS settings for the RAM to operate at 1600mhz. Playing CS GO and keep getting random crashes or freezes that send me through the reset cycle.
Frequency is set at 1600Mhz and Timing row is set at 41 like it should be. Voltage stays the same 1.50V --->1.500V - wondering if setting the voltage to 1.65V would help stability or if thats something I should stay away from.

Rechecked made sure I had latest Bios, reflashed just to be on the safe side and still am having issues. I know there are no error screens or any sort of overheating going on, checked components and updates. all is in the green.

I know I can set my RAM back down and TRC to 34 but hey whats the point if you got the power use it right?

TVeblen · 30 Nov 2012

Your first step is to test the RAM with Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool . At least 3 full passes, more is even better. The best way is to start it before you go to bed and check it the morning.
Zero errors is the only good score.

realism51 · 30 Nov 2012

Already tested it with that

TVeblen · 30 Nov 2012

Thanks for letting us know.

If 1600 is not a native speed for that motherboard then you must "overclock" the board to get it.

I don't play with OCing. But from what I know it is a matter of playing with a combinations of settings to achieve the goal. For RAM I think it is voltage, frequency, and timing.

So certainly start with voltage, but don't jump from 1.5 to 1.65 in one step. go .05 v at a time.

Also a good idea to post in the overclocking forum. That's where you will get your best help with this.

realism51 · 01 Dec 2012

Its native for it, OC would be up to 2000, but I manually set the voltage for the RAM at 1.55 instead of 1.50 and last night I went for several hours without a freeze or a crash. So give it another day or so and then proclaim it as problem solved.

TVeblen · 01 Dec 2012

That will probably do it for you.
Some motherboards do not put out the actual voltage (by a tiny percentage) that they are designed to due to a variation in the electrical components, and some RAM can be real touchy when it comes to voltage.