System instability from putting 2 ram sticks in.

[Zippydsmlee]

I have an asus formula 4 and 16GB 1866 corsair vengeance. Runs fine with one stick in it at almost any speed setting, put 2 in no matter the slot and win7 randomly crashes or has performance issues.

The memory checks out so I am a bit lost as to what could be the issue could be.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Zippy your specs show Crossfire for the mobo do you mean Crosshair by any chance? - just want to make sure we are on the same page here mate.

CROSSHAIR IV FORMULA - Motherboards - ASUS

If you have the above are you using two or four stcks? and if so are you putting the sticks in the correct slots?.

I am not tying to be funny but my P8Z77-V uses slots 2 & 4 from the CPU (same colour) as the primary ones and not 1 & 3 as one would normally and I am thinking maybe yours might be the same. For example you may have problems if you use slots 1&2 as the primary slots or 1 & 3 if it should be 2 & 4.

One last thing what version of the BIOS do you have the older legacy type or EUFI?

 

[Zippydsmlee]

Zippy your specs show Crossfire for the mobo do you mean Crosshair by any chance? - just want to make sure we are on the same page here mate.

CROSSHAIR IV FORMULA - Motherboards - ASUS

If you have the above are you using two or four stcks? and if so are you putting the sticks in the correct slots?.

I am not tying to be funny but my P8Z77-V uses slots 2 & 4 from the CPU (same colour) as the primary ones and not 1 & 3 as one would normally and I am thinking maybe yours might be the same. For example you may have problems if you use slots 1&2 as the primary slots or 1 & 3 if it should be 2 & 4.

One last thing what version of the BIOS do you have the older legacy type or EUFI?

You are correct, late night posting FTW!

I know the slot arrangement can be silly, I think its 1-3 2-4 I'll go re check... yup looks like it.
I've tried both, neither seemed to work right.

Let me fire up CPU Z and check it. Says rev 1.xx...geee that helps.

Let me check the board... 1.026. I have the latest bios.

Should I go back to an older bios?

 

[Layback Bear]

My method is simple.
1. I don't change my bios when things are working properly.
Just because their is a bios update doesn't mean you need or want the bios update.

2. If I do have a problem that pops up it most likely isn't the bios but when everything else fails I will check for a bios update and see if their is a bios update that is specifically designed for my specific problem with my exact motherboard.
If I do find one I don't install it yet.
I go on the motherboard Forum and see if their is any information or suggestions from others that have had my exact problem with the exact motherboard.

 

[indianacarnie]

I'm with Layback Bear on this. Bios updates are just too risky an undertaking to do lightly. Forgive me for asking this, but are your sticks compatible and the same? (timing etc.)

 

[Zippydsmlee]

I'm with Layback Bear on this. Bios updates are just too risky an undertaking to do lightly. Forgive me for asking this, but are your sticks compatible and the same? (timing etc.)

No you nailed it.

I keep forgetting how fickle ramm and mobos are these days.

I wonder if I manually change the timings it would work.....mmmmm

Planning on getting a new mobo and cpu come spring anyway but at least know its a compatibility issue.

My ramm is corsair vengeance 1866 16GB also ran a 8gb kit of patriot 2000 ram and it did the same thing with it, I was starting to think the mobo was bad, and I did try 1066 to 1600 and 1866.

Looking at ram compatibility lists on different mobo sites I swear they need a mobo support list for ramm!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No mate do what the others have suggested the BIOS in all probability (if it is like mine was) had gone past the BIOS version that it was shipped with but I don't as the others say that altering the BIOS timings for the RAM is going to make any difference they should just work.

Now are you getting an beeps codes apart form the one beep usual for the RAM being found??
Computer POST and beep codes in any case that board is limited to 1866Mhz RAM so a 2000Mhz stick will just be throttled back. So in effect whatever speed RAM you put in it will throttle back to the highest speed it will take and just as a matter of interest not all sticks are compatible with any set board.

Now if you are lie me a fan of G Skill RAM the G Skill forum fellow Tradesman is brilliant at sorting the right G Skill for any board he did mine and I am actually running 2400Hhz which is the board specs said will be throttled back so I am guessing what he advised me on did exactly what he said it would. But the choice is yours. Welcome to the G.SKILL TECH FORUM

 

[Zippydsmlee]

No mate do what the others have suggested the BIOS in all probability (if it is like mine was) had gone past the BIOS version that it was shipped with but I don't as the others say that altering the BIOS timings for the RAM is going to make any difference they should just work.

Now are you getting an beeps codes apart form the one beep usual for the RAM being found??
Computer POST and beep codes in any case that board is limited to 1866Mhz RAM so a 2000Mhz stick will just be throttled back. So in effect whatever speed RAM you put in it will throttle back to the highest speed it will take and just as a matter of interest not all sticks are compatible with any set board.

Now if you are lie me a fan of G Skill RAM the G Skill forum fellow Tradesman is brilliant at sorting the right G Skill for any board he did mine and I am actually running 2400Hhz which is the board specs said will be throttled back so I am guessing what he advised me on did exactly what he said it would. But the choice is yours. Welcome to the G.SKILL TECH FORUM

Well this is odd I put both sticks in booted it up it crashed, it was set to 9-9-9-24 under d.o.t settings at 1866. Then I set everything to auto manually changed the timings to 9-9-9-24 rebooted it defaulted to 1333 BUT its running fine, I up'd it to 1600 and its still running stable.

I have not tried d.o.t settings with the manual timings set yet.

No changes in beeping and lights when I boot with 2 sticks in.

I'll give the link a look.

Thanks for the help!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No probs Zippy that is such a good or he is such a good resource - not that there isn't folks in here who are just as good but another string to the bow eh??