RAM displaying different CAS in each slot?

[teapo]

Hello I am currently running my RAM sticks through a Memtest86 . Right now I am testing them individually in each slot. One thing I noticed was that in Slot 1 the first test CAS read 6-6-6-20 and on Slot 3 the current test I'm running, the CAS reads 9-9-9-24 which is what Memtest86 will read if I have both sticks in at the same time.

Is this normal? I have yet to test Slots 2 and 4.

Here is the model of my RAM sticks for reference PV38G160C9K Viper (patriot memory)

 

[ionbasa]

The manual found here:
http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-z77x-up4_th_e.pdf
states that RAM should be installed in the DDR3_1 and DDR3_2 sockets. (page 16)
Can you check if the RAM is installed in the slots listed?

Other than that make sure that they are detected properly in the BIOS and use the XMP profile.

 

[teapo]

Sorry ionbasa, I meant Slot 1 as DDR3_1 and Slot 3 as DDR3_2. Testing Stick A in DDR3_3 at the moment and that one reads 6-6-6-20. Also, what difference does it make using XMP? Should I be running XMP profile when I use both modules?

I will see again if both modules are detected in the BIOS after testing Stick B. From what I can remember though is that they are both detected as the memory reads for a total of 8GB.

 

[ionbasa]

Yes when running both use the XMP profile. XMP basically loads all timings and frequencies for the RAM.
One thing to point out though is tat Memtest may incorrectly read ram timings, if we know that the XMP profile is being used, then we know that this is the case.

 

[carwiz]

If you have two different modules installed, the BIOS will set the timing of ALL modules to the slowest (higher number) for timing. What you are seeing is normal for mis-matched memory modules.

 

[ionbasa]

If you have two different modules installed, the BIOS will set the timing of ALL modules to the slowest (higher number) for timing. What you are seeing is normal for mis-matched memory modules.

He is using matched memory modules in both slots.

 

[teapo]

Correct, I am using matched modules from same package. Testing Stick A in DDR3_4 and that reads 9-9-9-24.

 

[teapo]

Alright, so Stick B so far is getting the same results...

DDR3_1 at 6-6-6-20
DDR3_2 at 9-9-9-24
DDR3_3 at 6-6-6-20

Testing DDR3_4 next but I'm going to guess it will be 9-9-9-24. I did some research on XMP and a lot of it seems to involve overclocking-- which I do not want to do. So I guess my question with that is, It's still safe to enable XMP profile 1 without having to OC?

Also the main reason I'm doing all this RAM testing is to try and diagnose my BSOD issues which can be found on this thread here http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/275401-bsod-memory_management-1a.html

I still have yet to receive help on that :/

 

[ionbasa]

you could try the xmp profile if you like, and see if it sets the RAM timings corectly, although the RAM will be 'Overclocked" not your CPU.

Another option is to mnually set the ram timings and frequency in your BIOS.

I would start with all ram sticks installed properly and then test it with XMP, if that still doesn't work then move on to changing the settings in the BIOS manually.

 

[Dwarf]

Something is definitely not right here.

Reset your BIOS to its defaults by removing the battery and using the appropriate motherboard jumper (see manual for details). Wait a few minutes. Don't forget to replace the battery and place the jumper in its original position (if used). This will clear any settings but, more importantly, will reset any memory timing settings to their defaults (which is usually Auto and/or By SPD, meaning that the timings are taken from the Serial Presence Detect chip on the RAM modules).

Now try each stick in turn in each of the slots. Are you still getting the same results? Don't worry if the frequency shown is 1333MHz instead of 1600MHz. This is normal, as the higher frequency has to be explicitly enabled by selecting the XMP profile in the BIOS.

If you get the same results, then I have a feeling that it is the board not reading the SPD data correctly. Do you have the latest BIOS firmware installed?

 

[Layback Bear]

Very interesting. I like Dwarft's method. I have never had that happened with matched ram.

 

[teapo]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Dwarf, I reset the BIOS / CMOS via your steps so everything went back to default settings. I tried Memtest with the individual sticks and I get the same results as mentioned before. Then I tried ionbasa's suggestions with both XMP profile and manually changing the CAS latencies but they still appear as 6-6-6-20 on the test. Perhaps this is normal for those two slots to read my memory that way? When I Dual Channel, Memtest and the BIOS will read it as 9-9-9-24.

And yes, my BIOS firmware is up to date.

 

[Dwarf]

That is certainly not normal. What timings are displayed by the SPD tab of CPU-Z? Are the timings you are reporting mentioned on this tab?

 

[teapo]

Dwarf, here is what CPU-Z is reporting for both slots (Dual Channelling right now).

Unless you wanted me to see what CPU-Z reports if I'm running with 1 module in Slot 1 or Slot 3?

 

[Dwarf]

Yes please, since those are the slots that are giving you those timing figures. I see no mention of those figures on your SPD snips though, which leads me to believe that your board could be faulty.

 

[teapo]

Alright here's the results and a pic I got from doing Memtest single channel earlier.

 

[Dwarf]

What timings are shown on the Memory tab of CPU-Z? It would be helpful to use just a single stick of RAM (the same one) and show what you get on this tab for each slot. The SPD tab shows you the available timings as stored in the module's SPD chip, whereas the Memory tab shows you the actual timings currently in use.

 

[teapo]

The CPU-Z reports in post #16 are from using single sticks. I used the same stick in Slot 1, took the screenshot, and then turned off computer to insert it in Slot 3 and took that screenshot. Running on 4GB (1 stick) right now in Slot 3 as we speak.

EDIT: Sorry, just re-read your post... let me grab the Memory tab.

 

[Dwarf]

I'm just about to hit the sack as I'm at work early in the morning. I'll be back later.

 

[teapo]

Okay, here is the Memory tabs for the same stick in Slot 1 (top) and Slot 3 (bottom).





EDIT: alright mate, I appreciate your help. Will continue to do research on the BSOD thread XD.