2 sticks of RAM or 4

[Rocky_53 1,579]

I have been running my system for the best part of 4 years now, most of the time without any problem. Asus P8Z68-V MB, i5 2500K OC @ 4.6ghz, MSI GTX770 4Gb GPU. However, for some reason that remains a mystery, I have been encountering a lot of BSODs recently. Nothing has changed, apart from the removal of 4 x 2gb sticks of RAM, with 2 x 8gb sticks. This was done to accommodate some video editing that I now need to use on the PC.

 

I was always told that the 4 sticks are necessary so as to split across the 4 channels of the CPU (?) When i questioned the PC guy who looks after my machine, he said that it was not an issue and 2 sticks was just fine. He seemed quite adamant about his position on the subject. Is he right, or should I have 4 sticks of RAM?

 

I can't think of any other reason why I am suddenly getting BSODs. It may be some duff RAM but I'd be interested in hearing from some of the whizz guys on here. Cheers.

[dazz 69]

I have been running my system for the best part of 4 years now, most of the time without any problem. Asus P8Z68-V MB, i5 2500K OC @ 4.6ghz, MSI GTX770 4Gb GPU. However, for some reason that remains a mystery, I have been encountering a lot of BSODs recently. Nothing has changed, apart from the removal of 4 x 2gb sticks of RAM, with 2 x 8gb sticks. This was done to accommodate some video editing that I now need to use on the PC.

 

I was always told that the 4 sticks are necessary so as to split across the 4 channels of the CPU (?) When i questioned the PC guy who looks after my machine, he said that it was not an issue and 2 sticks was just fine. He seemed quite adamant about his position on the subject. Is he right, or should I have 4 sticks of RAM?

 

I can't think of any other reason why I am suddenly getting BSODs. It may be some duff RAM but I'd be interested in hearing from some of the whizz guys on here. Cheers.

 

The 2500K has two channels, so you can max that out with only two RAM sticks, but you have to make sure the sticks are installed in the proper slots.

The number of memory channels don't do much if anything at all for performance.

 

As for the BSODs, if you are using the same OC profile with the new set of RAM sticks, that may very well be the problem.

 

How did you overclock the system?

Have you overclocked the memory too?

[Rocky_53 1,579]

The 2500K has two channels, so you can max that out with only two RAM sticks, but you have to make sure the sticks are installed in the proper slots.

The number of memory channels don't do much if anything at all for performance.

 

As for the BSODs, if you are using the same OC profile with the new set of RAM sticks, that may very well be the problem.

 

How did you overclock the system?

Have you overclocked the memory too?

 

Hi Dazz, thanks for the reply. Hmm, OK. Sure, it's the same OC profile, as nothing was changed after replacing the RAM. Well, as for the overclock, I bought the machine pre OC from UK Overclockers. As I said, it's been as stable as a lead weight since buying it. It's only after installing the RAM that the issue has appeared. Any advice?

[dazz 69]

Please post captures of the latest version of CPU-Z's SPD & Memory tabs, 

[Rocky_53 1,579]

 Here ya go...

 

 

 

 

 

SLOT 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

SLOT 4

 

 

[dazz 69]

 Here ya go...

 

Slots are good, but those sticks seem to run at some unusual timings. Notice you're running them at 1600MHz 9-9-9-28-2T (mobo defaults) but we can't tell from those JEDEC's at what timings they're designed to run at 1600MHz.

 

Apparently there's no XMP profile unfortunatelly, so you probably need to go to the BIOS and dial in all the timings manually.

 

You have three options:

 

1. Check if there's indeed an XMP profile in your BIOS

 

2. Go for the sticks' rated speed and timings. 

 

3. Be conservative and leave the memory clock at 800MHz (1600Mhz) and set the timings at something like 11-11-10-29-40-2T

 

Are you comfortable doing that in your BIOS?

[scottb613 1,188]

Hi Folks,

 

While it won't help with your BSOD issue - just upgraded my PC this weekend from 8GB@1600 x2 to 16GB@2133 x2 using an XMP profile - - - while I haven't run any real performance tests everything seems a bit snappier (placebo effect ?)... I have a similar processor as well - 2700K @ 4.5 GHz... Don't thinks the 2 memory bank usage would be an issue...

 

Regards,

Scott

[Rocky_53 1,579]

Slots are good, but those sticks seem to run at some unusual timings. Notice you're running them at 1600MHz 9-9-9-28-2T (mobo defaults) but we can't tell from those JEDEC's at what timings they're designed to run at 1600MHz.

 

Apparently there's no XMP profile unfortunatelly, so you probably need to go to the BIOS and dial in all the timings manually.

 

You have three options:

 

1. Check if there's indeed an XMP profile in your BIOS

 

2. Go for the sticks' rated speed and timings. 

 

3. Be conservative and leave the memory clock at 800MHz (1600Mhz) and set the timings at something like 11-11-10-29-40-2T

 

Are you comfortable doing that in your BIOS?

 

Hi matey, hmm, sorry you don't want to here this, but I haven't got a clue! I'm not completely a nonk, but unsure what. 1) Don't know how to do 2) Where will I find the sticks' rated speeds? 3) Where do I set the timings in the BIOS?  

[scottb613 1,188]

Hi Howard,

 

I think you need to get the manufacturer/model number of the installed memory so you can look up the speed ??? As far as I understand it - if your motherboard supports XMP it's just an option under something like advanced memory management - I believe XMP is just a profile so you don't have to manage all the timings yourself... When I selected XMP profile 1 - I noticed my displayed speed changed from 1600 to 2133... First time I've ever messed with memory settings so I could certainly have a gross conceptual error on what I did - so take it with a grain of salt... Hope it helps...

 

Regards,

Scott

[Rocky_53 1,579]

Hi Howard,

 

I think you need to get the manufacturer/model number of the installed memory so you can look up the speed ??? As far as I understand it - if your motherboard supports XMP it's just an option under something like advanced memory management - I believe the XMP is just a profile so you don't have to manage all the timings yourself... When I selected XMP profile 1 - I noticed my displayed speed changed from 1600 to 2133... First time I've ever messed with memory settings so I could certainly have a gross conceptual error on what I did - so take it with a grain of salt... Hope it helps...

 

Regards,

Scott

 

Hi Scott, thanks matey. I will have to find the timings of the RAM. Where in CPUz is this shown, any idea? iS THIS THE SAME AS LATENCY? I thought the speed of the ram was 1600Mhz but I can't see anything that shows anything close to that figure.

[dazz 69]

Try the XMP profile first:

 

1. Restart your system

2. After it beeps, press DEL repeatedly until the BIOS shows up

3. Click "Advanced Mode" on the top-right corner

4. Click the "AI-Tweaker" tab

5. Locate the "AI Overclock Tuner" option, click the button to it's right (should read "Manual", mine reads "Auto" here)

 

 

6. Select "X.M.P." if available. If it's not there, then you need to input your timings manually

7. You should see a new option bellow with the selected XMP profile. Here's mine:

 

 

8. Click "Exit" on the top right corner

9. Click "Save changes and restart"

[Rocky_53 1,579]

 

Try the XMP profile first:

 

1. Restart your system

2. After it beeps, press DEL repeatedly until the BIOS shows up

3. Click "Advanced Mode" on the top-right corner

4. Click the "AI-Tweaker" tab

5. Locate the "AI Overclock Tuner" option, click the button to it's right (should read "Manual", mine reads "Auto" here)

 

 

 

6. Select "X.M.P." if available. If it's not there, then you need to input your timings manually

7. You should see a new option bellow with the selected XMP profile. Here's mine:

 

8. Click "Exit" on the top right corner

9. Click "Save changes and restart"

 

 

Thanks for the help with this Dazz, but I don't seem to have anything that refers to XMP...

 

 

 

 

 

Is this where I input the ram timings? If so, where will I find the ram timings? 

 

[dazz 69]

Thanks for the help with this Dazz, but I don't seem to have anything that refers to XMP...

You need to press the button that reads "Manual" to the right of "AI Overclock Tuner"

 

 

A pop up window should appear with 3 options: Auto, Manual and X.M.P.

Select X.M.P.

If the X.M.P. option is not there, then you need to dial in all the timings manually at "DRAM Timing Control" further down in that same screen

[Rocky_53 1,579]

You need to press the button that reads "Manual" to the right of "AI Overclock Tuner"

A pop up window should appear with 3 options: Auto, Manual and X.M.P.

Select X.M.P.

If the X.M.P. option is not there, then you need to dial in all the timings manually at "DRAM Timing Control" further down in that same screen

 

 

OK, only manual and auto appear So where do I find the timings Dazz?  From CPUz?

[dazz 69]

OK, only manual and auto appear So where do I find the timings Dazz?  From CPUz?

 

Yes, but in your case, none of the JEDECs in CPU-Z is your actual rated speed. But I would just play it safe and select this:

 

Is this the kit yo have there? http://media.kingston.com/pdfs/HyperX_FURY_EN.pdf