RAM won't run at rated speed?

[MrTomnus]

Hi,

 

I hadn't noticed this for a while but going back to my bios lately I discovered that my RAM wsn't running at the rated speed which is 1600MHz. It has ran at that speed before because I had to manually set it, and the PC booted just fine. However when I try to do it now I get a message saying overclocking settings failed and an option to reset to defaualt or go back to BIOS with previous settings.

 

Specs:

i5-4670k @ stock (3.4)

RAM - Corsair (supposed to be) 1600MHz 2x4GB C9

MSI Z87-G43

 

Can anyone help? I really don't know what's causing this problem. I took a screenshot of the bios with all the overclocking settings. I haven't touched any of them, these are defaults with the exception of the RAM speed which I screenshotted after I made the change.

 

[JAKEBAB]

enable xmp profile?

[Bonsai99]

Enable XMP

 

Damn a few seconds behind the person above.

[MrTomnus]

enable xmp profile?

 

 

Enable XMP

 

Damn a few seconds behind the person above.

 

Okay, I'll give that a go. brb

[MrTomnus]

@JAKEBAB @Bonsai99 It didn't work...

 

I tried enabling XMP and both changing the DRAM frequency to DDR3 1600MHz and leaving the setting on Auto, but both times it didn't boot to Windows and came up with the message. When I disabled XMP it booted

 

[PassionFruit]

Change the RAM frequency? It's on auto there.

[MrTomnus]

Change the RAM frequency? It's on auto there.

 

I tried enabling XMP and both changing the DRAM frequency to DDR3 1600MHz and leaving the setting on Auto, but both times it didn't boot to Windows

[mk005]

Make sure it's set to the correct voltage (1.65 volts in most cases, double check this please).  It's possible that it's running at 1.5 volts and simply not stable at 1600 mhz.  If it's not running at it's rated frequency at it's rated timings and voltage, it may be defective.

 

Got a part number for it? Someone could take a look at the manual for you. 

 

 

edit: others more experienced than I with Haswell have mentioned that 1.65 volts is too much.  If your ram is meant to run at this voltage but your processor can't take it we may have found the answer to your problem.

[Akolyte]

Under XMP if you click it, it should show profile #1.  Click that, that will change the voltage and all that to the memory's rated one.  If it still doesnt work try run a memory test or find out if its your motherboard.  Overclocking your Haswell cpu can also cause high speed memory to be unstable. 

[Createinator]

-snip-

When buying RAM for Haswell based PC, please ensure that the rated voltage of your RAM is 1.5V, as higher rated RAMs will always be throttled due to undervolting. Yes, you can change the voltage in your UEFI bios but it is not recommended if you are not comfortable in dealing with any problem that may arise due to said changes.

Hope it helps!

[Faceman]

1.65 is too high for Haswell, the normal is 1.5v.  Disregard what that other guy said.

[MrTomnus]

Make sure it's set to the correct voltage (1.65 volts in most cases, double check this please).  It's possible that it's running at 1.5 volts and simply not stable at 1600 mhz.  If it's not running at it's rated frequency at it's rated timings and voltage, it may be defective.

 

Got a part number for it? Someone could take a look at the manual for you. 

 

 

edit: others more experienced than I with Haswell have mentioned that 1.65 volts is too much.  If your ram is meant to run at this voltage but your processor can't take it we may have found the answer to your problem.

 

Under XMP if you click it, it should show profile #1.  Click that, that will change the voltage and all that to the memory's rated one.  If it still doesnt work try run a memory test or find out if its your motherboard.  Overclocking your Haswell cpu can also cause high speed memory to be unstable. 

 

 

When buying RAM for Haswell based PC, please ensure that the rated voltage of your RAM is 1.5V, as higher rated RAMs will always be throttled due to undervolting. Yes, you can change the voltage in your UEFI bios but it is not recommended if you are not comfortable in dealing with any problem that may arise due to said changes.

Hope it helps!

 

 

1.65 is too high for Haswell, the normal is 1.5v.  Disregard what that other guy said.

 

Had a look and I'm sure it's trying to run at 1.5V. Here are screenshots:

 

 

The model number is also shown, I'll have a quick look at it.

 

 

What is the difference between SPD speed and tested speed?? This might be the problem...

[Faceman]

Had a look and I'm sure it's trying to run at 1.5V. Here are screenshots:

 

Capture3.PNG

Capture1.PNG

Capture.PNG

 

The model number is also shown, I'll have a quick look at it.

 

Capture4.PNG

 

What is the difference between SPD speed and tested speed?? This might be the problem...

Update your motherboard's BIOS?  Tried that yet?

[MrTomnus]

Update your motherboard's BIOS?  Tried that yet?

I'll give it a go. I'll post the result in a minute

[Faceman]

@MrTomnus

 

Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much if your memory isn't performing at 1600mhz.  The difference between 1333Mhz and 1600Mhz is a fraction of a percent.  Yes, it is ideal to be in that 1600mhz, 9-9-9-24, 1.5v sweet spot, but the performance difference isn't even noticeable.  I would still try to get it to work as it should, but if you can't, don't lose sleep over it.

[Faceman]

I'll give it a go. I'll post the result in a minute

Oh dude, if you haven't updated your BIOS that could be the culprit right there.

[MrTomnus]

Oh dude, if you haven't updated your BIOS that could be the culprit right there.

Haha... Okay I just assumed it worked fine so I left it. There's been a recent update anyway so I might as well. Funnily enough it improves memory compatibility! Just plug a USB drive in and find the BIOS install option, yeah?

[Faceman]

Haha... Okay I just assumed it worked fine so I left it. There's been a recent update anyway so I might as well. Funnily enough it improves memory compatibility! Just plug a USB drive in and find the BIOS install option, yeah?

Look online, the most recent BIOS version will be found online.

[MrTomnus]

Look online, the most recent BIOS version will be found online.

Yup, found it. Will install it right now!

[MrTomnus]

@Faceman it hasn't worked updated to latest BIOS version, tried turning XMP on and both changing the RAM frequency to DDR3 1600 and leaving it on Auto. Then I turned XMP off and changed the frequency to DDR3 1600 but that didn't work either. It only boots in Auto with XMP off

[Faceman]

@Faceman it hasn't worked updated to latest BIOS version, tried turning XMP on and both changing the RAM frequency to DDR3 1600 and leaving it on Auto. Then I turned XMP off and changed the frequency to DDR3 1600 but that didn't work either. It only boots in Auto with XMP off

I have no idea then.  Check online, see if other people have had similar issues with this mobo and memory combo?

[MrTomnus]

I have no idea then.  Check online, see if other people have had similar issues with this mobo and memory combo?

Okay, well thank you for at least telling me to update the BIOS

[Faceman]

Okay, well thank you for at least telling me to update the BIOS

Np, and really, don't worry.  You aren't missing out on any performance.  Check out this benchmark that shows all of the different RAM timings/Mhz and how their performance compares.  From 1333 to 3000Mhz its ~2% difference, and from 1333 to 1600mhz the difference is less than a full %.

 

RAM speeds and timings are so irrelevant when paired with Haswell and a dedicated GPU that getting the least expensive kit of 8GB is the way to go.  Even though your RAM is only showing 1333Mhz, you aren't missing out on anything.

[Createinator]

Had a look and I'm sure it's trying to run at 1.5V. Here are screenshots:

 

Capture3.PNG

Capture1.PNG

Capture.PNG

 

The model number is also shown, I'll have a quick look at it.

 

Capture4.PNG

 

What is the difference between SPD speed and tested speed?? This might be the problem...

Exactly, your RAM is running at 1.5V because that is how much Voltage your CPU gives your RAM. If your RAM is getting lower Voltage than rated it will not perform at its optimal capacity which means it is being undervolted. You can increase the Voltage manually to its rated capacity which will make it perform at 1600Mhz. Although, the difference of 2-3 Mhz is so miniscule that you will never be able to tell the difference.

[MrTomnus]

Np, and really, don't worry.  You aren't missing out on any performance.  Check out this benchmark that shows all of the different RAM timings/Mhz and how their performance compares.  From 1333 to 3000Mhz its ~2% difference, and from 1333 to 1600mhz the difference is less than a full %.

 

RAM speeds and timings are so irrelevant when paired with Haswell and a dedicated GPU that getting the least expensive kit of 8GB is the way to go.  Even though your RAM is only showing 1333Mhz, you aren't missing out on anything.

 

 

Exactly, your RAM is running at 1.5V because that is how much Voltage your CPU gives your RAM. If your RAM is getting lower Voltage than rated it will not perform at its optimal capacity which means it is being undervolted. You can increase the Voltage manually to its rated capacity which will make it perform at 1600Mhz. Although, the difference between 2-3 Mhz is so miniscule that you will never be able to tell the difference.

 

I understand that there's not much of a difference, but if I purchased a product that doesn't work as advertised, then I'm not getting what I paid for. When building my rig I, specifically made sure to get a 1600MHz C9 kit that runs at that spec at 1.5V because of the power limits on the LGA 1150 platform. I could have saved £10-15 if I got a 1333MHz kit. I'll get the box out of the loft and double check, then I'll contact Corsair and see what they can do. Thank you for your help though