Defective RAM?

[lithium_6]

I need some help with my RAM settings.

 

I purchased a kit of Corsair DDR4 2x8GB 3200MHz (CMK16GX4M2B3200C16). I already had one these kits installed so now I have 32GB but I’m running into some errors in memtest86.

 

If I apply the XMP Profile 1 3200 MHz and run the test I get several errors into the first past. If I disable XMP and leave the speed at 2933 memtest86 finishes without any errors.

 

So basically these are my results

 

XMP Profile 1 2933 MHz DRAM Voltage (CH A/B) Auto: Fail

 

XMP Profile 1 3200 MHz DRAM Voltage (CH A/B) 1.35V: Fail

 

XMP disabled 2933 MHz DRAM Voltage (CH A/B) Auto: OK

 

XMP disabled 2933 MHz DRAM Voltage (CH A/B) 1.35V: OK

 

XMP disabled 3200 MHz DRAM Voltage (CH A/B) 1.35V: 

 

XMP disabled 3200 MHz DRAM Voltage (CH A/B) Auto: Fail

 

My system specs are:

Gigabyte B450m DSH3

Ryzen 5 2600

Sapphire Pulse RX580 8GB

Gigabyte PB500

 

I’m wondering if my new RAM is defective or it just an issue with the maximum RAM speed supported by my R5 2600 (up to 2933MHz).

 

To my understanding RAM can perform up to the manufactures specs if the rest of the system components allowed and it is not considered defective if it can perform correctly below the manufacture specs. Correct me if I’m wrong.

[SpookyCitrus]

If it failed in Memtest there is definitely an incompatibility or an issue with one of the kits. I would test both kits separately. Most likely there is just an incompatibility causing the kits to not work together. It's pretty common with DDR4 even if you buy the exact same memory kit model and speeds there is no guarantee that two separate kits will work together. I see it almost weekly at my shop and it's a very commonly posted about issue on here. My advice is to sell the kits and buy ONE kit that has the exact amount of modules and ram you need/want, mix matching ram even using two identical kits is a risk unless they have been tested by the factory and guaranteed to work together.

[lithium_6]

Quick update, I just tested my original kit and it fails when I go over 2933 MHz I have running that kit 

[StDragon]

Depending on the RAM specifications, you might only be able to populate two DIMM slots and not all four at the desired speeds.

 

https://download.gigabyte.com/FileList/Memory/mb_memory_b450m-ds3h_pinnacle.pdf

Edited July 6, 2021 by StDragon

[SpookyCitrus]

4 minutes ago, lithium_6 said:

Quick update, I just tested my original kit and it fails when I go over 2933 MHz I have running that kit 

Well your motherboard also only supports up to 2933mhz correct? That's kind of a given that it may not work passed that if it even lets you select a faster speed in bios.

[lithium_6]

Yes, 2933 MHz has worked fine with the original 16GB (2x8GB).
 

I think is not defective, might be just an incompatibility with with my MB. 2933 MHz is working fine and according to AMD specs that is the maximum ram speed for my 2600.

 

Perhaps I should follow your advice, for now I’m just going to run it at 2933 with XMP disabled and sell it in the future or maybe if I upgrade my system later in the road with new specs that incompatibility disappears

[lithium_6]

Thanks for the help, just a quick update.

 

Finally got my ram to run stable. For some reason my motherboard was doing 1.2v even with XMP enabled, so I enabled XMP Profile 1 (3200 Mhz 16-18-18-36) and manually increased the voltage to 1.35V. After that it was stable.

 

I don't know why my MB was pushing only 1.2V but that seemed to be the issue. Perhaps down the road I will take my time and start playing with timings.