Need help with ram speeds - 2x 32GB Ram 3600 OC with a Z390-E

[Daarkth]

Hi there!

I'm having problems when trying to enable the XMP 2 profile with my new memory. I've recently upgraded from

2x 16GB GSkill 3200 CL14 (F4-3200-C14D-16GTZR)

to

2x 32GB GSkill 3600 CL18 (F4-3600C18D-64GTZR)

 

The desktop has an i7 8700K, Asus Rog Strix Z390-E and RTX3080. The Bios Version is 0602 (2018).

My motherboard is listed in the manufacturers QVL https://www.gskill.com/product/165/166/1582537336/F4-3600C18D-64GTZR

 

Before upgrading I could run XMP 2.0 profile without issues, when doing so with the new modules the Bios fails on post.

It does runs fine at default bios settings or when I try using the XMP2.0 and manually lowering the Frequency to 3200MHZ instead (I'm attaching some captures of CPUZ running with those settings)
 

Any ideas on how to reach the 3600MHZ?

Would you suggest trying the XMP2.0 settings for 3600MHZ and adjusting smaller higher values on the Voltage (+1.35V) or maybe upgrading the BIOS to the latest version (there has been several DRAM combatibility upgrades since 0602)?

 

Thanks a lot in advance

 

[Hairless Monkey Boy]

Try getting the latest BIOS first. You should also check what your motherboard is setting for the VCCSA and VCCIO voltages.

 

8700K officially supports only up to DDR4-2666, so you might just have a weak IMC.

[Alex Atkin UK]

1 minute ago, Hairless Monkey Boy said:

Try getting the latest BIOS first. You should also check what your motherboard is setting for the VCCSA and VCCIO voltages.

 

8700K officially supports only up to DDR4-2666, so you might just have a weak IMC.

Agreed, I think 3200 is about the sweet-spot anyway for 8th gen.

[Heliian]

Just had a quick look at your mobo qvl for memory and they never validated it with 32gb modules of any speed.

 

You could try to manually input the timings in bios and see where that goes. 

[Hairless Monkey Boy]

1 minute ago, Heliian said:

Just had a quick look at your mobo qvl for memory and they never validated it with 32gb modules of any speed.

 

You could try to manually input the timings in bios and see where that goes. 

Oh yeah, I didn't notice it was 32GB modules. For some reason I saw 16GB upgrade to 32GB, but now I see that the upgrade is to 64GB.

 

In that case, this will be quite a strain on the IMC. So my comment on a "weak IMC" may not be warranted.

 

I have the same recommendation, though. Update the BIOS and check the VCCSA and VCCIO voltages. I doubt it is, but if the motherboard is setting them relatively low, then it might make sense to try increasing them manually. My Z390 Asus board always set them too high, though.

[Daarkth]

9 minutes ago, Hairless Monkey Boy said:

Oh yeah, I didn't notice it was 32GB modules. For some reason I saw 16GB upgrade to 32GB, but now I see that the upgrade is to 64GB.

 

In that case, this will be quite a strain on the IMC. So my comment on a "weak IMC" may not be warranted.

 

I have the same recommendation, though. Update the BIOS and check the VCCSA and VCCIO voltages. I doubt it is, but if the motherboard is setting them relatively low, then it might make sense to try increasing them manually. My Z390 Asus board always set them too high, though.

Thanks everyone for the answers.

 

I will update the Bios to the latest version.

Where should I check the VCCSA and VCCIO voltages? In case I need to adjust them manually will I need to deactivate XMP 2? I'm pretty new to manual OC.

[Hairless Monkey Boy]

4 minutes ago, Daarkth said:

Where should I check the VCCSA and VCCIO voltages?

Just scroll down in the AI Tweaker tab. VCCSA might be called something like "System Agent Voltage".

 

4 minutes ago, Daarkth said:

In case I need to adjust them manually will I need to deactivate XMP 2?

No, you can adjust them independently. No need to disable XMP.

5 minutes ago, Daarkth said:

I'm pretty new to manual OC.

No problem 

[Daarkth]

Happy to replay that the BIOS update to the latest version 2004 (2021) did the trick and the XMP 2 is working as intented now @3600MHZ C18.

The VCCSA is 1.408V
The VCCIO is 1.328V

DRam is stable at 1.35V with the XMP 2 defaults

 

Should I worry about those values?

Thanks a lot! 

[Hairless Monkey Boy]

On 6/28/2022 at 6:34 AM, Daarkth said:

Happy to replay that the BIOS update to the latest version 2004 (2021) did the trick and the XMP 2 is working as intented now @3600MHZ C18.

The VCCSA is 1.408V
The VCCIO is 1.328V

DRam is stable at 1.35V with the XMP 2 defaults

 

Should I worry about those values?

VCCSA is a bit high. I usually don't recommend going any higher than 1.35V, and usually around 1.25V is enough for stability. VCCIO is usually fine to be the same or a bit lower than that.

 

I hesitate to tell you to lower them, because it could cause rare instability that is tricky to detect/troubleshoot. But if you are up to it with those caveats, lower them both to 1.3V or lower could be beneficial to the longevity of your CPU. Otherwise, don't worry about it.