Help with new build

[Gargone77]

I've built a new(ish) PC for a friend, but I'm having a problem with RAM.  Specs:

Asus A88XM-A mobo

AMD A6-7400K

G.Skill ARES 2X4GB DDR3 2133

Kingston A400 120GB SSD

Corsair VS400 PSU

Hyper TX3 co

I realize now that this APU supports only 1866 RAM, Not 2133...but that isn't the issue.  What's happening, is that if I put the two ram stick in the alternating slots, for dual-channel mode, the system is completely unstable.  Sometimes it won't finish booting windows, other times it will last 5 mins, but it WILL freeze up.

 

However, if I put the two sticks next to each other, everything is stable and runs fine.  I could just give it to him this way, and it would probably be ok, since he's only using it for light tasks like browsing, or printing up flyers.  But it's bothering me that I can't have dual-channel, since the VRAM is basically shared system RAM.  I would like to have the RAM access as fast as possible for this reason.

 

Anyone have any experience with this board or APU?  Any insight as to why this would be?  I tried putting 2X4GB DDR3 1333 HyperX Fury in the dual channel slots from my personal computer, with exactly the same results.  Also, the RAM passed memtest x86+ with no issues, even in the dual channel slots.  I'm at a loss here.

[brob]

There are four memory slots from the cpu out: A1, A2, B1, B2. Have you tried both A1/B1 and A2/B2? If so, do both configurations cause problems?

 

How long has memtest86+ been run on each configuration?

[Gargone77]

Well, I set the voltage and timings instead of leaving them on auto, and now it seems to be stable.  I noticed that speccy is saying single channel no matter where I put the sticks, but everything is stable, and snappy.  Auto voltage was saying 1.65, RAM packaging says 1.6, but that's not an option on the board, so 1.65 it is.  I only ran memtest with the sticks in A slots, didn't run the test with them in B slots.

[WindirBear]

I think the motherboard dictates your memory frequencies. 

Make sure the bios is updated

[brob]

2 hours ago, Gargone77 said:

Well, I set the voltage and timings instead of leaving them on auto, and now it seems to be stable.  I noticed that speccy is saying single channel no matter where I put the sticks, but everything is stable, and snappy.  Auto voltage was saying 1.65, RAM packaging says 1.6, but that's not an option on the board, so 1.65 it is.  I only ran memtest with the sticks in A slots, didn't run the test with them in B slots.

One stick in A, one stick in matching B is required for dual channel.

 

The BIOS should have an XMP setting for memory. You might try that instead of auto. The profile(s) should provide stable memory operation.

[Gargone77]

Update 2:

 

When I woke up this morning and checked on the computer...I was greeted by an Asus logo and 1/2 of a Windows 10 spinner...  dang.

 

I downloaded CPU-Z and got rid of Speccy.  CPU-Z says I'm in dual-channel now, but obviously not stable since it crashed overnight.

 

I don't see anything called XMP in this bios, isn't XMP an Intel thing?  I DO however see D.O.C.P. profiles 1 & 2.  However, setting either option there sets the RAM to 2134 or 2133, and windows won't even finish booting with that enabled.  So I set it back to 1866, set voltage to 1.65V, and let the timings be on auto.  It booted to windows, and stayed running for the 10 mins it took me to finish getting ready for work.  Guess I'll see if it's still running when I get home again.

 

Also, updated to newest bios, as it was a few versions behind.  Did this after the first couple of crashes, and before posting here.  version 3001 says "improved system stability"...sure ya did.

 

This is frustrating, as I've built 6 computers without anything similar to this happening before...never used an A-series APU before, but didn't anticipate any issues. =(

[brob]

1 hour ago, Gargone77 said:

Update 2:

 

When I woke up this morning and checked on the computer...I was greeted by an Asus logo and 1/2 of a Windows 10 spinner...  dang.

 

I downloaded CPU-Z and got rid of Speccy.  CPU-Z says I'm in dual-channel now, but obviously not stable since it crashed overnight.

 

I don't see anything called XMP in this bios, isn't XMP an Intel thing?  I DO however see D.O.C.P. profiles 1 & 2.  However, setting either option there sets the RAM to 2134 or 2133, and windows won't even finish booting with that enabled.  So I set it back to 1866, set voltage to 1.65V, and let the timings be on auto.  It booted to windows, and stayed running for the 10 mins it took me to finish getting ready for work.  Guess I'll see if it's still running when I get home again.

 

Also, updated to newest bios, as it was a few versions behind.  Did this after the first couple of crashes, and before posting here.  version 3001 says "improved system stability"...sure ya did.

 

This is frustrating, as I've built 6 computers without anything similar to this happening before...never used an A-series APU before, but didn't anticipate any issues. =(

Sorry about the XMP mixup. If neither of the DOCP profiles work then I would suspect that the memory kit is bad. If not then it's a motherboard issue.

[Gargone77]

7 minutes ago, brob said:

Sorry about the XMP mixup. If neither of the DOCP profiles work then I would suspect that the memory kit is bad. If not then it's a motherboard issue.

I'll try my HyperX ram in it with DOCP profiles tonight, assuming it fails during the day today...

[Gargone77]

Update 3:

 

I wish I had good news, but that's not the case.  I tried some HyperX Fury DDR3 1333 2x4GB, same results.  Tried some G.Skill Ripjaws DDR3 1600 2X2GB, no change.  Tried each set in each of the dual channels, no change.  Swapped out for an old HP PSU I had laying around, and thought I had solved the problem...then it froze again.  Put the ARES sticks back in, single channel mode...been streaming youtube for over an hour without a hiccup.  I tried DOCP profiles with the ARES and Ripjaws, played with different settings all over the BIOS.  I'm out of ideas.  All 4 DIMM slots seem to work exactly the same, the problem was occuring before I added the PCI-E wifi card, and no other peripherals attached.  I'm at the point of just finishing this thing up and giving it to my friend as it is now....stable.

 

Thanks for trying to help me out, folks.  I really appreciate your responses.

[brob]

Can the motherboard be exchanged?

[Gargone77]

No, picked up the mobo and processor used.  Wish I had another to test with.

[Gargone77]

so, here's something interesting...I booted up Debian Live from USB, just out of curiosity.  RAM in dual channel mode....and it was flawless.  Over an hour of browsing, streaming youtube, etc.  No glitches, no freezing, nothing.  rebooted to windows...didn't get past the lock screen.   I tried installing AMD chipset drivers right from AMD, thinking that may have been the issue...no luck.  Obviously a problem with windows somehow.

[brob]

Just now, Gargone77 said:

so, here's something interesting...I booted up Debian Live from USB, just out of curiosity.  RAM in dual channel mode....and it was flawless.  Over an hour of browsing, streaming youtube, etc.  No glitches, no freezing, nothing.  rebooted to windows...didn't get past the lock screen.   I tried installing AMD chipset drivers right from AMD, thinking that may have been the issue...no luck.  Obviously a problem with windows somehow.

Have you tried reinstalling Windows?

[Gargone77]

17 hours ago, brob said:

Have you tried reinstalling Windows?

at least a couple times, LOL