M6E memory problem

[Hopper64]

Putting together this M6E with G.SKILL Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2800 (PC3 22400) Desktop Memory Model F3-2800C12D-16GTXDG and I ran memtest 4.20. I had 66 errors within 5 minutes with XMP profile selected running at 2800. No OS installed yet. I also received an error message on boot than overclocking had failed and to select F1 to change the bios. I ran memtest again at the default 1333 with no errors. Tested each stick of memory individually at 1333 with no problems. I don't have room on this MB to install the included fan with the memory. Do I need to RMA, or add more cooling to the memory modules? I have a 900d by Corsair with fans everywhere and using a i7 4770k with no overclocking yet. Cooling the CPU with h100i. Thanks for the help.

[Raja]

DDR3-2800 is tricky for some CPUs to get stable my friend. XMP is no guarantee that a kit will be 100% stable at these kid of frequencies.

Your journey getting that kit stable will be more difficult still if you overclock the processor as well. I found 1-2 CPUs in every 10 I binned that could hold DRAM speeds over DDR3-2400 with the processor and ring bus overclocked past 4.5GHz.

I might be able to help with some of the DRAM timings, or we'll have to run slower than DDR3-2800. You can also try loading the memory profile for that kit in the DRAM section or using the IC optimizer if you know which ICs are on the kit (will be Samsung or Hynix.)

-Raja

[Shamino]

are u using the red slots for these 2 sticks?

[Hopper64]

I'm using only the black slots for these 2 sticks. I didn't think the machine would boot any other way. This is the memory configuration recommended in the manual.

I will call gskill later today to see if they have a set of memory parameters I can enter into the bios manually (or if Raja has a recommendation for this, please post and I will try it at a lower speed), but my primary concern is whether this kit is defective. DId I get all those errors in memtest only because of overclocking to 2800? That's my biggest question. I could get used to a lower memory speed, just not 1333 of course.

Thanks to both of you for your help.

[Raja]

Sticks can be faulty, but the IMC not coping with DDR3-2800 or settings needing tuning can manifest as the same thing.

-Raja

[Hopper64]

That's what I thought. I will hold on the RMA a few days and see if I can't get this to work at a lower frequency. Thanks for your help. Any suggestion on the settings I should use?

[Shamino]

I'm using only the black slots for these 2 sticks. I didn't think the machine would boot any other way. This is the memory configuration recommended in the manual.
'Wrong - red sticks recommended during OC'
2800=OC

[RTS001]

Yea, I always thought you started with the red slots first??? Thus the reason they were colored this way?

[Hopper64]

Thanks Shamino. I did reinstall the 2 memory modules to the 2 red slots and the machine did boot, but after selecting XMP in the bios, I received another overclock failure and had to go down to the default 1333. I don't know why the manual says to use the 2 black slots. On page 1-10, it's recommended to use A2 and B2, the 2 black slots. ??? Thanks for your help. Any suggestions on what frequency to run these at, and what settings? Thanks again.

[Shamino]

try selecting xmp and changing dram freq manually to 2666 first