Issue with G.Skill TridentZ DDR 4 32Gb 3600 Kit

[Homewrecker]

I'm running the RVIE with an i9 7940X and 32Gb of G.Skill TridentZ RGB DDR4 (4 x 8GB) 288-Pin 3600 (PC4 28800) P/N F4-3600C16Q-32GTZR Memory.

I've updated the Bios to 0802 as well. The board Posts fine and defaults to a 2133Mhz 1.20V memory setting. With everything else left at default settings I change the Ai Overclock Tuner setting to 'XMP'. The memory specs are detected just fine - 3603 at 16-16-16-36, 1.35V.

When I save and restart, the Post hangs with the display code on the board reading "Code AF: Detect Memory". I have to clear the CMOS and it Posts just fine back into the Bios with the original default 2133Mhz 1.20V setting.

I installed all 4 modules as per the instructions in the motherboard manual (DIMM B1, A1, C1, D1 slots). With XMP enabled I manually override the frequency and can't get past 2800Mhz.

The next step up is 2933Mhz. When I try that frequency the board hangs during POST with "Code AF: Detect Memory". I have to clear the CMOS to get it to boot back to default settings.

I then tried each module individually installed in the DIMM C1 slot as per the manual. Each module behaved the same way. I could not get past 2800Mhz and each one made the Motherboard hang during POST if set to 2933Mhz or higher. The same POST code also appears - "Code AF: Detect Memory".

In the past all one would have to do is bump up the DRAM voltage slightly but from everyone that has posted on the ASUS forums they have no issue with this kit running at 1.35V.

I'm tempted to RMA this kit.
Is there another setting in the BIOS I should change to make this kit work or could this be a bad kit?

Note: This Kit is on the ASUS DRAM qualified vendor list as well.

[Raja]

Your CPU prefers lower "uncore voltage"

[Shamino]

i agree that you shdnt need to mess around at stock but without trying stuff cant really tell whats at fault. it does seem to behave like some temp sensitive CPUs under LN2 cooling which points toward the cpu.
the low uncore becos you said it happens at 2133 so i would start testing at 2133
sounds like this: set ai tuner to manual or xmp but set dram ratio to 2133 and reboot and hang.

but maybe start from clean scratch
latest bios = 1002, latest oled f/w from website updated
remove AC power and let mobo drain completely for like a minute.
plug in sound card
connect ac power after plugging in sound card.
clear cmos and power on.
set xmp but set dram ratio 2133
keep resetting and see if hang.
if yes:
set aux2/input reset volt/preemphasis/uncore voltage offset as stated
keep resetting
if hang still:
set bclk to 99.5mhz
keep resetting
another thought was that plugging in the soundcard with standby power still coming in could have caused it.

[Homewrecker]

Shamino wrote:
i agree that you shdnt need to mess around at stock but without trying stuff cant really tell whats at fault. it does seem to behave like some temp sensitive CPUs under LN2 cooling which points toward the cpu.
the low uncore becos you said it happens at 2133 so i would start testing at 2133
sounds like this: set ai tuner to manual or xmp but set dram ratio to 2133 and reboot and hang.

but maybe start from clean scratch
latest bios = 1002, latest oled f/w from website updated
remove AC power and let mobo drain completely for like a minute.
plug in sound card
connect ac power after plugging in sound card.
clear cmos and power on.
set xmp but set dram ratio 2133
keep resetting and see if hang.
if yes:
set aux2/input reset volt/preemphasis/uncore voltage offset as stated
keep resetting
if hang still:
set bclk to 99.5mhz
keep resetting
another thought was that plugging in the soundcard with standby power still coming in could have caused it.

After a day and a half of working fine the problem is back. It seems like it happena in random cycles. I was in windows, everything was fine. I selected re-start after installation of some software and there is the "Code AF: Detect Memory" again. Then I sometimes get a "check CMOS" message and alsa a "check NVRAM" message. I reset the cmos more times than I can count and still the same damn thing. I set aux2/input reset volt/preemphasis/uncore voltage offset as stated by Shamino with the same results.

To be honest, this is getting ridiculous. I've never had so many issues with a Rampage series board. Granted, these are 'enthusiast' boards but simply trying to get the board running with the memory at the rated speed after making all sorts of adjustments is just getting out of hand. I haven't even attempted to OC the CPU. Who knows what problems await there.

I'm taking the board back to the store to get tested. I'm past the 14 day exchange window by 1 day but there is a 30 day period for manufacturer's defects.

[Homewrecker]

Thanks for your reply Shamino. The first time I plugged in the soundcard I made sure the PSU was off and power drained.
I got everything working again. This time I installed the soundcard with the PSU power still ON (I don't normally do that) after windows shut down. It started up no problem.
I also added a second GTX 980 in SLI to see if that would trigger another failure. Everything still worked fine.

I then switched to the second BIOS which only had one change - the uncore voltage set 0.440V. It booted fine as well. I then switched back to the #1 BIOS which had the changes you recommended last; Receiver DQ Pre-emphasis etc. and the uncore voltage set at 0.001V. It booted fine there as well.

I then removed the second GTX 980 and it booted fine. I then removed the soundcard and booted fine as well. I re-installed the soundcard again and still fine. I have not been able to induce the fault again.

I've been using the 1002 BIOS for the last few days now. This issue appears to be really random and I can't wrap my head around it.
Once in Windows I ran Realbench and Cinebench and everything worked fine. I also ran the ASUS stress test for a few minutes with no issues.

I'll keep testing and see what happens. I'm fairly certain now the CPU and RAM are working properly which was a big concern at the beginning of all of this.

[Homewrecker]

The build from Hell continues. The store had no i9 79XX cpus in stock to test with. Got a refund on the board and they ordered another one. There's supposed to be 5 coming in from the distributor. In case the issue does end up being CPU related I will exchange it as well.

I remember when building was fun lol. This isn't fun anymore; especially when the board, CPU and RAM come to almost $4K.

[Raja]

The toughest thing to tune on a system is memory. If you favor plug and play, stick with a memory kit rated at a lower speed.

[Homewrecker]

This is beyond basic tuning IMO. Other people have reported using the same memory kit with no issues. I don't mind playing with BIOS settings and am far from being a 'Plug and Play' person but having to jump through so many hoops just to get the system to boot is a little ridiculous. At times the system wouldn't even boot at the default speed of 2133Mhz. Hopefully the next board will yield better / more stable behavior.

[Raja]

Homewrecker wrote:
This is beyond basic tuning IMO. Other people have reported using the same memory kit with no issues. I don't mind playing with BIOS settings and am far from being a 'Plug and Play' person but having to jump through so many hoops just to get the system to boot is a little ridiculous. At times the system wouldn't even boot at the default speed of 2133Mhz. Hopefully the next board will yield better / more stable behavior.

You are corerct that memory tuning is far from basic. The faster the kit, the more complicated it can be.

[Homewrecker]

Raja@ASUS wrote:
You are corerct that memory tuning is far from basic. The faster the kit, the more complicated it can be.

The fact that it won't even boot at default settings of 2133Mhz would indicate there has to be a problem somewhere especially after countless CMOS resets.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions Raja & Shamino. Once I get the new board I'll post back on what the results were.

[Homewrecker]

Update:

Finally got another board (took almost 3 weeks). Using the same memory & CPU everything works perfectly without a hiccup. Set Overclock to XMP and no issues with the Memory running at 3600Mhz. No random POST codes or anything else.

The BIOS that came with the board this time was 802. I updated it to 1004 right away.

It's safe to say there was an issue with the first board.