MSI x58 Pro-E Triple Channel RAM not working

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

aymantg

New member
CORPORAL
Joined
Jul 31, 2009
Messages
13
I have the MSI x58 Pro-E with newly updated bios (version 8.3) and 3x1GB G-Skill RAM
Here is the RAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231229

Basically, I have cleared out the CMOS many times.  The bios is updated, etc.  However I only see 2GB of RAM in dual channel mode. When I go to the Memory info in the MB setup, I can see that DIMMS 1,3,5 are filled with the RAM modules.  WHY AM I ONLY GETTING 2GB? Any help is appreciated.  I'm about to return the RAM and get new ones unless someone can give me a good solution.

Thanks in advance.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Have you tried to instal your RAM to 2,4,6 slots? And check all RAM modules by plugin them one by one, i.e. plug just one GB, check Bios, then unplug this one and plug other (then PC is off) and etc.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
When I first got the motherboard I installed the RAM in slots 2,4,6 and the computer would do three shorts beeps.  Took me about an hour to figure out that it was not going to work that way and I had to use DIMM 1 in the configuration.  So that option is out of the question.

I will try to check the RAM one by one, but I doubt that one of the chips is not working properly because I've mixed and matched them a lot already.  When I go home, I will take all the RAM out and put one at a time and see what I get.

Thanks
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ok, I tried the RAM chips one by one and they work.  I tried slots 1 & 3 filled, they work.  I've tried slots 1&2 it works.  I've tried slot 5 alone, doesn't work, I've tried slot 3 & 5 and it only displays 1GB (half).

In the bios, I can see that the channel is active and there is nothing to demonstrate that the ram channel is bad.  One thing I noticed is that the timings are wrong.  When my kids sleep and let me open up my PC, I will go to the bios settings and put in the correct timings, maybe that would help.

Any help is appreciated.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Using 1,2,3 will defeat the purpose of using the triple channel mode.  I'm using 1,3,5 so that I can use triple channel. 
Or am I wrong?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
aymantg said:
Using 1,2,3 will defeat the purpose of using the triple channel mode.  I'm using 1,3,5 so that I can use triple channel. 
Or am I wrong?
Click to expand...

But you said you cannot get 3 GBs to be detected, if you can detect 3 GBs in slots 1, 2 & 3 the problem lies with the board or CPU.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
How would the problem be with the CPU? I never took that into account

I checked the BIOS settings, slots 1,3,5 report the same numbers indicating that the RAM is actually detected.  I changed the CAS latency 7-7-7-18 (which is what the RAM is).  I'm not sure if I did it right or not, but I'm still at 2GB.

What would be wrong with the motherboard?  The RAM is detected and there are no lights indicating that there is a DRAM problem.  Is it the brand?  Does anyone else have 3x1gb setup with GSkill or any other RAM brand?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
If the RAM doesn't show in bios or work correctly in the black slots A0 B0 & C0, then either a RAM module may be bad, or the board is bad, or the RAM speed & timings are out of wack. For starters, I would set the timings in Advanced DRAM Config. to 1N 9 9 9 24, Mem. Ratio to 4, Uncore Ratio to 8, leave DRAM V. to auto or 1.5v, & then check it. If that works, then change timings to 1N 8 8 8 21, Mem. Ratio 5, Uncore Ratio 10, DRAM V. 1.50v, or 1.55v, or 1.60v. Make sure Spread Spectrum is disabled & that the base clock is at 133.

Your PC3 10666 (1333 rated) modules are 1066 chipped & undertimed modules.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
My ram is 7-7-7-18 what would u suggest for the config?

And as I mentioned before I tried zcpu menu many times and all 3 slots are recognized
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
As for the screen shot, I have no webspace so I used yousendit.com  just follow the link and download the image.
https://download.yousendit.com/MnFockhRYTIwMEdGa1E9PQ

Notice I put some interesting things in the red box.  First look and you'll see CPU-Z recognizes there is 3GB of ram, windows and BIOS still do not.  Also, Slot 1 and 3 have the RAM information but slot 5 does not.  Instead, it is listed in slot 7! You'll also notice that it is set at dual channel.

I tried to manually set the CAS Latency stuff as the person suggested.  I would save the bios and then go back in and look at the Z Ram menu... it would still show 9-9-9-24.  The frequency would change, but that's all.

I'm very frustrated and I'm about to just return this RAM to new egg and get new ones that are CAS 9 and get it over with.

Feel more than welcome to post this image if you have your webspace, that way others can come to the forum and find a permanent link.

Also, again, with regards to the CPU issue, this is a i7 920.  Why would it not support this RAM configuration?  Are there different types of i7 920s that do and don't?  I'm not following.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I don't believe changing frequencies or timings will help with this.  The RAM timings not applying have nothing to do with the RAM itself.  It's either a BIOS bug or there is something wrong with your CPU's IMC.

Use one stick, and update to the latest BIOS.  If there isn't a newer one, reflash your current one.

aymantg said:
Also, again, with regards to the CPU issue, this is a i7 920.  Why would it not support this RAM configuration?  Are there different types of i7 920s that do and don't?  I'm not following.
Click to expand...

The CPU's IMC controls ALL memory related functions.  The BIOS merely configures - the NB no longer plays any part in memory operation.

You can host your images on photobucket.com.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Reflashed it with one stick of RAM and used the latest bios which was just released (8.5), same problem, I cannot change the timings.  Well, I can change them, but the BIOS does not reflect the change.

Also, whenever I reflash the BIOS, it does all these weird things and then it says something like "CMOS Check sum destroyed Program ended Normally"
Does that sound right? I was under the impression that it would ask me something like "Flashing done, please press any key to reboot"

Right now I have the three sticks in 1,2,3 and 2 of them are running dual channel while the other one is just giving me extra RAM.  I will keep it like this until I can get a proper solution. This is seriously frustrating.

Also, do you think that if I exchanged my RAM to 9-9-9-24 timings it might work?  What I mean is, I would return the RAM I bought, and exchange it with different RAM, same brand, size, etc, just different timings. Maybe if the timings match what the BIOS is forcing it will run triple channel mode.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
aymantg said:
My ram is 7-7-7-18 what would u suggest for the config?
Click to expand...

Your RAM is DDR3-1333 9-10-10-25 at 1.5V (Command Rate : 2T).
The "factory overclocked" profile (XMP) shows 1333MHz with 7-7-7-19 at 1.6V,
but I don't think you can get a long term stability with those settings.

You should try these settings:
- 1333MHz 9-9-9-24 (2T) at 1.55V
- 1333MHz 8-8-8-24 (2T) at 1.6V

good luck
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
aymantg said:
Also, do you think that if I exchanged my RAM to 9-9-9-24 timings it might work?
Click to expand...

I don't think it would, but you can always try.  The RAM seems fine in the other slots, that points to a CPU and/or board issue.

<hr>

IDEA!  What graphics card do you have?  How much RAM does it have?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I have an EVGA Nvidia 8600GT with 256 MB GDDR3 RAM.  It fits in the PCI Express slot.  I actually have two, but I don't have the SLI bridge to connect them.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
aymantg said:
I have an EVGA Nvidia 8600GT with 256 MB GDDR3 RAM.  It fits in the PCI Express slot.  I actually have two, but I don't have the SLI bridge to connect them.
Click to expand...

Ah, damn.  Exactly what are your full systems specs?

aymantg said:
Also, do you think my BIOS is flashing right... I posted the description earlier as to what it was doing.
Click to expand...

Go into the BIOS, load optimised defaults and it'll go away.  It's normal after a BIOS update.


Let me clarify something here, too.  Is Vista now showing 3 GBs of RAM in your current configuration?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top