Question How forgiving are Ryzen R3 1200 memory controllers?

[VirtualLarry]

I've got this friend, that I sold some parts to, that has the same GSKill DDR4-3000 16GB RAM kit that I do, in the same model Gigabyte motherboard. Mine works fine at XMP settings. His does not, it doesn't even work at 2666, it triple-posts while beeping, then restarts at default (2133) DRAM settings.

What am I doing wrong with his rig? He's not overclocking. I had him go to BIOS, "Load Optimized Defaults", and then go the MIT menu, "Advanced Memory settings", set XMP to "Profile 1", which should set Mem. Freq. to 3000, and Mem. Voltage to 1.35V (which it evidently does). But it won't POST at those settings, not even when manually set to 26.66 Memory Multiplier (2666Mhz DRAM).

I'm guessing that it's failing the "DRAM training" that Ryzen rigs do on boot, but why? Could the RAM simply be bad?

His mobo has F25 / AEGSA 1.0.0.6 (which for my ASRock boards, actually fixed a lot of memory-compatibility issues). My board has F21, which says "Optimized for Bristol Ridge". I have a Ryzen R5 1600 CPU though, not a 1200, so possibly binning plays a role here in DRAM freq. possible?

He has been getting BSODs and lots of browser tab-crashes in Firefox, which leads me to believe that the RAM has something to do with it.

PSU is a Rosewill 600W 80Plus Gold, that I'm also using in a mining PC right now, his was opened new for his rig. The DRAM was new or basically-new. Mobo was a refurb.

Was planning on getting him a new 16GB kit of DRAM, probably the Corsair 2933 16GB kit, or possibly the Team Vulcan Z 16GB kit.

 

[Ranulf]

Larry, check out some of Tech Yes City's cheap used build videos. He has several from the last 2-3 years, it might give you some ideas. Definately sounds like your problem is mobo bios releated.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Well, I didn't actually sell him the PC pre-built,

Sounds like a bad situation for you. You probably should have pre-built the system and tested it before selling anything. Would be interested to know if Ryzen Memory Calculator could save the day here.

 

[scannall]

Quite frankly, this guy is abusing you and your good nature. No matter what you do for people like that it will never be enough.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Larry, check out some of Tech Yes City's cheap used build videos. He has several from the last 2-3 years, it might give you some ideas. Definately sounds like your problem is mobo bios releated.

Friend doesn't want used, friend wants new. Complained about me using refurb mobo to meet price point.

I tested the same BIOS revision that's on his board, on my identical-model board, with my identical-model (same batch) RAM, and I had no problems.

 

[Hans Gruber]

Friend doesn't want used, friend wants new. Complained about me using refurb mobo to meet price point.

I tested the same BIOS revision that's on his board, on my identical-model board, with my identical-model (same batch) RAM, and I had no problems.

Which begs the question about your friend. He is using you and probably lying about issues to take advantage of your personal warranty.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I looked at my Newegg History, this appears to be the kit of RAM, that works in my Gigabyte X370-Gaming, but doesn't work in his, on BIOS F25 (PinnaclePI-AGESA 1.0.0.6).

Are you a human?

www.newegg.com

Here's the mobo, let's check the QVL:

GA-AX370-Gaming (rev. 1.x) Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE U.S.A.

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

QVL is laughably short, last updated in 2017 for Summit Ridge, is only a page long, no GSKill 3000 RAM in list at all.

GA-AX370-Gaming (rev. 1.x) Support | Motherboard - GIGABYTE U.S.A.

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

Regardless, it works fine @ XMP 3000 settings in my board.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I do now seem to recall telling him that after he built his PC, he should do some diagnostics and make sure that it works OK. He basically shrugged it off, and said "diagnostics is YOUR job" (meaning, not his, the computer-builder). So I basically ignored him asking me to do it for him. He doesn't like "trudgery", but doesn't want to pay anyone to do it for him, either.

I've been trying to get him to make a Memtest86 boot USB for like a week now, he keeps shrugging it off, "too complicated".

 

[naukkis]

How is memory installed? Like is it in A1+B1 slots or in A1+A2. There's plenty of ways to install pair of memory wrong.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I told him when he built it to put it into slots 2 and 4, and I thought that he did. Another friend of mine told me to tell him to re-seat the RAM, and when I mentioned that, he was like, "can't you come over here and do that"?

 

[moinmoin]

Complained about me using refurb mobo to meet price point.

So he wants the cake and eat it too. As others already said he's not worth your time.

 

[Shmee]

Ya the guy seems like a jerk. I would avoid those kinds of customers. They just get more trouble than they are worth.

 

[B-Riz]

Ryzen 1xxx never really liked 3000 speed ram, I always had to set it to 2933. Try setting it to 2933 with Auto CAS settings and see if it boots.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Ryzen 1xxx never really liked 3000 speed ram, I always had to set it to 2933. Try setting it to 2933 with Auto CAS settings and see if it boots.

I basically knew that, my ASRock AB350M Pro4 board, with some Team Vulcan 8GB DDR4-3000 sticks, wouldn't run at 2933 or 3000 until AGESA 1.0.0.6.

But the same model kit of RAM, bought at the same time, in an identical model mobo at my place, now with the same BIOS revision as his is reporting, runs fine, that I can see, @ XMP 3000 speeds.

I had him try setting his speed (after setting XMP), to 2666, and it still didn't work right, wouldn't POST.

So at this point, I want him to run a bootable RAM diagnostic test.