Memory/mobo issue? Won't boot with with 4 sticks, will boot with any two in any slots

[CakeMonster]

I have a GA-Z170X-UD3 motherboard, and Kingston HyperX Fury 2666MHz 32GB (4x8GB) RAM. The memory kit is listed as approved in the mobo documentation.

My problem is that the motherboard won't boot with all 4 sticks. Or, well, it boots but the screen never turns on and it reboots/loops after 30+ secs. The BIOS led display on the mobo shows a ton of codes but it ends up at 55 (which is supposed to be memory issue) before rebooting.

So, I've tried all combinations of sticks. Any two sticks will work, in any two slots. Meaning, stick 1 and 3 in slot 0 and 2, stick 2 and 4 in slot 1 and 3, and so on. You get the idea. In my head this would indicate that the memory should be fine? I've also clocked the memory both at XMP 2666 and at 2133. No difference. I also tried overvolting it.

Any ideas? I've had it this way since buying the rig late last year, so I've also gone through all the BIOS updates in that time.

Edit: It did actually boot up with all sticks a few times in the beginning, completely at random. Which is why I've held out for so long. I couldn't find a pattern to it then and since then I have not gotten it to work.

 

[corkyg]

Are you installing memory in dual or single channel ode? Your manual has this caveat:

"Due to CPU limitations, read the following guidelines before installing the memory in Dual Channel mode.
1. Dual Channel mode cannot be enabled if only one memory module is installed.
2. When enabling Dual Channel mode with two or four memory modules, it is recommended that memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used and installed in the same colored sockets."

 

[CakeMonster]

Yes, sorry for being unclear. I meant to say that I've tried all the sticks in all the DC spots. In order to find out if one of the sticks or one of the slots were defective. So I tried stick 1 and 2 in slot 0+2, and then in slot 1+3. Then tried stick 3 and 4 in slot 0+2, and then in slot 1+3. Then tried stick 1 and 3 in slot 0+2, then in slot 1+3. Then tried stick 2 and 4 in slot 0+2, then in slot 1+3. Hope that helps.

The sticks are all from the same physical kit, and their SPD info read identical in CPU-ID.

 

[C1]

YUCK !!!

Forget it.

Look on Newegg and see that there are all kinds of problems with this MB many of which report similar to yours: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128840

AND THAT"S JUST ON THE FIRST PAGE !!!!!!!!!


Philip H.
1/25/2016 9:46:41 PM

UPDATE 2: I must say, I am THOROUGHLY FRUSTRATED!! I have spent all of the last three hours trying to install RAM to the 2nd set of slots for dual channel. The USB 3.0 works on the replacement board, but I can't install the RAM to the second set of slots! Mind you, I have been a part of a RAM upgrade process for a campus upgrading over 1500 PCs. I know how to install RAM. The first two slots work, but that kills the dual channel of capabilities of this board. I have interchangeably attempted to install the my two sets of RAM on slots 3 and 4 and neither of them work. RAM works with 1 and 2 slots only. This is my second board and I haven't even had a chance to send back the first board. Now I have to wait for yet another RMA. The time and expense required for this board simply isn't worth the hassle. Now I'll have to go through another time consuming RMA process and reinstall, yet again, another motherboard with only the HOPE that nothing's wrong with the next one. I, unfortunately, cannot return this because I initially thought the USB 3 issues with the first one were the fault of the devices I was using (all were newly purchased) and it's outside of return policy.


Dave K.
1/22/2016 10:34:50 AM

Cons: The second and much more serious problem is that two of the four DIMM slots do not work in my motherboard. I was able to test the RAM (I tried multiple different sets) and confirm the issue was with the motherboard itself. Whenever I try to use more than 2 slots of RAM, the computer will not post and it will be stuck in a boot loop until the additional RAM is removed. I consistently get an error code on the LED display "55" which is related to memory.


Timothy V.
1/16/2016 9:58:06 AM

Cons: Trying to install a quad channel DDR4 memory kit the motherboard will not pass POST, hangs on debug code 55 (memory initialization). After some testings I was able to pass POST with 2 DIMMs. After swapping the sticks and being able to repeat passing with the 2 prior unused DIMMs in the same slots but not the other slots I have concluded the motherboard had 2 faulty DIMM slots.


Andrew M.
1/13/2016 5:30:14 AM

Cons: This board will not post with 2 DDR4 DIMMS in dual channel mode. Have tried both channels and combination of DIMMS. It will only post with one DIMM. Otherwise error 55 which is memory initialization error. Updated to latest BETA bios with no change.


Brian R.
12/15/2015 5:23:55 PM

Cons: These motherboards are defective. They go into a continuous boot loop and do not post BIOS. I have tried DDR4-3200 and DDR4-3000 (G.Skill) that is certified by gigabyte to work. Nothing worked. Tried different power supplies and nothing worked. Tried booting the board with only the cpu and 1 stick of ram and it still continuously reboots with no post. I tried different memory slots. This is the second board in a row with this issue. Boards where properly mounted in my 750D Corsair case. Tried both boards with a brand new Intel i5 Skylake 6600K cpu. All parts new. Nothing worked. I have built a lot of computers and this was very disappointing. I have never had this bad of an issue.

 

[Blastman]

Is the command rate with 4 sticks ram being set to 1T or 2T?

Perhaps the default timings for 4 sticks were set too tight in the BIOS. If so, could possibly manually set lower timings.

 

[CakeMonster]

C1: Ouch. Not all of those match my problems exactly, since I can get my computer booting just fine... but not with all 4 slots. But indeed the issue is similar and it looks like many are experiencing it

Blastman: I've earlier tried to set XMP at 2666 which is the default, I believe that should include the rated command rate but I'm not 100% sure. I have also tried 2133 which 'should' have worked regardless? Or maybe not... Will look for this after work tomorrow and set it to the slowest one.

 

[C1]

There a few things in the BIOS I spotted to disable that you might try. Started making a list but when I saw Newegg user submittals I threw my list away as a board should not be so problematic. Seems to have quality and/or design issues.

The MB is designed to automatically recognize the installed memory and properly configure itself to run.

The couple things I remember (from the manual) are to disable fast boot & disable the logo splash. Try to turn down or off as much stuff as possible (eg, TPM). However, even if you are able to get the system to work, all evidence suggests at this point that this model board is problematic.

Also there may be some jumpers on the board that might be moved to try some different timings (didnt research that far since after seeing purchaser reviews, enthusiasm for solution in this matter was snuffed).

 

[Elixer]

Sounds like this board has a BIOS issue with the timings.
Quick look at their support page... http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5499#bios

F6 4.47 MB 2016/03/02 Improve DDR XMP compatibility

Might want to update the BIOS.

 

[CakeMonster]

Ok, some good news. After repeated tries with no booting, and a few hours of cursing, I did get it to boot with 4 sticks. That was after dialing everything back to 2133, no optimizations, no XMP, etc. Why it some times boots and some times not.. I have no idea. But right now it is stable at 2533(!). Not the rated speed that 2 sticks run fine at (2666), but I'll take it. Memtest completes a 2hr rund just fine. And I've rebooted the PC a number of times after settling on this, and it does boot up every time so far. Crossing fingers this will last....

I'm using the latest bios, I installed it right after it was released, as with pretty much every BIOS since I got the card. I have not tested this BIOS as heavily as the early ones, so it might have improved something. But I did test it when it was released 3 months ago and I gave up then...

I'm not investing in faster DDR4 with this mobo, that's for sure. Tempted to get at Z270 once those release.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I haven't even looked at the Egg reviews, but only read through the quoted items of another poster. This is a case where looking at customer-reviews with the caveats and reservations I mentioned on some other thread pay off.

Offhand, I could suggest examining the acceptable voltage range of that voltage setting associated with the processor's IMC. This is known as vCCIO on my boards; other boards that only provided vCCSA might adjust the voltage needed; it has been called vTT for some different chipsets and motherboards elsewhere.

If you can, find out what the BIOS' voltage monitor reports for that voltage on "auto." If it's well short of the range's upper limit (of safety), you could try bumping it up 2 to 4 increments in a fixed setting, and go from there.

Personally, I've been looking at the Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1. Not the top-end like a Maximus; more expensive than some mid-range boards below their median price. They increased the phase-power-design by 2 over earlier generations I'd seen. And I'm still looking at those customer-reviews, but haven't changed my plan.

 

[CakeMonster]

I will try and tweak those later in the week (crazy busy for now). So basically you think that various motherboard voltages may hold the memory back from running at proper speeds? I did try to overvolt the RAM back when I got the mobo but it didn't help me reaching proper speeds back then at least (the set is rated at 1.2v so it has plenty headroom).