P8Z77-V Deluxe + G.Skill Ares 32Gb 1866

[SnorkyLorky]

XMP profile 1 and 2 fails. I can manually set speed to 1816 and be stable but kinda sucks when i was planning to OC

Any suggestions what to do ?

Mem specs

 

[danjw]

Opps, I was incorrect, sorry, I don't know the answer to your problem. Is that memory listed on the supported memory list?

 

[AkumaX]

maybe the motherboard is undervolting the ram? try XMP 1 or 2, but this time pump the voltage to 1.6v

 

[BonzaiDuck]

If that's the 32GAB kit, a similar GAB 1866 module on the G.SKILL web-site is validated to work with that motherboard.

But those ARES models and kits are always promoted as "quad-channel." I see a customer-review from someone with an X79 motherboard (Sandy Bridge "E") with no misgivings. I see another review from someone with a P67 board . . . similar complaints.

There are GBRL, GBXL, GXH and other kits that will work without problem with that board. They've also released a new Sniper 16GSR 16GB 2x8GB kit of DDR3-1866, which also seems more appropriate for that board.

What is your default VCCIO voltage? If you're going to populate four slots, you might want to consider some minor BIOS tweaks to both VCCIO and RAM. I'm inclined to say if G.SKILL spec'd those modules at 1866, they should run at 1866 at 1.5V and the recommended latency settings.

It's also possible you have a defective module, in which case -- test them in pairs, and then one at a time.

The problem with large amounts of RAM: It takes forever to test them to assure that you don't have a defective stick. Took me 60 hours just to do a "1,000% coverage" test with HCI Memtest64 on my 4 x 4GB -GBRL overclocked to 1866. The DDR3-1600s will run at that speed and only 1.5+V, but I had to twist up the VCCIO from about 1.056 to 1.113V.

Are you running an SB CPU or an Ivy Bridge? If it's Sandy Bridge, overclocking a set of 1866 modules to 2133 or beyond isn't going to give you much in improvement. The major improvement comes in jumping from 1333 to 1600; lesser improvement from 1600 to 1866. Beyond that, I'd say you'd be just as well off or better to buy a kit like 1600 GBRL/GBXL or Sniper, over-clock them to 1866 and be happy. Ivy Bridge -- that's a different story . . .

 

[SnorkyLorky]

The board is listed here so I thought it would be fine. I use a i73770K Ivy Bridge CPU. I'll try to bump the voltage as suggested and see what happens.

Edit: Took a few screenshots of current settings.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

The board is listed here so I thought it would be fine. I use a i73770K Ivy Bridge CPU. I'll try to bump the voltage as suggested and see what happens.

Edit: Took a few screenshots of current settings.

Quite generally, I think, the ASUS BIOS for these boards, the ASUS AI Suite software and the hardware switch that allow for "auto-over-clocking" will push your bCLK to 103. Supposedly, Ivy Bridge can get around the limitation on the bCLK -- especially for dealing with high-performance RAM; supposedly, there are two speeds: 100 and 133. [But my reading is sketchy, so I can't elaborate further here. Suffice to say -- I don't think this provides for or allows for a user selection, but rather it is internal. Someone else can confirm or correct.]

For the gen 2 processors, you would be lucky just to get the bCLK to 107 for a stable system, and the practical limits were about 105. In my case, I started my manual overclocking from the BIOS OC Tuner result at about 4.4Ghz and bCLK of 103. The voltage information gathered during that exercise was still useful, but I reset the bCLK to 100.

Right away, I would suggest you set the bCLK back to default while you attempt to configure your RAM. You have a "K" processor, so you can over-clock without touching the bCLK. If you do change the bCLK, it would change the effective RAM speed you would have chosen in another setting.

I'm only guessing that this could be the source of your troubles. If Ivy Bridge and Z77 extend the performance gains of high-speed RAM with such a mechanism or distinction as I described, you really do not want to complicate things with "bCLK = 103" while you are attempting to get things to work at a basic level.

And the best rule to follow -- always -- is "Simple is best." In other words, why tweak the bCLK and the turbo-multiplier at say 103 and 44 to get 4.6+ Ghz, when you can leave the bCLK alone and use a multi of 46?

ADDENDUM: Get into your BIOS and familiarize yourself with the RAM speed and timings item/submenu. With bCLK = 100, you should be able to select RAM speed of 1866 and set the timings manually -- or the XMP profile -- whichever. This would mean a "RAM multiplier" of 18.66 applied to the bCLK of 100. If instead you had selected 1866 in that submenu with a bCLK of 103, the effective RAM speed would be higher or 1921 Mhz double-data-rate, which is above your RAM spec for its timings and voltage. You can tweak the RAM later by changing from "1866" to "2133" (etc.), loosening the timings, and the testing for minimum voltage above 1.5V that may be required to achieve it.

As I also said before, filling all four RAM slots will only exacerbate any failings you find due to improper settings (as with the 103 bCLK).

 

[bankster55]

This ram is actually listed for Z77 del on GSKill page
First of all making overclocking boost by raising BCLK to max is bad for stability
100.3 to 103.00 is part of CPU spread spectrum range

XMP choice should set BCLK to 100.0 automatically
Never run anything but 100.0 unless you have a cell tower in your backyard

There are 3 or 4 threads about this RAM on ASUS VIP, same prob. Not sure but I think this RAM cannot be purchased anymore

Several things to look at
Do not install AI Suite
Do not install TV Tuner card until a new bios comes out
Are you running 1504 bios or 1401? 1502 beta?
Have you ever flashed bios from earlier
Turn off INTEL turbo in bios
Only run DDR3 1600 1.5V RAM (32 GB)

Heres something to try
Unplug PSU
Uninstall all RAM and CPU
Replug PSU
try booting coupla times
Unplug PSU
Reinstall RAM CPU
Replug PSU
Boot

If you wish you could make a screenshot of Advanced page and CPU Config subpage (F12 and FAT32 USB 2.0) and post LINK here. Just curious. Turn off INTEL Turbo here, that should change a bunch of options avail

I am starting to think that Intel Turbo with current bios are incompatible with XMP

 

[BonzaiDuck]

This ram is actually listed for Z77 del on GSKill page
First of all making overclocking boost by raising BCLK to max is bad for stability
100.3 to 103.00 is part of CPU spread spectrum range

XMP choice should set BCLK to 100.0 automatically
Never run anything but 100.0 unless you have a cell tower in your backyard

There are 3 or 4 threads about this RAM on ASUS VIP, same prob. Not sure but I think this RAM cannot be purchased anymore

Several things to look at
Do not install AI Suite
Do not install TV Tuner card until a new bios comes out
Are you running 1504 bios or 1401? 1502 beta?
Have you ever flashed bios from earlier
Turn off INTEL turbo in bios
Only run DDR3 1600 1.5V RAM (32 GB)

Heres something to try
Unplug PSU
Uninstall all RAM and CPU
Replug PSU
try booting coupla times
Unplug PSU
Reinstall RAM CPU
Replug PSU
Boot

If you wish you could make a screenshot of Advanced page and CPU Config subpage (F12 and FAT32 USB 2.0) and post LINK here. Just curious. Turn off INTEL Turbo here, that should change a bunch of options avail

I am starting to think that Intel Turbo with current bios are incompatible with XMP

The AI Suite is not needed, although could be used for monitoring.

I don't see how turning off Turbo will resolve his instability -- just run the processor at its stock speed range.

It indeed would be a good idea to underclock the RAM to 1600 first, but if the G.SKILL is spec'd to 1866 (and this is a Z77 mobo with an Ivy "K") the RAM should work at its stock spec -- even if OP needs to set the primary timings manually.

I would certainly update the BIOS with the latest available.

I think with the abundance of advice, he'll get it sorted out. But I'd hate to see if he'd exceeded the return deadline policy on the ARES if he wants to buy dual-channel kits.

 

[SnorkyLorky]

Latest firmware 1709 that just came out solved the problems.
Thanks for your suggestions thought, tried most of them but sadly to no avail.