problem detecting 6GB memory on ASUS Ramage III formula

[tcsenter]

Its too bad you don't have access to different memory. Corsair Dominator is probably the most oft-reported problematic RAM due to the very aggressive operating timing and voltage profiles. Have you seen successful reports of other users running this RAM on your mobo?

 

[FishAk]

When you say my rig is a goner do you mean if/when the motherboard goes poof everything that's connected to it will go poof as well???????

I believe he means that if you lose a portion of your system memory during operation, your data could become corrupt, rendering your OS useless, and possibly loosing data. I don't think he is talking about physical damage to components so much.

 

[MraK]

Its too bad you don't have access to different memory. Corsair Dominator is probably the most oft-reported problematic RAM due to the very aggressive operating timing and voltage profiles. Have you seen successful reports of other users running this RAM on your mobo?

Hmm well the Dominators that I have work as 6GB on my other rig (Asus P6T), it other words it shows all 6GB on the OS and also in the system info screen. Also I recently sold an i7 rig also running Dominators on that rig as well for over a year till now with no problems (Evga x58 SLI LE) and have said in earlier post that the memory is indeed working in each of the mem slot on this board except slot B. So to me as for now, this model of Corsair Memory is ok in my book. But as for others who have this board and are using this memory, I have yet to see another person successfully using this memory with this board.

Also I have access to other memory like I said in one of my earlier posts, I tried using Corsair XMS3 1600mhz DDR3 memory on this board and it still reads 4GB and not 6GB.

 

[MraK]

On another note regarding this memory issue and the board, today I actually went to talk to three different computer technicians and this is what they said regarding the issue of still using this board with 1 dead slot.

Tech #1: This guy said he currently is using a computer with a motherboard with 1 dead slot and is still using it till now (over a year) and the computer is still running fine with no issue, bare in mind his rig is using a socket 775 board, so the who issue with this board and his would more likely be different, in other words he basically told me that my rig would still be fine, since he told me that I would just run my memory in duel channel mode for thos slots that still work.

Tech #2: This fellow had a more knowledgable approach to this issue. He said I could still you this board as long as I remove the unused memory stick (in slot B *the dead one*) and leave the other sticks in A and C in place and like the tech above stated use the memory in duel channel mode.

Tech #3: he stated pretty much almost the same thing as tech #2 but also added that if the other slots work basically instead of A1,B1,C1 try using the memory in A2,B2,C2 slots and see it the rig would now see 6GB and added that there should (based on his knowledge) be a problem using the other slot provided the other three work.

If these so called "certified" computer technicians, are at the most part accurate in what they are saying, for now wouldn't it just be safe to still run my rig till the replacement board arrives? I know this may sound like a stupid idea or remedy for now, but I just need to know before anything. Please understand, I'm not trying to be troll on this subject about the memory issue with my board, just know everything I am reading on all of you posts is a learning process for me and I am truly thankful for all of you efforts in helping me out.

 

[MraK]

I believe he means that if you lose a portion of your system memory during operation, your data could become corrupt, rendering your OS useless, and possibly loosing data. I don't think he is talking about physical damage to components so much.

hmmm well, if I remember it right, I had already noticed the 4GB memory reading the first time I turned the rig on. In other words, it already showed that I had a bad slot and I don't think I lost a portion of system memory "during operation". and as rendering the OS useless couldnt I just re-install the same OS??

 

[FishAk]

First, keep in mind I'm no expert on this by any stretch of the imagination.

My understanding is you'll have no trouble as long as you don't use the center slot; the one that seams to have a faulty connection, which sometimes allows it to be serviceable. As long as the other slots are OK and stable, you won't loose part of your memory while your system is in operation.

I see no reason not to use the board while you wait for a replacement to arrive providing:

Memory is stable; i.e. you don't sometimes see different amounts.

You keep an image of your OS, or are willing to re-install your OS. (you should keep a valid image regardless of the health of your system)

You keep your data backed up properly. (again, the importance of this shouldn't be determined by the health of your system- but it's something many of us neglect)

It's a new board, so if it is actually defective, and there is the option to return it, you will obvously not keep it.

 

[MraK]

First, keep in mind I'm no expert on this by any stretch of the imagination.

My understanding is you'll have no trouble as long as you don't use the center slot; the one that seams to have a faulty connection, which sometimes allows it to be serviceable. As long as the other slots are OK and stable, you won't loose part of your memory while your system is in operation.

I see no reason not to use the board while you wait for a replacement to arrive providing:

Memory is stable; i.e. you don't sometimes see different amounts.

You keep an image of your OS, or are willing to re-install your OS. (you should keep a valid image regardless of the health of your system)

You keep your data backed up properly. (again, the importance of this shouldn't be determined by the health of your system- but it's something many of us neglect)

It's a new board, so if it is actually defective, and there is the option to return it, you will obvously not keep it.

When you say keep an image of my OS, what do you mean? and having to re-install my OS if necessary, is pretty ok with me since this rig is still pretty fresh so I dont really have much at all that is installed since I already can see the rig being not fully all there. regarding re-installing my OS, if I every decided to change my motherboard completely to another motherboard using all the same parts from the last, could I still reuse the same OS pack, since it would be a different board? Reason being I am planning to make use of a "dumbing" board as I would call it, basically a backup board that I can use till I can have a working Rampage installed, from the RMA.

 

[Emulex]

here's my take again:

if it was your car and it randomly crashed or stalled or ran on 2 of 6 cylinders - would you really keep it?

heck no. RMA.

And this is exactly why i've switched to OEM boxens - i sell components (indirectly very much so) and you would not believe how many bad batches are let loose. It all comes over on a boat (from foxconn, shenzen however) then gets distributed to various places then e-tailer/b2b to your door.

Fact is there is very little q/c going on when margins are 1-3% for the whole system - so if a batch of mobo's that have a design flaw (sometimes get rigged) or just enter the stream and float around the open-box line - they cause massive loss in profit. Once the product is old enough the original company washes its hands. but the support costs to deal with returns and support are a nightmare. wipes out all profit. honestly i shouldn't say this but i'd make sure the board is dead and rma it - that way it doesn't go back into the gene pool.

and yes i've seen an entire mobo batch (100's) be defective at once - from multiple distributors - oddly after a whole new batch (and revision) - flawless. cost to everyone to deal with 100's of bad rev boards was far greater than any profit. and alot of frustrated customers.

RMA it - make sure its doa.

 

[FishAk]

When you say keep an image of my OS, what do you mean?

If you keep all your data and info on a seperate partition, your OS/programs partition should be relatively small. You keep all your data backed up, but the OS is different.

You can download Macrium Reflect (free) and use it to make an image of your OS/programs partition. It's then quite easy to restore your system to the exact state it was in at the time you took the snapshot. All activations, programs, settings, and tweaks are preserved, as well as alignment.

Image files are relatively fragile, so they must be original, and not moved or defragged to remain dependable. Make a special partition to contain your images, and you can keep several versions to facilitate recovery from a virus, malwear, broken disk, ect.

Now would be a good time to practice recovering from images to see how they are restored, since your install is so new, and you won't be hurt from a screw-up. When disaster strikes is a bad time to start finding out if your backup solutions are good or not.

 

[MraK]

here's my take again:

And this is exactly why i've switched to OEM boxens - i sell components (indirectly very much so) and you would not believe how many bad batches are let loose. It all comes over on a boat (from foxconn, shenzen however) then gets distributed to various places then e-tailer/b2b to your door.

Fact is there is very little q/c going on when margins are 1-3% for the whole system - so if a batch of mobo's that have a design flaw (sometimes get rigged) or just enter the stream and float around the open-box line - they cause massive loss in profit. Once the product is old enough the original company washes its hands. but the support costs to deal with returns and support are a nightmare. wipes out all profit. honestly i shouldn't say this but i'd make sure the board is dead and rma it - that way it doesn't go back into the gene pool.

and yes i've seen an entire mobo batch (100's) be defective at once - from multiple distributors - oddly after a whole new batch (and revision) - flawless. cost to everyone to deal with 100's of bad rev boards was far greater than any profit. and alot of frustrated customers.

RMA it - make sure its doa.

in response to your 2 statements:

1st are you trying to say that I am, as a consumer, out of luck when it comes to choosing any brand/model motherboard due to the info that you had gathered?

2nd what do you mean make sure its doa, as of right now as I'm typing this messege, the motherboards (aside from the 1 dead memory slot) is working flawlessly (stable as for now) and OCd my cpu to a pretty good range (see sig). So technically its not doa right? So how do I make sure its doa, but doing something to the board itself?

 

[MraK]

I have some GREAT news guys! I just got finished installing my new cpu cooler and removed the Thermalright Venomous X cooler and had installed the CoolIT Vantage ALC. I first cleaned out the thermal grease using Artic Clean and then installed the Vantage and guess what happend next, 6GB BABY!!!!!!!!! lol ran some tests in bios and did a mem test for each slot, now slot B is alive! Did a refresh on my system info and walah 6GB! Maybe someone could tell me what went wrong before hand, I'm thinking I put too much grease, placed the heatsink (from the Venomous X) in a somewhat uneven position, and the pressure was most probably uneven, so I guess it ended up that way.

Man, I was so close to dismantling everything and sending this board back and also buying a backup board while I wait for the RMA. I'm now so happy that I didnt now that everything is all good.

Thanks for the input guys!

 

[gg46]

Hey,
I have the same problem as you. 12GB only showing 8GB and the middle RAM slot not recognizing the RAM stick. (If the only RAM in the system is on the middle slot, system won't even boot!)
I have the same Corsair RAM. So what else did you do to solve the problem apart from switching the cooler?
I appreciate your help. Thanks !

~gg46