RAM unstable at stock voltage

[johnny_boy]

I recently built a new system, an AMD A10-5800K on an ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M board using an Antec Basiq 450W PSU. If it matters, no expansion (PCIe) cards are installed. I'm using a Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3 2133 8GB (4x2) kit which does not run stably at stock voltage. It's rated to run at 1.5v but only runs stably above that. I haven't run any proper tests like memtest+, but at 1.575v, I've not encountered any problems. (There were a few issues at 1.55v, but they may have been unrelated to the RAM.)

What is strange is that at 1.5v using open source AMD drivers for linux, the system ran stably. But once I installed the AMD binary blobs, my system would crash within a few minutes of getting past login (if it did). Obviously I thought it was the binary blobs to blame, but upping the RAM voltage solved issues as well.

Question: what is a reasonable RAM overvolt to get things running stably? Is +0.075v (or +0.05) a sign that I should RMA the RAM? Also, do you think it maybe isn't JUST the RAM?

EDIT: I just noticed in the MB manual that it says to opt for slots A2/B2 for 2133 memory, though I have them in A1/B1. I'll change them to see if it makes a difference.

 

[Blain]

I haven't run any proper tests like memtest+, but at 1.575v, I've not encountered any problems. (There were a few issues at 1.55v, but they may have been unrelated to the RAM.)

Question: what is a reasonable RAM overvolt to get things running stably? Is +0.075v (or +0.05) a sign that I should RMA the RAM? Also, do you think it maybe isn't JUST the RAM?

I don't have a $2500 JEDEC membership, but Wikipedia as of 01/28/2013 says...
"According to JEDEC, 1.575 volts should be considered the absolute maximum when memory stability is the foremost consideration, such as in servers or other mission-critical devices. In addition, JEDEC states that memory modules must withstand up to 1.975 volts before incurring permanent damage, although they are not required to function correctly at that level."

I would not RMA the memory at this time.

 

[_Rick_]

At 2133 you're mostly taxing the memory controller, so that one might need a little bit of additional voltage - the RAM itself might be just fine.
The reason for the increased crashiness in conjunction with the AMD driver, is probably, that that driver uses more memory bandwidth and possibly more efficiently, therefore stressing the memory subsystem more than the open source driver. This could then lead to some increased instability.

 

[johnny_boy]

That's good to know. I'll try to get things stable below the 1.575 mark, and I likely won't RMA the RAM.

 

[johnny_boy]

Just as an update for anyone else having this problem. I swapped the modules to bays A2/B2 and dropped the voltage down to 1.51 from 1.575. ( I'm still hesitant to drop the voltage right down to stock.) After about an hour of gaming, no problems whatsoever. Looks like it was caused by being placed in A1/B1.

 

[Soulkeeper]

What speed/voltage are you running the memory controller at ?
If you havn't solved your problem already I'd recommend looking into this as a possible cause of the problem.

 

[johnny_boy]

What speed/voltage are you running the memory controller at ?
If you havn't solved your problem already I'd recommend looking into this as a possible cause of the problem.

Thanks for the tip. It seems to me that the problem's been solved. No crashing or unusual behaviour yet. If it acts up, I'll look into the mem. controller speed/voltages before I start upping the RAM voltage again.

 

[blastingcap]

I don't have a $2500 JEDEC membership, but Wikipedia as of 01/28/2013 says...
"According to JEDEC, 1.575 volts should be considered the absolute maximum when memory stability is the foremost consideration, such as in servers or other mission-critical devices. In addition, JEDEC states that memory modules must withstand up to 1.975 volts before incurring permanent damage, although they are not required to function correctly at that level."

I would not RMA the memory at this time.

I thought it was x volts, plus or minus 5%. So 1.575 is the maximum INCLUDING the 5% safety cushion, for 1.5v-rated RAM. 1.5 x 1.05 = 1.575. There will be voltage fluctuations so if you are setting RAM at 1.575v it may fluctuate higher than that depending on the mobo and PSU.

In short, I would RMA, but it's up to OP whether he thinks it's worth the hassle.