Help with DDR3 RAM installation and troubleshooting.
Help with DDR3 RAM installation and troubleshooting.
Hello everyone, during my PC disassembly for cleaning, the motherboard BIOS chip stopped functioning and entered a boot loop. I bought a replacement chip and had it installed by a professional (lacking tools or time). Now I suspect one of my RAM modules might have failed around that time, so I’ll probably need to swap just one stick. Current prices for a matching replacement are about $200 USD (Newegg; cheaper used options) for a full set, which isn’t ideal since I intend to build a new gaming PC. Are there more affordable, low-profile DDR3 options that match 2400 MHz or 3200 MHz speeds? I’m thinking of overclocking the system to prolong its life until I can assemble a fresh one. Motherboard: ASUS Maximus VI Impact (mITX board) CPU: Intel i7-4770k Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO GPU: NVIDIA GTX 780 TI (the new GTX 1660 TI will replace it in the upcoming build) Current RAM: 2x8 GB DDR3-2400 G.Skill Trident-X Edit: BIOS, Windows 10, and CPU-Z didn’t recognize the second RAM module. Updated July 10, 2021 by piledriven Memory info
ddr3 doesn't support speeds beyond 1866 MHz, let alone 2400Mhz after overclocking. This might be why the system failed from excessive overclocking. Do you need the timing details for this RAM so you can find a compatible replacement?
For swapping out faulty sticks, DDR3 ATM offers the simplest solutions with reasonable pricing. Fleabay stocks DDR3 kits everywhere; just browse and pick a package suited for your setup. Popular brands are recommended, including the ones OCZ previously offered, though they never produced the bigger DDR3 models. It's understandable why this is suggested. Generally, you won't find such high speeds from everyday or gaming systems, which is already accurate. A few years ago with my daily system fully populated, I achieved top performance. Also, keep in mind that speeds like 1600, 1866 are DRR rates—meaning a 1600 MHz clock speed equals an 800 MHz CPU frequency in the memory settings.
I haven't increased clock speeds yet. I intend to boost performance for gaming. I have no prior experience with overclocking or RAM speeds, so any advice would be welcome. Clarification: Purchasing standard brand RAM and running it faster isn't the same as what you're asking about. Your goal is to determine the right type of RAM for your needs. Edited July 10, 2021 by piledriven