Issues with DRAM performance and memory reliability in the ASRock B560 Pro4 model
Issues with DRAM performance and memory reliability in the ASRock B560 Pro4 model
Hello, I’m dealing with a problem after buying an unboxed motherboard this week. Whenever I power off and restart my PC, it restarts itself, the DRAM indicator lights up, then shuts down and boots into Windows after a short delay. This has been occurring for about a week now. At first, the memory was running at 3600 MT/s, but it’s dropping to 3467 MT/s, and Battlefield 6 keeps crashing because of memory issues. I’ve tried resetting the BIOS and enabling XMP, which helps temporarily, but the problem returns after a few restarts. My system specs are: CPU – Intel i5-11400, RAM – 2x16GB, TeamGroup 3600 MHz DDR4, GPU – ASUS 6700 XT, Motherboard – ASRock B560 Pro4, PSU – Deepcool 750W, Storage – two NVMe SSDs and one HDD. I’ve set the CPU’s long power limit to 125W, which is the maximum this board supports. It seems the issue only appears when the PC is completely off; it works fine if I leave the power on or shut down without cutting power. I’ve attached screenshots from Task Manager and CPU-Z for your reference. Any advice or solutions would be greatly appreciated.
Welcome to the discussion boards! It seems you're running the newest non-beta BIOS, but verify you have version 2.30 installed. A beta version came out three years later if you're interested in testing it. You might even be able to reinstall 2.30, as BIOS issues can occur (cosmic rays are tricky). https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/B560 Pro4/index.asp#BIOS The following action would come next: re-seat your CPU and carefully tighten the cooler to ensure even pressure. It could be just a slight misalignment. Another test could involve using Memtest86 to confirm the RAM isn't causing problems. The last resort is swapping out the motherboard and attempting the setup again.
Is this problem linked to XMP being turned off? Have you thought about the simple answer? A drained battery? How can you tell if it's memory-related? If so, it might mean your memory isn't handling the speed, or the CPU/motherboard isn't up to the task. The 3600 boost is just a light overclock on the base speed (3200), but it's achievable.
The problem disappears when XMP is turned off or when the memory speed drops to 3467 MT/s. It reappears only at 3600 MT/s. I haven’t checked a dead CMOS battery since the BIOS remains unchanged, but I’ll replace it tomorrow just to be sure. The main issue appears to be with the memory itself, as all signs point there. Previously, my ASRock B560 Steel Legend worked fine at 3600 MT/s with the same CPU without problems. What should I attempt next?
If the memory works well without crashes or silent damage at 3467, I’d accept it. Are there still issues when XMP is off or active at that setting? Assuming it’s not a basic hardware problem, it seems like the motherboard isn’t compatible. You’re using the recommended slots, correct?
I attempted to play the same game that caused problems before, and it now runs smoothly without crashes. There are occasional small delays, but I’m not sure if they were always present. I also ran MemTest and it completed successfully. This suggests the memory might be stable, though Task Manager still shows a speed of 3467 MT/s. The BIOS indicates the correct XMP profile, but I’m still unsure about the cause. Updating the BIOS to the latest beta didn’t fix the issue. It seems the problem could be related to the motherboard itself. Everything else appears normal so far. Thank you for your assistance.