PC freezes during DRAM verification upon startup? (Resolved)
PC freezes during DRAM verification upon startup? (Resolved)
Hi all,
Built a new PC a few months back. Took me a while to get it to boot when it was first built.
The issue I had was that it would boot just fine with one RAM stick plugged in, but not with both.
I tried swapping out the sticks and they would both work independently, in various slot combinations, but not together.
The workaround I found at the time was to boot to
BIOS with 1 stick, enable XMP, then it would boot with both sticks.
However, more recently, my PC stalls when booting, cycling between the CPU and DRAM warning lights several times before finally posting.
I've tried updating the BIOS, reseating the CPU and RAM and cleaning the components.
I'm wondering if there is something else I should configure in the BIOS or if this sounds like a hardware issue?
I haven't overclocked anything or changed anything else in the BIOS except the aforementioned XMP.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thankyou!
Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX Rev:1.1
CPU: Intel i5 13600k
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2x16GB) 5600MHz
PSU: Corsair RM750x 80PLUS Gold
GPU: Gigabyte RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12GB
SSD: WD_BlACK SN850X 1TB
Heatsink: Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
Turn off automatic overclocking (XMP) and enable manual overclocking. Display screenshots from CPU-Z memory and speed sections. (upload to imgur.com and post link)
Thank you for your response.
Sorry, I haven't overclocked RAM manually before and will need to research that.
The screenshots you provided are as follows:
https://imgur.com/a/Ewfvw89
View: https://imgur.com/a/Ewfvw89
Yes, the RAM modules are in A2/B2 and I've tested all other setups.
In theory, your setup should remain more stable at the specified (non-overclocked) "SPD Speed" of 4800MT/s compared to its overclocked performance at an "XMP Speed" of 5600MT/s. Yet, in practice, your system appears to function better at the higher speed.
Hi thanks for your reply!
I just ran memtest86+ on a USB drive and it passed without any errors. If the problem was linked to the CPU memory controller, would this have been detected or is there another method to verify?
Also, how can I eliminate the possibility of a motherboard issue? As I mentioned earlier, the PC eventually boots but takes around 30 seconds—then it stalls on the DRAM and CPU warning lights.
I came across a suggestion about heatsink pressure affecting the CPU or motherboard, which I had discussed in my first post. I basically disassembled the PC, reinserted the CPU and other parts, and reconnected all power cables carefully, making sure no excessive pressure was applied.
As expected, I tested each memory slot and various configurations. The only one that works without problems is when just a single RAM stick is used.
Do you know of any additional possible causes? Appreciate your assistance!
The boot-up delay might be linked to "memory training," though I expected your system to settle after a few attempts. It could be that your board requires retraining each time.
I own a DDR5 machine and it’s the only one that hesitates during startup with training. I’m okay with it taking 20 to 30 seconds before launching into Windows. I don’t use XMP overclocking.
My DDR4 models tend to avoid this issue, while DDR3 systems usually start right away—once the SAS HBA controller is up and running.
I believe adjusting components or BIOS settings could resolve this. From what I’ve seen online, these changes often lead to acceptable performance after a while. However, the repeated cycling of DRAM and CPU warning lights during long waits suggests there might be another underlying issue. It’s not ideal for prolonged boot times, and the lights seeming to reset once the system starts could indicate a deeper problem.
I've identified a solution: I explored BIOS settings and found presets for Hynix, Micron, and Samsung with various speeds and voltages. By default, enabling XMP was configuring a 5600MHz frequency at 1.25V (with different SPD values), while other options like up to 6400MHz for Samsung RAM (including my own) set it to 1.35V. I tested all of them and discovered the maximum setting resolved my boot problem. My system now runs smoothly with the highest XMP overclock, and my 5600MHz RAM is set to 6400MHz, allowing a seamless 5-second boot with two modules. I checked if adjusting the voltage alone helped, but it didn't. I'll keep the higher XMP setting for now, as it appears stable for my hardware.