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Problems with my motherboard and XMP RAM

Problems with my motherboard and XMP RAM

A
Arthashen
Junior Member
5
03-19-2021, 11:08 AM
#1
Hello everyone. I've just built my first PC and I'm having strange issues with the RAM. The PC has an i7-11700 (non-K), Gigabyte Aorus Elite AX motherboard, and 32GB of G.Skill Trident Z Royal RAM (2x16GB). I have not been able to get the RAM working at XMP speeds. The G.Skill website's memory configurator says this RAM will work with my mobo. However, Gigabyte's QVL for RAM doesn't list my RAM. But it does list other G.Skill RAM with the same timings and sizes. I'm not sure if this is correct, but I've read that the RAM chips are likely the same if they're from the same chip brand with the same timings, just under different styles of heat spreaders and LEDs. Also, I have another similar set of RAM that doesn't work with XMP either. This other RAM is a bit slower and cheaper, and has different timings. All the RAM seems to work fine at native speeds of 2133MHz at 1.2 Volts. All my CPU stats are currently at stock settings. The RAM I wish to use is: G.Skill Trident Z Royal (2x16GB). The XMP Profile specs are DDR4-3600 CL16 memory, with timings 16-16-16-36 at 1.35 Volts. The native stats are 2133MHz at 1.2V. These are Samsung B-Dies. The other, cheaper RAM I've tried is also: G.Skill Trident Z Royal (2x16GB). The XMP Profile specs are DDR4-3600 CL19 memory, with timings 19-20-20-40 at 1.35 Volts. The native stats are 2133MHz at 1.2V. Here is a list of everything I've done so far: ● I have tried XMP profiles on the RAM. This almost always results in a boot/config error. This is when I leave all the settings on "Auto". ● I have left XMP disabled, and manually entered all the XMP values. I can get it to boot with this method, once I increase the voltage to 1.36V. ● I have done a CMOS reset just in case any incorrect settings were carried over from the cheaper RAM. ● I have tried XMP enabled at voltages 1.33V, 1.34V, 1.35V, 1.36V, 1.37V, 1.38V, 1.39V, and 1.40V. The only ones that have gotten anywhere are 1.36V and 1.37V. ● I have tried just one stick of RAM, with similar results. ● I have updated the BIOS on the motherboard to the latest version. The cheaper set of RAM I have behaves similarly. I have always used slots 2 and 4 on the mobo, as the instructions say. Another strange thing I've noticed is that when I get it to work by manually entering the XMP values and setting it at 1.36V, Windows Task Manager reports that it's operating at 3600MHz, but CPU-Z shows it's only at 1733MHz (3466MHz). Why would this happen when I set it to 3600MHz (1800MHz)? When it does manage to boot to Windows, everything seems stable, although I haven't run any extensive memory tests yet. Can anyone offer any tips on what else I can do to try to get this PC working as it theoretically should? I've spent a lot of time researching and tweaking things, and I've made some progress. But I feel I'm at a point where I need to reach out and ask people with much greater expertise than I possess. Thank you very much for any help in advance.
A
Arthashen
03-19-2021, 11:08 AM #1

Hello everyone. I've just built my first PC and I'm having strange issues with the RAM. The PC has an i7-11700 (non-K), Gigabyte Aorus Elite AX motherboard, and 32GB of G.Skill Trident Z Royal RAM (2x16GB). I have not been able to get the RAM working at XMP speeds. The G.Skill website's memory configurator says this RAM will work with my mobo. However, Gigabyte's QVL for RAM doesn't list my RAM. But it does list other G.Skill RAM with the same timings and sizes. I'm not sure if this is correct, but I've read that the RAM chips are likely the same if they're from the same chip brand with the same timings, just under different styles of heat spreaders and LEDs. Also, I have another similar set of RAM that doesn't work with XMP either. This other RAM is a bit slower and cheaper, and has different timings. All the RAM seems to work fine at native speeds of 2133MHz at 1.2 Volts. All my CPU stats are currently at stock settings. The RAM I wish to use is: G.Skill Trident Z Royal (2x16GB). The XMP Profile specs are DDR4-3600 CL16 memory, with timings 16-16-16-36 at 1.35 Volts. The native stats are 2133MHz at 1.2V. These are Samsung B-Dies. The other, cheaper RAM I've tried is also: G.Skill Trident Z Royal (2x16GB). The XMP Profile specs are DDR4-3600 CL19 memory, with timings 19-20-20-40 at 1.35 Volts. The native stats are 2133MHz at 1.2V. Here is a list of everything I've done so far: ● I have tried XMP profiles on the RAM. This almost always results in a boot/config error. This is when I leave all the settings on "Auto". ● I have left XMP disabled, and manually entered all the XMP values. I can get it to boot with this method, once I increase the voltage to 1.36V. ● I have done a CMOS reset just in case any incorrect settings were carried over from the cheaper RAM. ● I have tried XMP enabled at voltages 1.33V, 1.34V, 1.35V, 1.36V, 1.37V, 1.38V, 1.39V, and 1.40V. The only ones that have gotten anywhere are 1.36V and 1.37V. ● I have tried just one stick of RAM, with similar results. ● I have updated the BIOS on the motherboard to the latest version. The cheaper set of RAM I have behaves similarly. I have always used slots 2 and 4 on the mobo, as the instructions say. Another strange thing I've noticed is that when I get it to work by manually entering the XMP values and setting it at 1.36V, Windows Task Manager reports that it's operating at 3600MHz, but CPU-Z shows it's only at 1733MHz (3466MHz). Why would this happen when I set it to 3600MHz (1800MHz)? When it does manage to boot to Windows, everything seems stable, although I haven't run any extensive memory tests yet. Can anyone offer any tips on what else I can do to try to get this PC working as it theoretically should? I've spent a lot of time researching and tweaking things, and I've made some progress. But I feel I'm at a point where I need to reach out and ask people with much greater expertise than I possess. Thank you very much for any help in advance.