The system experienced a brief lock-up, during which the DRAM LEDs became illuminated.
The system experienced a brief lock-up, during which the DRAM LEDs became illuminated.
Computer Type:
Desktop
GPU:
EVGA RTX 3080
CPU:
Ryzen 9 5950x 16 core 32 Thread
Motherboard:
Asus x570 Crosshair VIII Hero (Wi-Fi)
BIOS Version:
4501 04/19/2023
RAM:
G.Skill Trident Z Royal 3600 CL14 F4-3600C14D-32GTRG
PSU:
Be quiet! Straight Power 11 Platinum 1000W BN644 Fully Modular
Case:
Lian Li 011 Dynamic XL
Operating System & Version:
WINDOWS 11 Pro
GPU Drivers:
GEFORCE GAME READY DRIVER - WHQL Driver Version: 536.67
Description of Original Problem:
I built the computer almost 3 years ago and it ran fine for 1.5 years and I have been slowly troubleshooting it ever since. It happens once every 2 or 3 days, sometimes sooner. The computer locks up, screen freezes but stays on, doesn't respond to power button and the PSU switch is the only way to reset it. The debug code sometimes stays AA and sometimes it changes to 00. The yellow DRAM led sometimes lights and sometimes doesn't, when it does it lights slowly from off to a weak light, almost like it has limited power, like a candle in the wind, flickering.
Troubleshooting:
I have updated the BIOS, reset BIOS, reinstalled OS and all drivers, RMA'd everything but the CPU. Downclocking the RAM helps a bit but everything I researched says that it should work fine at the 3600 I paid for. Wondering if anyone has seen this before.
As said, I replaced the MB and the PSU so the flickering DRAM light is very confusing, could this be a CPU problem? CPU was my last guess, but unless there is an AMD specific thing I don't know about, it seems this is the last option.
EDIT: I posted the wrong MB, the correct board is the Crosshair VIII not the VII.
Yes, there may be a new bios update since then as I have been troubleshooting this for a long time now, but I did clear cmos, and I just put in the new MB 2 days ago, I can update the bios again since it likely didn't ship with new bios but unless there was an update since then specific to this, I don't think that will fix it. The flickering DRAM led is what confuses me the most since that looks entirely like a HW problem, but I have replaced everything but the CPU. I will update the bios and clear CMOS again just because it's a good idea either way.
Have you run it after resetting the CMOS and using memory in default configurations? If everything works perfectly, the memory might be nearly stable at 3600. It could be related to the BIOS, the CPU memory controller, or the actual memory itself. Regardless, it's crucial to remember that Ryzen CPUs are only tested up to 3200 and that finding the ideal BIOS is likely not worth it, as each update can also address security issues and compatibility with Windows.
An alternative approach would be to turn on XMP but set the clock speed below 3600, perhaps around 3400 or even 3200. Check if the warning light disappears. If it does, it’s likely the memory is stable at 3600 for some reason.
If I were using a similar setup, I’d start by increasing the DRAM voltage. DDR4 supports up to 1.5V, but unless you’re certain you have Samsung B-die memory, it’s safer to keep it below 1.4V continuously. Samsung B-die typically operates better at higher voltages and may run above 1.5V at higher speeds. Your motherboard should have both DRAM voltage and temperature monitoring, which helps confirm everything is functioning properly. I currently run my Samsung B-die at 3600/1.47V, and the temperature stays under 40°C even during stress tests.
Oh no, sorry about that, I accidentally used the wrong board name and missed an 'I'. It does confirm that 4501 is the most recent update.:
https://rog.asus.com/us/motherboards/rog...pdesk_bios
I’ll make sure to update my post.
I get the OS directly from Microsoft.
I didn’t reinstall drivers manually; Windows usually installs them automatically and I just follow the standard UAC prompt when they’re running.
I have been working with it, as I mentioned, for more than a year now. Because it's intermittent, it takes longer to resolve. The computer functioned perfectly for the first year and a half under the D.O.C.P. specification of 3600 CL14. I have downclocked to 3200 and it helped, but the reliability report still indicated program crashes that usually go unnoticed and failed updates. I have tried 3600 CL16, 3200 CL14 and CL16. Currently, I am testing 3600 18-22-22-42. I was really surprised by the flickering DRAM indicator; I sent it back but kept getting the same issue, thinking it was related to the memory by the time I reached that stage. Now I’m starting over again, trying various timings and settings. I am using the complete stock default BIOS except for the RAM, which is set to D.O.C.P with 18-22-22-42 timings.
As for whether it’s a B-die issue, it appears on the B-die finder:
https://benzhaomin.github.io/bdiefinder/
I also confirmed this with software. Should I consider using a higher voltage? I’m still puzzled by the flickering DRAM light—when it boots up it’s bright and steady, but it gradually dims to a half-life when freezing. Could a lower voltage setting trigger that? I can’t think of anything else, but the board seems to be responsible since the LED is on a completely different circuit and just needs to be activated or not. I’m clearly mistaken about the wiring, but I don’t know how they managed to create such behavior. The voltage for the LED seems to come directly from the DRAM voltage. Is that relevant to your situation? It might change how you interpret things. Again, the same issue has occurred on two different boards.
It seems you're ready to proceed with testing under different conditions. You're planning to run it at up to 1.5V and observe its behavior, adjusting the voltage gradually if needed. You're aiming for a stable performance around 1.45V, though 1.5V is fine too. Regarding the testing aspect, you're curious about the memory stress/stability tests—like Memtest—and even the built-in Windows Memory Diagnostic would be useful. You also mention checking the number of DIMMs, noting that four are trickier to stabilize at high speeds on certain board designs, while two might be more stable in a T-topology setup.
I faced several issues with my previous computer.
If the issue continues after all that, then it's likely the GPU.
I performed several Memtest runs and only detected the issue once despite repeating it multiple times. The current setting is 1.45v, which matches the D.O.C.P. specification. I plan to conduct additional tests using various voltages. This process is frustrating because stress testing doesn't trigger the problem—it appears to be intermittent and unrelated to stress, often occurring when the computer is idle or near it.