There are several issues with your RAM. Let me help you understand what might be going on!
There are several issues with your RAM. Let me help you understand what might be going on!
Hey everyone, I’m trying to upgrade my budget gaming PC. It currently has 8GB DDR3 RAM, and I found a 4GB DDR3 1666 Zion Extreme module nearby (photos attached). The system won’t turn on when both are installed. Anyone have ideas on why this happens or how to fix it?
Okay, so there are a few things at play here. First of all, you are attempting to mix a 1.35v DDR3L 1866 C11 DIMM with a 1.5v DDR3 1600 C9 DIMM. The different capacities don't really matter at all, as your memory controller is likely capable of running Flex Channel Mode, but this difference in voltage, speed and primary timings is going to absolutely confuse your IMC. Since your 1.35V DIMM is technically faster from a bandwidth perspective (1866 vs 1600), your IMC might be trying to force it to run at 1600mhz like the other DIMM, but your 1600mhz DIMM also has tighter timings. In this configuration, I am not sure what comes out on top in training. You are also mixing a single rank DIMM with a dual rank DIMM, which adds another layer of complexity for the IMC to figure out in regards to specific tertiary timings and bank/rank interleaving. To make these DIMM's compatible with each other, you'll have to do this manually. Dial in 1.5V VDIMM, manually set the clock speed to 1600mhz, dial in your primary timings at 9-9-9-27 and hope that your board trains your secondary and tertiary timings correctly. No guarantees that this will work out well, either. Be prepared for a lot of trial and error as it may not work properly the first few times as you have to find a timing combination that works. If you want to avoid this headache, simply buy matching DIMM's. It will save you time, and likely perform better.
Set up one stick at a time. Check the memory profiles using CPU-Z or Aida64, note them down. Choose a profile that both sticks support or select the nearest one and adjust it to work with both. Your DDR3L stick usually runs at 1.35V and 1600MHz with PC12800 (1600MHz), while your DDR3 1866 stick likely needs 1.65V for 1866MHz. You might run the 4GB stick at 1.5V and slightly overvoltage the Samsung stick to 1.5V. The best approach is to install the Samsung first, tweak the voltage from 1.35V to 1.5V, possibly extend timings beyond default values, then try the other stick after a restart. Most BIOS will handle it if you match the profiles and voltages correctly.
Sure! It means you're just starting out with assembling a computer. Let me know if you want tips or clarification on any part.