Unusual problem with the latest installation – dual channel failure
Unusual problem with the latest installation – dual channel failure
Hey! I recently assembled a new PC and have encountered some odd problems. Build specs: CPU – AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, GPU – RTX 3090, RAM – 32GB Trident Z5 5600MHz (4800MHz at 2x16GB in dual channel), motherboard – ROG STRIX B650-A, gaming Wi-Fi, cooler – Lian Li GALAHAD AIO 240 RGB UNI FAN SL120, PSU – Corsair HX1000 Platinum 1000W (80+ Platinum), disk – Samsung 980 Pro 1TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4, OS – Windows 10 Pro. Monitors: dual 1080p 144Hz.
Issues include:
- Most problems occur during games. Some launch and crash instantly without logs; others fail randomly after a few minutes. One game (Satisfactory) seems to cause a deadlock.
- Start menu becomes very sluggish; clicking it feels unresponsive.
- Discord restarts itself unpredictably.
- Blue screen appears with different messages each time.
- It’s tough to recreate the issues, but starting games often triggers them.
What I tried without success:
- Reinstalled Windows 10 multiple times.
- Installed Windows 11 (reverted back to 10 after same issues).
- Updated drivers and rolled back to prior versions.
- Swapped RAM and motherboard.
- Replaced with identical parts.
- Ran only essential peripherals (no internet).
- Ran memory diagnostic – sometimes errors appear, other times not.
- Updated BIOS to latest version.
- Checked for bent PCIe pins (none found).
- Tested using a single RAM stick per slot; issues stopped.
Tried replacing RAM one at a time, but problems continued even with dual channel. I replaced the motherboard after trying a single RAM stick in each slot – everything worked then.
My guess is either the RAM or the motherboard might be faulty. I also thought CPU dual-channel reading could be an issue. This has been one of the weirdest challenges I’ve faced recently. I’d love to hear your thoughts and any advice you might have! Thanks a lot!
Just to confirm, you swapped the motherboard and RAM without changing them, and the problems stayed the same. Also, does this occur with a single monitor?
It's the same models and the problems stayed the same. I haven't tested a single monitor yet. What I've done so far that seems to have helped is: open the bios, go to AI Tweaker, and switch the overclock tuner from auto to DOCP 1, which keeps memory at its original 5600 even though the CPU only supports 5200. So far it appears to work—just keep an eye on it for a few days and update.
Recent updates show no crashes after adjusting RAM speeds. For similar problems, try this approach: By default, my RAM was set to a lower speed (4800) with 5600 sticks. I changed the overclock tuner in BIOS to DOCP 1, which keeps memory at its original 5600 even though the CPU only supports 5200. This also guarantees the right voltage is applied.
Similar configuration but Corsair Dominator RAM and GTX 3080 Ti. I connected a RAM stick to test single and everything works fine at 4800MHz. This issue started after the latest build in early October. I plan to increase the memory speed and let you know if it fixes it.
I encountered the same problem before and resolved it using the same method; it also stopped the unarc.dll error.