After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

[ManuteSwol]

After getting some awful memory benchmarks, I referred to the manual which states:

If you adopt DDR3 2100/1866/1800/1600 memory modules on thismotherboard, it is recommended to install them on DDR3_A2 andDDR3_B2 slots.

Please install the memory module into the slots DDR3_A2 andDDR3_B2 for the first priority.


This reads to me.. that if you use default speeds, You can use either A1+B1 or A2+B2, but for higher speeds (like me), I should be using A2+B2 -- I wasn't.

So I SWITCHED. Before I got dual-channel.. now I don't. The manual states either combination should work.


Is this a case of just needing to clear the CMOS?

[parsec]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

For the best compatibility, and higher speeds, yes you should use slots A2 and B2.

But it sounds like you are just confused about which slots are which.



Can you see right above and to the right of the word CPU in the picture:

DDR3_A1
DDR3_A2
DDR3_B1
DDR3_B2

Which is the order of the DIMM slots from top to bottom. The top two slots are channel A, the bottom two slots channel B.

It sounds like you have both DIMMs in channel B, or possibly channel A.

[profJim]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

+1 ^^

For maximum performance using dual channel mode you need to install your memory using option 1 or option 2 in the chart.

[ManuteSwol]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

For the best compatibility, and higher speeds, yes you should use slots A2 and B2.

But it sounds like you are just confused about which slots are which.

[ATTACH]7578[/ATTACH]

Can you see right above and to the right of the word CPU in the picture:

DDR3_A1
DDR3_A2
DDR3_B1
DDR3_B2

Which is the order of the DIMM slots from top to bottom. The top two slots are channel A, the bottom two slots channel B.

It sounds like you have both DIMMs in channel B, or possibly channel A.

Not confused at all.

Ram modules installed in A1 and B1 - Dual channel works

Ram modules installed in A2 and B2 - Dual channel does not work

[parsec]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

That does not make sense, something is wrong somewhere.

What are you checking that tells you single channel instead of dual channel? I assume you are seeing the full capacity of both DIMMs being recognized?

If you haven't cleared the CMOS yet, do so.

[ManuteSwol]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

That does not make sense, something is wrong somewhere.

What are you checking that tells you single channel instead of dual channel? I assume you are seeing the full capacity of both DIMMs being recognized?

If you haven't cleared the CMOS yet, do so.

It doesn't make sense. That's why I'm posting here.

I'm checking the first page of the BIOS. I am seeing the full capacity.

Cleared CMOS. No change.

[ManuteSwol]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

Never found a solution to this.

My bad memory benchmarks were normal for AMD.. I never realized the Intel memory controller was so superior.

[parsec]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

Depends on the processor, at least going by the specs. Some AMD processors have higher memory speed than similar Intel processors.

Intel Core i7-4770K - CM8064601464206 / BX80646I74770K / BXC80646I74770K

AMD FX-Series FX-6300 - FD6300WMW6KHK / FD6300WMHKBOX

[ManuteSwol]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

Look at benchmarks, not rated speeds.

Anyway -- I'm not sure that helps in any case.

I guess if I want to goto 4 sticks of RAM at any point, it looks like this mobo is going into the trash... if it doesn't die first.

[bahram_alinezhad]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

It doesn't make sense. That's why I'm posting here.

I'm checking the first page of the BIOS. I am seeing the full capacity.

Cleared CMOS. No change.

What about bios version? Using the last?

[bahram_alinezhad]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

Depends on the processor, at least going by the specs. Some AMD processors have higher memory speed than similar Intel processors.

Intel Core i7-4770K - CM8064601464206 / BX80646I74770K / BXC80646I74770K

AMD FX-Series FX-6300 - FD6300WMW6KHK / FD6300WMHKBOX

Speaking about memory speed, Intel was always surprisingly much faster than AMD. Even during periods that AMD was somehow ahead of intel (Athlon FX ages), Intel had notably better memory performance. AMD was the first who took memory controller on die, even now, AMD's on-die was in par with Intel's on-chip.
That benchmark compares some 2011 AMD CPUs with some 2009 Intel ones!
We are upset AMD fans who may see AMD acquired in future :-(

[ManuteSwol]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

What about bios version? Using the last?

Yes.

[bahram_alinezhad]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

Considering your strange problem, If I was you, I would examine older bios versions (smaller than 1.60 starting from 1.00) as a last resort! If positive, reporting to ASRock TSD (may be here).

[ManuteSwol]

Re: After switching slots, RAM is no longer DUAL Channel - 970 Extreme3 R2.0

Considering your strange problem, If I was you, I would examine older bios versions (smaller than 1.60 starting from 1.00) as a last resort! If positive, reporting to ASRock TSD (may be here).

No offense, but at this point.. it is small potatoes.

I have another problem I am more concerned about:

http://forums.tweaktown.com/asrock/60752-random-freezing-asrock-970-extreme3-r2-0-a.html