Corsair Dominator Platinum Memory Problems

[StormLightningSL]

Hi. Longtime reader of TPU here. Finally joined up.

I have a set of 32GB DDR4 RAM - Corsair Dominator Platinum 2X16GB Kit No. CMD32GX4M2B3000C15 (ver 5.39 - Hynix AFR) that I snagged off a local website some time back for cheap, with no warranty.

The memory kit is being used in my 1800X Ryzen with ASUS Crosshair VI motherboard. When I try to OC it to the rated 3000 MHz speed, I am unable to make it work stable at any timings / settings. I have tried the Ryzen DRAM Calculator by 1usmus, and tried every combination of timings that I could find there, and also loosened the timings to try and make it work stable, but nothing works.

Every time I start the PC the system refuses to boot and I get one long and three short beeps indicating a memory error. The only way to restart the system is hard-reset and to take out the DIMM in the second slot and re-seat it in the slot. After that, it does boot up, but is not stable at anything above 2133 MHz at default timings viz. 15-15-15-15-36-54 etc.

On the same motherboard and CPU setup, I also have tried my backup memory which I got at a bargain price when memory prices were low some time back - a similar 32GB Samsung B-die G.Skill kit which works perfectly at 3200Mhz @ 14-14-14-14-28-42 etc. timings. So, it's probably not the fault of the CPU / motherboard / slots, and the error if any is in the RAM.

So, is this a bad RAM kit? Should I just junk it since it is without warranty? Also, is it possible that only one DIMM is bad (the one that needs to be re-seated)? Can I use the other DIMM in some scenario, for example, I get a non-matching 1X16GB of a similar memory to try and use it in dual channel mode? Does that work?

Thank you for reading, and for your interest.

 

[StormLightningSL]

I checked CORSAIR warranty terms and they do say Limited Lifetime warranty for DDR4 RAM. I've made an RMA request for the memory with CORSAIR support. Waiting to hear from them in case they are willing to take it back and maybe give me a new kit.

 

[Night]

Did you overclock the kit manually, or did you try an XMP profile? Also why did that kit come with no warranty?

Another question. Why do you use the Samsung B-die as backup? Apparently it's also 32 GB in size and runs at 3200 MHz while using tighter timings than the Corsair one.

Edit: Quote from Corsair about XMP profiles:

We include a pair of XMP profiles instead of just one for users who want to control how much power is consumed by the memory. The first XMP profile runs the DDR4 at its specification of 1.2V, while the second offers a higher speed at the cost of bumping the voltage to 1.35V. The first profile, then, is officially supported, while the second is not and instead offers a baseline of what the memory should be able to achieve.

Also it seems that RAM is meant for the Intel platform as listed under compatibility, that would explain why you can't OC the RAM normally.

 

[StormLightningSL]

English is not my native language. I apologize for any miscommunication errors in my posts.

I tried manual as well as XMP overclocking, but both did not work. The kit is not stable at stock 2133MHz @ 1.2V either and crashes with a BSOD after a couple of hours or less of gaming.

The kit came without warranty as I purchased it used from someone. I was told it had no warranty because I would be buying it from him and not from an official dealer. However, I have now contacted Corsair in the hope that since it is a lifetime warranty, maybe they would allow me to return it and hopefully give me a replacement that works. At worst, I'll know it is without warranty.

The Samsung B-Die was purchased when memory was cheap a while back. The kit is rated for 4000 MHz. I was hoping to use it with a high-end CPU in a new system which would allow higher memory speeds, but I don't have the cash for a new system at this time. I am using it as my main memory right now, but the 1800X only allows memory speeds up to 3200Mhz. Anything higher does not work. That is a limitation of the 1800X CPU from what I have been able to research. The Corsair kit with a little over-clocking would have been more suitable for this CPU, and the Samsung kit would have been more suitable for a better faster CPU.

The plan was to have had two good PCs. But, then the Covid-19 pandemic came around and the budget for everything went out the window. I was hoping the RAM being from Corsair, it would be able to work at its rated speeds on the AMD platform also. I don't know if using it on the AMD platform is the only reason for the failure of the RAM, or whether the kit is actually bad.

I am wondering if I can do anything to make the memory work. If it is not in warranty as I fear, I may have to use only one of the two DIMMs. At least, I feel as if one of the two DIMMs may be okay because only one of them has to be re-seated every time. But, can I make one DIMM work in dual channel mode with a new DIMM I buy which may not be a matching set?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
B-die works on both amd and intel systems
3000c15 is micron or maybe hynix so it's best if the manufacture states amd compatible otherwise it likely won't work.
RMA 3000c15 sure doesn't mean it will work any better but they will send you back a seal set you can sell easier then buy more b-die.

B-Die Finder

 

[StormLightningSL]

Great idea! Am waiting for a response from Corsair support. Hopefully something can be done

 

[bobbybluz]

Corsair has been asking for proof of purchase the last few years. Thankfully the things I've had to RMA with them were items I had valid receipts for from Newegg and Amazon.

 

[StormLightningSL]

Thanks for reminding me I found my old bill of purchase! Yay! Maybe my chances are better now.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Someone posted recently that ryzen doesnt like odd numbered timings.

 

[Night]

I think that OP's problem is that he's running Corsair's memory that was designed for Intel platform, as mentioned under Compatibility: https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categ...emory-Kit/p/CMD32GX4M2B3000C15#tab-tech-specs
I think there is nothing wrong with the kit.

 

[freeagent]

Someone posted recently that ryzen doesnt like odd numbered timings.

My system doesn't seem to appreciate odd CL. But SPD 2133 sets to CL15 so...

 

[StormLightningSL]

I do understand now that this is an Intel favored kit, though I didn't know it when I bought it. But, don't Intel compatible kits work on AMD Ryzen systems at all? I'd have thought it would work at stock SPD 2133 MHz without the system crashing after heavy gaming, even if I couldn't OC it at all.

The odd CL shows only when it is set to stock SPD of 2133 MHz. When I set it to any other settings, the CL shows as 14 if set to 14/15, or 16 if set to 16/17, etc. in ZenTimings. I don't have a picture at this time, and I don't feel up to swapping the RAM again today to show those pics

I still believe one stick is bad because the system does not boot from a cold start unless I re-seat the B2 stick and just gives me the memory error beeps. And even when it boots later, it is not stable even at stock 2133 MHz speeds. However, the couple of times I had tried to boot using only one stick in the A2 slot, that one seemed to boot fine even from a cold start, even though I didn't use it for long enough to declare it a "good" DIMM stick.

If one stick is bad, can I use the remaining "good" one with a 16GB DIMM of another model/brand without problems? Maybe at worse timings? Is that even worth it? Or should I just junk the kit if I don't get a good response from Corsair?

 

[ThrashZone]

Corsair is slow but I've never had issues on rma best I've encountered mater of fact.

Use one stick in single channel and test each stick if you think you have a bad one.
But chances are your board just does not like this kit best to rma and sell it as new

 

[Zach_01]

Have you tried running them at 3000MHz CL16-16-16-16-34-50~54 1.35~1.4V ?

 

[StormLightningSL]

I did try running them at 3000 MHz 16-16-16-16-34-54 @ 1.35-1.4V. I also tried many combinations of the numbers like 16-18-18-18-xx or 18-18-18-18-xx with various numbers for the tRAS & tRC and also tFAW & tRFC by setting them to larger numbers in the range of what DRAM Calculator suggested, but no go.

Even though the system does boot sometimes with loose timings, it is not stable while gaming (which is imo the true test for stability).

I also tried the XMP settings for 3000MHz and reduced the clock speed of the RAM (for eg. 2933MHz, 2800MHz, 2666MHz) so the timings are automatically loose at the lower clock speeds, but that also did not work as stable. I really believe there is an error in one of the RAM sticks.

Corsair support asked me for the bill of purchase and purchase location. It was purchased from Hong Kong by the person who sold it to me - I'm from Mumbai, India. I've emailed the bill of purchase to Corsair support. Waiting to see if they will respond positively or whether buying it in another country makes a difference to the RMA policy. I think my seller told me about the lack of warranty because of the original purchase location being different from my location. But, imo, it should not make a difference to the company. It is their product, with a lifetime warranty, no matter where it is being used.

Let's see how local Corsair support responds..

 

[Zach_01]

I really hope you can replace it. But if you could change it with a different type of LPXs it would be even better.

There is this:

PSA: Corsair LPX and AMD

I learnt something the other day from someone I know at Corsairs that's involved in their memory products. Apparently some LPX kits are suitable for AMD use, but Corsair doesn't really mark them specifically as such on the packaging. There is some information on their website, but the key thing...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[StormLightningSL]

So Corsair Support reached out to me with a positive response, but asked for the Bill of Purchase and serial number pics again. I have sent them across, and asked questions about whether I can get it replaced locally, and if I get to choose which kit I get in exchange.

Will update this thread as I get more information

 

[ThrashZone]

So Corsair Support reached out to me with a positive response, but asked for the Bill of Purchase and serial number pics again. I have sent them across, and asked questions about whether I can get it replaced locally, and if I get to choose which kit I get in exchange.

Will update this thread as I get more information

Hi,
They replace the kit with same as you have.
They will be happy to sell you what ever kit you want though but corsair site is the highest so if you want a different kit it would be best to shop around for it.

 

[StormLightningSL]

Since my kit is almost 4 years old, maybe they don't make it anymore and might give me an alternative I can only hope, hehe.

 

[ThrashZone]

Since my kit is almost 4 years old, maybe they don't make it anymore and might give me an alternative I can only hope, hehe.

Hi,
I'm sure they have some more 3000c15 around
All items I've rma'ed came from China.

 

[StormLightningSL]

I guess I was hopeful I would get something else like @Zach_01 suggested.

I still feel I am unable to use the kit only because one stick is bad. Once I get a good set, I will be able to use it at 3000 or 3200MHz with at least 16-16-16-16 timings which is not fatal to me, and would free up my Samsung B-die kit for another more powerful PC when I can get around to building it.

A question: Will the Samsung B-dies work equally well with an Intel setup? My son prefers Intel just as I prefer AMD, and I do have to upgrade his PC sooner rather than later.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
B-die will work on Intel or amd systems
Oc ability is better on Intel.
B-Die Finder

 

[StormLightningSL]

So, was able to make time and deliver the kit to the service center yesterday. They confirmed that they will be taking care of the matter within 7 days. Was told that I will be able to choose a new kit only if they don't have the old one in stock, and will be given a call after they confirm the kit is bad and figure out whether they have a replacement. Here's to hoping.

 

[StormLightningSL]

Waiting on Corsair for an answer. Still no confirmation whether my kit will be replaced. They said they will reply next week.

 

[StormLightningSL]

Hey So, good news - Corsair replaced the faulty kit with a new one. So-so news - It's the same type of kit, just a different memory version number.

The old kit was version 5.39 Hynix AFR (as per Thaiphoon Burner) or Hynix CJR (from online searches depends on which link I look at) and the new one is version 5.32 Hynix CFR or CJR (again this is from online, which shows conflicting ids depending on where I look).

Am trying to sell it to my local vendor at near market, because it is a sealed unused new kit. If that doesn't happen, I will put it in my AMD Ryzen 1800X (current) build and try to OC it to 3200 MHz. Here's to hoping for a good result. Most importantly, at least Corsair didn't ditch me