System stable with B150, but not with Z170 or Z270....

[m6tzg6r]

You can see my system specs in my profile. My computer works issue free. But i recently was using an Asus Z170 Maximus VIII Hero motherboard, sometimes the system had trouble booting, especially if i unplugged the power cord, getting the system to boot again was a pain. Sometimes after a couple boots the bios would reset.

Yesterday i decided to get an MSI Z270 Gaming M5 motherboard to replace the Maximus, but once i put it all together the system wouldn't boot, just black screen with an error LED on the board saying DRAM.

I don't understand how running this B150 board there are no issues, but just changing the motherboard to Z170 or Z270 gives me big issues. Is my CPU faulty somehow? My ram not compatible? My ram is a 3000mhz stick.

I'm confused.

 

[EarthDog]

A single 3000 Mhz stick?

Did you put it in the correct slot? Check the manual for the proper one.

 

[m6tzg6r]

Yeah i tried with no ram at all. And with the stick in each slot. Didn't help.
Do motherboards play up if you only use 1 stick?

 

[newtekie1]

The Z170/Z270 support faster memory speeds. The B150 defaults to a maximum of 2133MHz, the Z170/Z270 will allow you to go higher, likely defaulting to 2400MHz with XMP enable. It is likely that your RAM is unstable, or the 6700K doesn't like 2400MHz.

Next time the system boots, disable XMP and make sure the memory speed is 2133MHz. That should stabilize the system. Then you can work on figuring out how to get the RAM running at a higher speed, if you want.

 

[EarthDog]

Play up? Not sure what you mean there...

As I alluded to earlier, one stick will work. It needs to be in the proper slot.

I would reset BIOS to defaults and see if it works. Can you get into the BIOS at all? When it does, then enable XMP.

 

[m6tzg6r]

With the Z270 it wouldn't even reach the bios.

 

[EarthDog]

Is the stick (why did you buy one stick for a DUAL channel platform??) on the Memory QVL list (find it at mobo website)?

Do you have a stick that works currently and can perhaps go into the BIOS and setup voltages and speeds?

So, to confirm, you have tried resetting the BIOS (via button), and then trying the stick, correct?

 

[m6tzg6r]

Tried resetting bios and changing ram stick location, yes. Reason why i have 1 stick was because i got a 32GB kit on sale, i kept one 16GB stick and my friend used the other.

 

[EarthDog]

That, was silly... you are missing out on dual channel. While not HUGE gains, its notable enough to be a head scratcher.. Always get dual if you have a dual channel platform.

 

[m6tzg6r]

So my ram is probably faulty when ran above 2133mhz? Thats my issue? I'm guessing so.

I will make sure to run 2 sticks in the future.