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04-23-2016 01:19 AM #1
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128GB DDR4 Memory Setup For Rampage V Extreme
The Haswell-E platform and DDR4 standard opened up a door to new possibilities in regards to memory capacity. With the availability of high-performance X99 motherboards with 8 memory slots and 16GB memory modules, we find ourselves at the threshold of the 128GB era. Previously it was only possible to find support for memory at that capacity in workstations and servers. Those usually cost an arm and a leg. Kudos goes to Intel for bringing us the first consumer platform to support memory capacities up to 128GB.
Most of us can agree on the fact that general PC users, gamers and enthusiasts can get by with 8GB or 16GB. Professional users who rely on heavy memory programs and virtualization will certainly welcome the possibility to have more memory. Running 128GB of high speed DDR4 isn’t a simple task so plug-n-play shouldn’t be expected. Manual tweaking is required to achieve stability.
HyperX Savage DDR4 128GB (8 x 16GB) DDR4 2666
The 128GB memory kit featured in this setup comes from the HyperX Savage DDR4 line with model number HX426C15SBK8/128. It is comprised of eight 16GB DIMMS with a speed rating of 2666MHz and a voltage of 1.2V. The kit is available at Newegg for $607.99.
Motherboard BIOS
Support for the 128GB capacity was added through a BIOS update for the X99 motherboards. Luckily we can find out what shipping BIOS came with our motherboard without having to power it up.
Locate the long, thin sticker that contains a barcode and a bunch of numbers. The last 4 digits is the shipping BIOS for the motherboard we have in our hands. Depending on the model, this sticker can be found above the memory slots, beside the 24 pin power connector or on the side of one of the PCIe expansion slots.
The following table lists the different ASUS X99 motherboards that are capable of running 128GB of RAM and the minimum BIOS revision necessary. If your shipping BIOS is prior to the revision listed in the table, proceed to the USB BIOS Flashback section.
Motherboard BIOS RAMPAGE V EXTREME 1502 SABERTOOTH X99 1801 X99-PRO 1801 X99-A 1801 X99-DELUXE 1801 X99-E WS 1201 X99-S 1801
USB BIOS Flashback
USB BIOS Flashback is a nifty feature to update your BIOS using a USB pendrive without a CPU or memory module present on the motherboard. The only requisite is that the motherboard must be receiving power.
However, here are some recommendations for the USB pendrive:
- Make sure the USB pendrive is FAT32 formatted.
- The USB pendrive should be empty.
- When possible, use USB pendrives that are small in capacity (2GB, 4GB or 8GB).
- Avoid using USB pendrives with hidden partitions.
Here’s the common procedure for using the USB BIOS Flashback feature:
- Download the latest BIOS along with the BIOS Renamer from the motherboard’s support page.
- Extract both to the same folder.
- Run the BIOS Renamer to have the BIOS file renamed automatically for the USB BIOS Flashback procedure.
- Copy the BIOS file to the USB pendrive.
- Insert the USB pendrive into the dedicated USB BIOS Flashback port.
- Press the USB BIOS Flashback button for three seconds until a LED starts to blink, then release the button.
- The LED will eventually blink faster and faster. Once it stops blinking, the process is finished.
Memory Tweaking
Configuring a 128GB memory kit to play nice on your motherboard requires a certain level of patience since a lot of trial and error takes place. Luckily, Rampage V Extreme owners can make use of the Safe Boot button that is located just right beside the Slow Mode Switch at the edge of the motherboard. The Safe Boot button forces the motherboard to reboot into the BIOS safe mode retaining all the previous settings that were changed.
Since each CPU is different, there isn’t a magic setting or a one configuration fits all. There are certain settings that can help us achieve stability. So it’s beneficial to add these settings in the My Favorites tab so we don’t waste time finding them one by one later on.
The QCODEs that pop up during post is a good indication which voltages to modify. A bd QCODE usually indicate insufficient System Agent Voltage. But since it’s a sensitive voltage, I don’t recommend you brute forcing it but rather use small increments.
A bf QCODE is a little tricky since it’s a memory instability error. As a starting point, change the Rampage Tweak option from Auto to Mode 1. If that fails, continue in Mode 1 and slightly increase the CPU Input Voltage, Core Voltage and Cache Voltage by a little bit. Some users increase the DRAM voltage but personally I don’t go that route. If none of the above works, then one must settle that his CPU’s IMC is below par and it might be necessary to consider running the memory at a lower frequency or with loosened primary timings.
Google Stressapptest
Stressful Application Test (or stressapptest, its unix name) is a memory interface test. It tries to maximize randomized traffic to memory from processor and I/O, with the intent of creating a realistic high load situation in order to test the existing hardware devices in a computer. It has been used at Google for some time and now it is available under the apache 2.0 license.
Once we’ve downloaded both files, run UNetbootin as administrator. Choose the Distribution you’re using and point the program to the ISO you’ve downloaded. The 64-bit version of Linux Mint is particularly small (less than 2GB) so a 4GB USB pendrive is more than sufficient.
Once the process has finished, restart your system and boot from the USB pendrive. You will be greeted with the following Linux Mint desktop. At this point you can continue to run the OS from the USB pendrive or install it to a spare HDD/SDD. If you prefer to run it off the USB pendrive, skip the following steps.
Double click the Install Linux Mint shortcut to start installation to a HDD/SSD. The install process is straightforward and identical to a Windows installation so you shouldn’t experience any problems with it.
Once the installation is over or if you skipped to this step, the next step is to download the Google Stressapptest. The quickest way to do so is to open up a Terminal and type the following command:
If done correctly, the application will download on its own and install itself automatically.
To run our newly installed stressapptest, we will input the following command:
stressapptest -W -s 3600
The duration of the test is measured in seconds. As a minimum, I would recommend you run at least 1 hour. As always if memory stability is a matter of life or death for your system, you should run it for a longer duration. There should be 0 errors during the test. If any errors show up, stop the test and continue tweaking the various voltages and rerun the test.
I was able to overclock the HyperX Savage DDR4 kit from 2666MHz to 2800MHz since my 5960X’s IMC is average at best and seems to top out at 2800MHz when using 128GB. The kit is running with the exact timings except for DRAM voltage which was raised to 1.35V to accommodate for the overclock. In regards to the other settings, everything was on Auto except for the System Agent Voltage which I increased to 0.95V and the CPU Input Voltage to 1.9V.
Last edited by Chino; 03-06-2017 at 05:10 PM.
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04-23-2016 01:41 AM #2
Menthol PC Specs Motherboard M 10 Apex / XI gene Processor 8700K / 9900K Memory (part number) 2x8 Gskill Trident Z 4266/2x2x8 Gskill Trident Z 4500 Graphics Card #1 RTX 2080ti / GTX 1060 Sound Card SoundBlaster Ae5 / Onboard Monitor BENQ 32" 4K Storage #1 Intel 900p 480GB/Samsung 960 Pro 1TB Storage #2 Intel 750 1.2TB/Plextor 1 TB 2X 950 Pro CPU Cooler Corsair H150i AIO / H1110i Case Corsair 740 ? Lian Li Air Power Supply Corsair AX 1200i / AX 1200i Keyboard Corsair Mouse ASUS Strix Headset HyperX Cloud Alpha Mouse Pad ASUS Headset/Speakers Logitech Z906 OS 10 X64 Pro Network Router Verizon Fios Accessory #1 Intel Wifi BT pcie card Accessory #2 Red Bull Accessory #3 English Breakfast Tea
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Chino,
Very good guide, especially like the well explained Linux guide
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04-23-2016 01:46 AM #3
Avenger411 PC Specs Motherboard Asus Rampage V Extreme Processor Intel 5930K@4.3Ghz Memory (part number) G-Skills DDR4-3200 (16-16-16-36-1T) 1.375v Graphics Card #1 EVGA Titan X w/ 980 Hybrid AiO Liquid Cooler Monitor Asus RoG Swift PG278Q Storage #1 OCZ RD400A (Windows) Storage #2 Samsung 950 Pro (Gaming) CPU Cooler Corsair H100i Case Corsair 780T Power Supply Antec HCP-1000w Platinum Keyboard Corsair K70 Cherry-Mx Brown Mouse Logitech G502 Proteus Core Headset Roccat 5.1 True Surround Digital Mouse Pad Razer Vespula Headset/Speakers Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround OS Windows 10 Pro Network Router Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 Accessory #1 Iphone 6S 64gb Accessory #2 Brainwave Headset Stand Accessory #3 Microsoft Xbox360 Pc Controller
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Hey,
Nice tutorial chino!. I can see people already benefiting this. Even for me not using the 128gb kits, it's a nice refresh from the good old 16gb gskills setup tutorial
MaxCpu : Intel 5930K@4.25ghz@1.2v / Cache @4.25ghz@1.20v
Cpu Cooler : Corsair H100i
Case : Corsair 780T
Memory : G.Skills 32GB DDR4-3200mhz CAS 15-15-15-35-1T@1.370v
Motherboard : Asus Rampage V Extreme (BIOS 3504)
M2 : Samsung 950 Pro NVME 512gb (Gaming)
M2 : SSD1 : OCZ RD400A 128gb (windows)
SSD1 : Crucial MX100 512gb (data)
Gfx : EVGA Titan X w/ 980 Hybrid Cooling AiO Liquid Cooler
PSU : Antec HCP-1000W
Monitor : Asus RoG Swift
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04-23-2016 03:19 AM #4
Hopper64 PC Specs Motherboard Asus MZ690E Bios 1505 Processor i9 12900KS Memory (part number) GSkill F5-6400J3239G16GX2-TZ5RK Graphics Card #1 Asus 3090 Strix OC/Optimus Block Sound Card Creative SB X4 Monitor Asus ROG XG349C Storage #1 Samsung 980 Pro CPU Cooler Quantum Kinetic TBE 300 D5 with Quantum VTX 160 Case Phanteks Enthoo Elite Power Supply Corsair AX1600i Keyboard Asus ROG Claymore 2 Mouse Asus ROG Gladius III OS Windows 11 64
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Thanks Chino. Someone going to sticky this one?
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04-23-2016 05:02 AM #5
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I've been running this kit for a month or so (128G CAS14 3000):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-269-_-Product
It's a little more ($850) and runs 2800 CAS 12 BCLK100 with normal voltages, but I haven't been able to even POST at 3000 under any circumstances. CAS12 2800 128G is nothing to sneeze at and none of my 59xx's have been happy with > 2800 with 64 or 128G.
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04-23-2016 02:28 PM #6
Hopper64 PC Specs Motherboard Asus MZ690E Bios 1505 Processor i9 12900KS Memory (part number) GSkill F5-6400J3239G16GX2-TZ5RK Graphics Card #1 Asus 3090 Strix OC/Optimus Block Sound Card Creative SB X4 Monitor Asus ROG XG349C Storage #1 Samsung 980 Pro CPU Cooler Quantum Kinetic TBE 300 D5 with Quantum VTX 160 Case Phanteks Enthoo Elite Power Supply Corsair AX1600i Keyboard Asus ROG Claymore 2 Mouse Asus ROG Gladius III OS Windows 11 64
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Wonder how the new 6950x will play with 128 or 64G?
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04-23-2016 03:50 PM #7
Arne Saknussemm PC Specs Laptop (Model) Laptop?...No way! (Model?...Jun Amaki...yes way!) Motherboard ROG ZENITH II EXTREME Processor THREADRIPPER 3960X Memory (part number) TXBD48G4000HC18FBK Graphics Card #1 GTX Titan X Graphics Card #2 SLI is dead to me Graphics Card #3 Tri SLI is even dead to Nvidia Graphics Card #4 Quad SLI is dead to everybody especially my credit card Sound Card Xonar Essence STX Monitor ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q Storage #1 Samsung 970/960/950 PRO Storage #2 2x OCZ VERTEX 3/2x WD Caviar Black 500GB / 2x WD RED 2TB/Samsung 1TBSSDs CPU Cooler Custom Loop: Dual D5s, Dual Alphacool Monsta 480s, XSPC Raystorm Neo TR4, EK TitanX WaterBlock Case Nope!...Dimastech Easy XL...let it all hang out man! Power Supply Seasonic 1000 Platinum Keyboard Corsair Strafe MK2 ROG Claymore... or Fender Rhodes Electric Piano (MKI 73) Mouse Corsair M65Pro or Speedy Gonzalez...not Mickey...don't do Disney! Headset ...firmly on neck Mouse Pad Mouse don't got his own pad man...lives with me Headset/Speakers Edifier Spinnaker...or you mean the speakers in my head...man too many voices to name them all OS Win XP, 7, 8, 8.1 and Windows 10 Spyware Edition Network Router 56k modem Accessory #1 Umm...nice tie? Accessory #2 Err...belt? Accessory #3 3 accessories?! I'm not a girl!!
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Nice guide Chino!
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05-16-2016 08:53 AM #8
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A pretty big update this weekend.
Finally got all the parts to move my best CPU to the R5E (previously the R5E had a 5930k and the 5960x lived on an X99-PRO):
1. XMP worked out of the box with 128G 3000 CAS 14 for the first time, ever... Everything auto, but XMP.
2. default XMP is 125bclk which I don't like (I want adaptive, speed step, etc... to all work)
3. 100blk works! With +.220 SA, no other changes (er, oops, that and LLC 5 and 140% current limit on dram in digi+)
I hadn't seen much difference between X99 PRO and R5E previously, but I'm finally getting some premium worth paying for now that I've shaken all the other variables out...
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10-02-2016 02:44 PM #9
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755
How long will the test take?
ASUS ROG Rampage V Edition 10 (1003)
i7-6950X
Kingston HyperX Savage DIMM Kit 128GB, DDR4-2666, CL15 (HX426C15SBK8/128)
I run this over night and in the late morning i got only 2% of the Test !?
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10-04-2016 04:58 AM #10
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The duration of the test will depend on how long you programmed it to run. In this guide's case, it runs for 1 hour.
If you left your system on for over night and you're only seeing 2%, your memory overclock probably isn't stable in which case manual tweaking will be required. Was your system frozen?