Asus maximus x apex gskill ram compatibility issue (qvl)

[Silent Scone@ROG]

I already tested the RAM sticks using memtest around 5 hours. It passed each test and completed successfully. I believe the issue is related to BIOS. High memory frequency (3866Mhz) and my CPU overclock prevents the boot due to not sufficient voltages VCCIO/VCCSA etc.

Probably it will be fixed at future BIOS releases.

Memtest86? or HCI Memtest? The former won't tell you anything conclusive at all and is not relevant anymore. My last post stands, MRC FB disables memory training after the initial cold boot and retains settings in NVRAM, but you need test with a more thorough memory stress test to conclude the system is now stable.

As I say, if you are HCI memtest stable then there's no concern using the feature suggested by Shamino. The issue is not with the UEFI version, but with the applied settings not being stable enough to pass memory training.

[VSS-HH]

Dude you are just awesome. It's fixed.

Many thanks to everyone for their comments.

MXA this is a strange board, 4k no post in DIMM A_1, DIMM B_1 4k post without error
my best settings

[Magma]

Hi guys. I meet the same problem like you, my g skill ram at 4400 is really badly detected with the Apex X motherboard.
I suggest you to do like me, writing a mail to asus, asking for new bios versions upgrade, with new memory table in.
I asked them to make new bios with better memory profile, with xmp mode, it's not normal for us to pay more 350 € for a motherboard like strix series or Apex, and to be still limited at ram @ 3800, when today, we can buy new ram who can be stable with xmp mode until 5 Ghz.
I think more we are to ask them to make new bios, and so, more fast our ask will be taken in charge, and finally, have a positive answer.

Until that, so, just wait and pray... ;-)

[Silent Scone@ROG]

Hi guys. I meet the same problem like you, my g skill ram at 4400 is really badly detected with the Apex X motherboard.
I suggest you to do like me, writing a mail to asus, asking for new bios versions upgrade, with new memory table in.
I asked them to make new bios with better memory profile, with xmp mode, it's not normal for us to pay more 350 € for a motherboard like strix series or Apex, and to be still limited at ram @ 3800, when today, we can buy new ram who can be stable with xmp mode until 5 Ghz.
I think more we are to ask them to make new bios, and so, more fast our ask will be taken in charge, and finally, have a positive answer.

Until that, so, just wait and pray... ;-)

You can wait all you want, none of that will improve the capability of the CPU IMC. Those speeds will require manual tuning if the CPU sample is able at all. If looking for plug and play stick to memory kits at or below 3600.

[Phillyflyer]

I set VCCSA and VCCIO voltages manually. When the system boots up normally it set these voltages around 1.3V automatically. So I manually entered them however it didn't work.

I ran the PC at 5.3Ghz and completed Prime95 (4 hours) and RealBench (2 hours). It's absolutely rock solid. However this cold boot problem due RAM is annoying.

Care to share ur 5.3ghz overclock settings for Prime 95 stability ? Can u post some stability screenshots?

[tt0ne]

G.Skill F4-3866C18D-32GTZR - the same kit as the OP has absolutely does not work with the Apex XI. Just like the OP stated that the kit was listed on the QVL list for his motherboard it is also listed on the Apex XI QVL. Please realize that this kit came out of my Apex X where it ran in my daily driver for the last two years. It doesn't matter if I choose XMP 1 - XMP2 or try and configure it manually. The fact of the matter is, if it's on the QVL it means I should be able to configure XMP and move on - not that I would ever just accept default settings but that's another story lol...

Anyways, unless someone comes on and states they have this kit working on their Apex XI I think Asus should take it off their next revision of the QVL. My two cents.

For the record, went to the shelf and grabbed an old set of G.Skill F4-3200C14D-32GTZ and that kit worked exactly as one would expect listed on the QVL (which it is).

NOTE: Just to avoid anyone suggesting it is my memory controller I did this https://hwbot.org/submission/4105030 with the same Apex XI and 9900k. It's a crappy score (unlike Jabby's score at 2nd place - nice!) but the point is that 4800 mhz at 19-19-19 is ridiculously high.

[jab383]

I've wondered how much OC headroom those HOF's have, ttOne. They should be quick at 19-19-19 and high bandwidth at that speed.

I agree that properly working RAMs on the QVL should boot straight from XMP. All the APEXes I've used did so with 3600, 4266 and 4400 speeds - haven't tried the subject 3866 kit. If the 3866 fails repeatedly with different CPUs, including ttOne's very good one, I think the 3866 kits have a problem. Something like the XMP tables borked in a way that just passes the QVL tests with the (small? Engineering samples?) set of CPUs used in the limited time ASUS has for such tests before fielding the motherboard model. ASUS might well take this sort of feedback.

Workarounds adjusting Vccio and Vccsa have been suggested above. Another suggestion is to increase DRAM Voltage - in steps of .01 volts up to 1.45 volts max. That has been effective when other motherboard models had trouble with XMP.

If the trouble is only with POST and training, DRAM voltage can be set higher in the Extreme Tweaking tab, then in the Tweaker's Paradise subtab, set the Eventual DRAM Voltage back to the XMP level. That will give better RAM performance while training, then less stress in everyday use.

[tt0ne]

What makes those HoF sticks so crazy is that I'm hitting that speed and timings in dual channel - which with the Apex X and a 8086k I could only do with one stick in single channel mode - so kudos not just to Galax but also to Asus and Intel ;-)

I think the set in question is an anomaly. On the Apex X I had them running at 4000 16-17-17 CR2 full prime stable (they were part of my daily driver gear and not so much for benching).

Marco

PS: Man, grats on being #1 overall in the USA for this current league year! Crazy seeing BigBlock and Splave behind you :-)

[jab383]

That ranking is just a matter of luck right now. Something like quantity over quality. When the elite overclockers drop their sandbags in the contests, their quality will swamp me.

[tt0ne]

Still, enjoy it for now!