PC Building

[eebiii]

Threw together a little test bench so I can check some parts that have been sitting around for a while. I picked up a 7700x about 2 months ago and thought I would set that up first. I am using the same x670e Tomahawk board that I have been using in my main computer for about 4 or 5 months.  Also same RAM, 64GB (4 x 16GB) which was always running at 6000 with a 7800x3d. I never updated the BIOS in this board. The BIOS was from Feb 2023. It worked flawlessly with gaming, benchmarking, overclocking, whatever I threw at it. Ok, fast forward to today, after disassembly of everything and rebuild, I decided to update BIOS. Done deal 15 mins. Now, I cannot for the life of me get all 4 sticks to work right without freezing up the PC or doing some other random sh**. Two sticks works great! No issues on anything whatsoever. Yes, I have swapped the sticks around and have no issue with any of the RAM. I though a 3080ti in that I have had sitting around for 18 months but used DDU to uninstall old AMD drivers and install Nvidia drivers and no issues with 2 sticks of ram @ 6000. As a matter of fact, first run on Time Spy benchmark and I was 300pts off the world record for 7700x and 3080ti. That was a dry run no overclocking or setting adjustments. Now I didn't check but there are probably only 5 entries with those 2 parts, lol. I feel like I am missing something. I know all 4 sticks of RAM, MB, CPU work, just cant get 64GB to work together, even at stock speeds. Any ideas?

Ryzen 7700X

x670e Tomahawk

Corsair Vengeance DDR 5 6000

2 TB m.2 

1200w PSU

Strix 3080ti

[FunkZ · Accepted solution]

Although most AM5 CPUs are capable of running 2 memory sticks @ DDR5-6000 it's a toss-up whether you'll get 4 sticks to run that speed.

Most likely you just got lucky with the memory controller in the 7800X3D, or unlucky with the 7700X, whichever way you want to look at it.

https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/desktops/ryzen/7000-series/amd-ryzen-7-7700x.html

[BigAl01 · Accepted solution]

So, you checked the parts and found it impossible to run all four sticks of RAM at the rated speed.  Are you going to disassemble this build and go back to your Ryzen 7 7800X3D anyway?  I think @FunkZ is right about the memory controller in the CPU.  

[elstaci · Accepted solution]

Looking at your MSI Motherboard QVL List for RAM for the 7000 series Processor listing just the Corsair RAM Memory at 6000 Speed that are compatible it seems like the most common Corsair Part Numbers are compatible in 2 DIMM Slots and not in 4 DIMM Slots. There are some that are compatible on 4 DIMM slots though:https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-X670E-TOMAHAWK-WIFI/support#mem

Here are all the 6000 speed Corsair RAM that are compatible with both 2 & 4 DIMM Slots. There are about only 5 RAM Part Numbers that are compatible with 4 DIMM Slots. I marked them all with check marks:

Most likely you have a Corsair RAM Part Number that is only compatible in 2 DIMM slots for your Motherboard.

[FunkZ · Accepted solution]

Although most AM5 CPUs are capable of running 2 memory sticks @ DDR5-6000 it's a toss-up whether you'll get 4 sticks to run that speed.

Most likely you just got lucky with the memory controller in the 7800X3D, or unlucky with the 7700X, whichever way you want to look at it.

https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/desktops/ryzen/7000-series/amd-ryzen-7-7700x.html

[BigAl01 · Accepted solution]

So, you checked the parts and found it impossible to run all four sticks of RAM at the rated speed.  Are you going to disassemble this build and go back to your Ryzen 7 7800X3D anyway?  I think @FunkZ is right about the memory controller in the CPU.  

[eebiii]

I used the 7800x3d for my sons Christmas build. Hès the real gamer. So I picked up the 7700x at Microcenter for cheap a couple months ago. And I would love to have a 9950x3d. But then would have to get the x870e chipset and some really fast RAM and m.2 and I would have to of course water cool everything, and this would lead to new blocks, rads, fittings, tubing etc..  It just cost to **bleep** much. Although I do have a bunch of parts I am going to sell off before they get too old and I know for sure I will be picking up a Strix x870e MB.

[BigAl01]

I have an Asus X870 Plus motherboard that's part of my current mod project 'Green with Envy', but I'm using the Ryzen 7 7800X3D with this motherboard so I couldn't justify the prices of the X870E motherboards.  What do you get with the 'E' versions of this chipset?

Our cat Molly approves all of my components before they get installed.

[johnnyenglish]

Less IO and chipset lanes but for a simple gaming setup, not significant. You still get 16X PCI 5.0 for the GPU and 4, PCI for nvme.

Link to puget systems

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/amd-x870e-vs-x870-vs-x670e-vs-x670-vs-b650e-vs-b650/?srsl... 

[elstaci]

@BigAl01  Off subject, but that is one beautiful cat.  The black and orange fur pattern really shows off the cat's beauty.

I once had a pure white/black cat that I picked up while working at a bank as a Service Technician when it was still a kitten.  Lived to be over 20 years old before dying in our living room one day of natural causes.  Real  back alley tom cat though.

[eebiii]

I agree with everyone else. There isn't much of a difference. But there is a tiny difference in some boards, more pci-e lanes, m.2 slots, some have display port screens and some even power and reset buttons on the MB. That comes in extremely handy when troubleshooting. 

[eebiii]

I have an older x570 prime MB. I just got this one halfway cleaned up and its ready for testing.

Sorry no cat here for approval and the dog is worthless lol.

[elstaci · Accepted solution]

Looking at your MSI Motherboard QVL List for RAM for the 7000 series Processor listing just the Corsair RAM Memory at 6000 Speed that are compatible it seems like the most common Corsair Part Numbers are compatible in 2 DIMM Slots and not in 4 DIMM Slots. There are some that are compatible on 4 DIMM slots though:https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-X670E-TOMAHAWK-WIFI/support#mem

Here are all the 6000 speed Corsair RAM that are compatible with both 2 & 4 DIMM Slots. There are about only 5 RAM Part Numbers that are compatible with 4 DIMM Slots. I marked them all with check marks:

Most likely you have a Corsair RAM Part Number that is only compatible in 2 DIMM slots for your Motherboard.

[johnnyenglish · Accepted solution]

I would try to flash it back to the older BIOS version. I mean, if its possible.

[eebiii]

Thanks all for the replies. I guess I will just have to use it as an excuse to build another am5 system. I have a strix b650-a to play with. 

[Awol]

@eebiii Off topic i know but as a regular builder of custom loops would you prefer EKWB over Alphacool. Only ask as of late the EKWB parts are 1. Expensive 2. Getting harder to get. Any opinion would be appreciated.

[eebiii]

This is hard because I think all water blocks work well. Everything in the pics is dirty and needs cleaned, and it takes about 20-30mins to clean a block. I have used EK, Barrow, TT, Bykski and alphacool, ROG, swiftech and I'm sure a few others I am not thinking about. As you can see from the pictures of blocks I posted, I am 90% EK for everything.

The Bykski block on the 6950xt in the case has been awesome! No issues and kept that card cold! for over a year. Now if you look close at that picture you will see there is a little algae build-up after a year. That could be my install and didn't tighten everything down well or the O-ring failing after a year. I just don't see it too much in EK blocks. Just needs a quick cleanup after I drain the system, and it will be good for another couple years. Awesome block!

I am really impressed by the ROG CPU block. That thing is kicking ass. Love it! And if I remember right @AwolAwol, you have a 7900xtx and the EK Velocity 2 full cover block is flat out the best GPU water block I have ever used on any card! It rarely ever reaches 50C under full load for 6 hours no matter what gets thrown at it. 

My overall opinion is EK and Bykski for GPU blocks. EK is a bit more and you most likely have to buy a backplate separately unless you buy a full blanket block. Bykski GPU block kits come with the backplate and are usually a lot cheaper and cooling performance is on par with EK.

CPU blocks I stick with EK and now after using that ROG block, I will most likely use it again. Although I hope they come out with different options. I also had good luck with the Barrow and Heatkiller CPU blocks. They always held up well. I tend to stay away from TT, corsair, bitspower, etc...

Hope this helps 😀 Also, when I am referring to Bykski, I mean alphacool too. I think they are all identical blocks just under different names. and the LED's don't match up right if you try throwing different manufacturers together so I tend to pick one and stick with it throughout the system including with pump combos, fans, etc. if I can