So anyone know how to test if RAM is bad of if its a problem with the memory controller?

[baseline bum]

nm

[spurraider21]

downloadmoreram.com

[baseline bum]

downloadmoreram.com

Wouldn't work, the problem was Alder Lake non-K cpus locking down the VCCSA at 0.95V so that I couldn't give my cpu's memory controller enough voltage to work reliably at 1800MHz, thus making the only way I could run my DDR4 3600 RAM at 3600 MT/s would be to run in Gear 2 where the IMC's clock was dropped in half to 900MHz. But this increases latency pretty badly and Gear 2 is only useful with extremely fast RAM, say 4400 MT/s or higher. So I dropped my RAM to 3200 MT/s speed which allowed it to run in Gear 1 with the IMC's clock at 1600MHz.

[SpursforSix]

Did you try a full shut down and restart?

[Ef-man]

Wouldn't work, the problem was Alder Lake non-K cpus locking down the VCCSA at 0.95V so that I couldn't give my cpu's memory controller enough voltage to work reliably at 1800MHz, thus making the only way I could run my DDR4 3600 RAM at 3600 MT/s would be to run in Gear 2 where the IMC's clock was dropped in half to 900MHz. But this increases latency pretty badly and Gear 2 is only useful with extremely fast RAM, say 4400 MT/s or higher. So I dropped my RAM to 3200 MT/s speed which allowed it to run in Gear 1 with the IMC's clock at 1600MHz.

There is an article on that issue.

https://wccftech.com/msis-latest-z690-b660-motherboard-bios-improves-intel-alder-lake-non-k-memory-compatibility/

[baseline bum]

There is an article on that issue.

https://wccftech.com/msis-latest-z690-b660-motherboard-bios-improves-intel-alder-lake-non-k-memory-compatibility/

And it's a terrible solution. DDR4 3600 at Gear 2 is slow as hell, comparable to like DDR4 2400 or maybe DDR4 2666 at Gear 1. But Intel left MSI with no other option since it's the only way to get DDR4 3600 or faster XMP profiles running on locked Alder Lake chips and people will blame the RAM or the board before they'll blame the cpu.

[Thread]

Just a heads up on an older desk top tower type machines...those vents in the sides can get quite dusty. My machine nearly seized up conveying a fan problem upon the restart. The tower is on the floor. I crawled down there, hands and knees and sure as hell both sides were nearly sealed. I got the shop vacuum out of the garage and sucked it all out and the machine came back to life.

[baseline bum]

Just a heads up on an older desk top tower type machines...those vents in the sides can get quite dusty. My machine nearly seized up conveying a fan problem upon the restart. The tower is on the floor. I crawled down there, hands and knees and sure as hell both sides were nearly sealed. I got the shop vacuum out of the garage and sucked it all out and the machine came back to life.

Easiest way to clean a dusty PC is to take it outside, remove the panels, and blast it with the leaf blower.

[DMC]

Wouldn't work, the problem was Alder Lake non-K cpus locking down the VCCSA at 0.95V so that I couldn't give my cpu's memory controller enough voltage to work reliably at 1800MHz, thus making the only way I could run my DDR4 3600 RAM at 3600 MT/s would be to run in Gear 2 where the IMC's clock was dropped in half to 900MHz. But this increases latency pretty badly and Gear 2 is only useful with extremely fast RAM, say 4400 MT/s or higher. So I dropped my RAM to 3200 MT/s speed which allowed it to run in Gear 1 with the IMC's clock at 1600MHz.

I was just about to post this but you obviously found it already.

[DMC]

Easiest way to clean a dusty PC is to take it outside, remove the panels, and blast it with the leaf blower.

Or air hose if you don't like your neighbor that much. Also, make you a stand with a couple IKEA accessories (legs and bench top). Get your tower off the floor.