Dual Channel Memory issues with Z790 Steel Legend

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   If you have both RAM modules in the A slots then you are not running in dual channel.
A and B indicate the channels, if you have RAM in A1 and B1 or A2 and B2 then you
are running in dual channel. 2 RAM modules installed does not mean you are running
in dual channel, they must be in the correct slots:

A2 and B2 (recommended) -> Dual channel
A1 and B1 => Dual channel
A1 and B2 => Single channel
A2 and B1 -> Single channel
A1 and A2 -> Single channel
B1 and B2 -> Single channel

The confusion is caused by how DDR5 works. As far as I understand it, DDR5 modules
function as if they are 2 modules in one (ie, Dual channel). If the information
I have been looking at is correct that means that dual channel is actually quad
channel with DDR5. This is irrelevant when it comes to performance however because
regardless of it being "dual channel" you are still losing half your bandwidth 
with both modules in the A channel. Once 3rd party monitoring apps are updated
for the new standard properly it will stop being reported as dual channel with
a single module or both modules in a single channel. 

The TLDR is that you should return your CPU if you are unable to get the RAM
to work properly in slots A2 and B2 or A1 and B1. That is a strong indication of
a weak or even bad memory controller on the CPU.

I hope this makes sense. 

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Xaltar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 16 May 2015 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 21128	Post Options Post Reply Quote Xaltar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Dual Channel Memory issues with Z790 Steel Legend Posted: 13 Jul 2023 at 12:03am
	If you have both RAM modules in the A slots then you are not running in dual channel. A and B indicate the channels, if you have RAM in A1 and B1 or A2 and B2 then you are running in dual channel. 2 RAM modules installed does not mean you are running in dual channel, they must be in the correct slots: A2 and B2 (recommended) -> Dual channel A1 and B1 => Dual channel A1 and B2 => Single channel A2 and B1 -> Single channel A1 and A2 -> Single channel B1 and B2 -> Single channel The confusion is caused by how DDR5 works. As far as I understand it, DDR5 modules function as if they are 2 modules in one (ie, Dual channel). If the information I have been looking at is correct that means that dual channel is actually quad channel with DDR5. This is irrelevant when it comes to performance however because regardless of it being "dual channel" you are still losing half your bandwidth with both modules in the A channel. Once 3rd party monitoring apps are updated for the new standard properly it will stop being reported as dual channel with a single module or both modules in a single channel. The TLDR is that you should return your CPU if you are unable to get the RAM to work properly in slots A2 and B2 or A1 and B1. That is a strong indication of a weak or even bad memory controller on the CPU. I hope this makes sense.


Xaltar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 16 May 2015 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 21128	Post Options Post Reply Quote Xaltar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Jul 2023 at 4:59pm
	Yeah, it's still not very common but it does happen more than it used to. Given that this is a manufacturer's forum it's not odd that we see it more often here. Most people immediately suspect the motherboard, which makes sense, some part of it isn't working right. Not many people are aware that the memory controller is on the CPU.


GabrielKD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30 Mar 2023 Location: Romania Status: Offline Points: 30	Post Options Post Reply Quote GabrielKD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Jul 2023 at 4:01pm
	It was the CPU for me, returned it and got a replacement and it worked just fine. I haven't had a CPU issue in forever, not a pleasant experience.

Xaltar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 16 May 2015 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 21128	Post Options Post Reply Quote Xaltar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Apr 2023 at 2:44am
	Unfortunately, most of the time when I see this issue it turns out to be the CPU. The CPU contains the memory controller and they are quite prone to dying and even be DOA. Dual channel = 2 memory channels and it's quite common for one to be dead or die, both on AMD and Intel. To put your mind at ease however, they will almost always be dead on arrival or die within a very short time (hours to days). It tends to happen when the CPU only barely passed the testing phase after production. Edited by Xaltar - 12 Apr 2023 at 2:45am


banno Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30 Mar 2023 Status: Offline Points: 30	Post Options Post Reply Quote banno Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Apr 2023 at 10:58pm
	I've tried another motherboard (MSI Z690 Carbon) Same problem, so seems not to be motherboard issue.

GabrielKD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30 Mar 2023 Location: Romania Status: Offline Points: 30	Post Options Post Reply Quote GabrielKD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Mar 2023 at 3:31pm
	I9 13900K Z790 Steel Legend Wifi Kingston KF556C40BBK2-64 x 2 64GB kit I got the same issue, DRAM led on, restarts and tries again endlessly. Managed to get it to boot with 1 stick in A2, upgraded BIOS to the latest version (Z790-Steel-Legend-WiFi_7.04.ROM) to no avail. Tried disabling ASRock optimizations and choosing XMP1 still to no avail, won't boot with A2-B2 or A1-B1, similarly to single stick in B1 or B2. Boots fine with 1 stick A2, didn't check A1 Ram is good since I used it and tried it again in an older configuration (a Z690 with 12th gen) with no issues. Is there no chance to run this? Is this ram simply not actually working on this card/bios? What alternatives do I have except returning the MB? Help!

banno Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30 Mar 2023 Status: Offline Points: 30	Post Options Post Reply Quote banno Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Mar 2023 at 2:23am
	I have the same issue. I9 13900KF Z790 Steel Legend KF560C36BBEAK2-32 5600J3036D16GX2-RS5K Tried 2 different RAM kits same issue, Both work with 1 stick only, soon as i use dual channel I get constant app crashes with errors 0xc0000005 Neither of the ram kits can run close to XMP. KF560C36BBEAK2-32 which is on QVL list cannot hit XMP target

Baginiak Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Mar 2023 Location: Poland Status: Offline Points: 50	Post Options Post Reply Quote Baginiak Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Mar 2023 at 6:33pm
	I have the same, from 32Gb I wanted to replace to 64 Gb. 8 parts of the memory on the motherboard only the left side of the 32 GB works. Asrock does not know what is going on with their products.

Skid999 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2023 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 35	Post Options Post Reply Quote Skid999 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Mar 2023 at 6:19am
	BIOS update and disabling XMP worked for me. As soon as XMP is on I get random shut downs at idle and memtest gives pages of errors. I've tried some BIOS settings but I'm no expert and it's just scrabbling in the dark for something Asrock should have sorted.
	ASRock Z790 ITX WiFi i5-13600K 2X 32GB G.Skill RipjawS5 F5 5600 CL 36 Asus AP201 Deepcool Gammaxx L360 V2 AIO

Crizz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 02 Mar 2023 Status: Offline Points: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote Crizz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Mar 2023 at 4:12am
	Hello, Just registered after finding this topic in Google. I bought the Z790 Steel Legend WiFi in January 2023, since than I have issues referring to RAM. Installed where 2 16GB Patriot Memory Viper Venom PVV532G600C36K. I am getting BSoD with Clock_watchdog_timeout. I tried everything possible solution found on the internet. I even bought new RAM modules, Trident Z5 to exclude RAM errors, although test said no errors found. Guess what, same issue still present. I use A2 and B2 as described in the manual as recommended memory configuration. I am really stating to think, this issue is in the motherboard. I hope ASROCK support can come with a solution. Regards, Cris