Installing new RAM into HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop 690-0024 causes wide assortment of BSOD

[BHaldroon]

Hello everyone!

I recently purchased 16GB (2 x 8GB) of g.skill RIPJAWS V RAM (F4-2666C15D-16GVR) to install into my desktop. The previously installed RAM was a single 8GB stick of SK Hynix PC4-2666V-UA2-11. Unfortunately, after installing both sticks my PC became incredibly unstable, with frequent BSODs of all kinds. Oddly enough, when I first installed the sticks, the system seemed to work pretty well. I played Forza Horizon (which requires a minimum of 12GB RAM) for a couple of hours, and it ran great. After that, the PC started to BSOD crash, and the crashes became more frequent as time went on. When I put the old stick back in, the crashes stopped.

For troubleshooting I ran the PC with a single stick of new RAM. Everything was fine. I moved that stick to the other of the two RAM slots, and the system still worked fine. I pulled that stick out and inserted the other one, and I had the same results: smooth operations, in both slots. It's only when running both that I have the problem.

I have run the Windows memory test and the HP diagnostic tool, and both show the RIPJAWS sticks to be error-free. I have not run the memtest86 diagnostic yet because I haven't been able to get the BIOS to recognize either a boot USB or a boot CD. I have reports from CPU-Z and OpenHardwareMonitor, but I'm not sure how to post them into the forum.

The answer to this issue may be as simple as the RAM not being compatible with the motherboard. I'm having trouble proving that to be the case, since the sticks work individually. I'm hoping that there's a setting somewhere that I can modify that will solve the problem, but I understand if that's simply not feasible. I didn't want to purchase any replacement RAM before I was certain that there wasn't some other cause of the failure, especially if that cause is related to the motherboard or CPU.

Thanks for any help or resources you can provide. I've tried to do my own research for the last couple days, but I'm at the limit of what I can learn from Google searches.

[old_geekster]

@BHaldroon , welcome to the forum.

S: The answer to this issue may be as simple as the RAM not being compatible with the motherboard.

A: You are correct!  I believe that the memory is not compatible with the motherboard.  The maximum speed of memory that is compatible is DDR4-2400.  Here is the Product Specifications page: https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-pavilion-gaming-desktop-pc-690-0000a/37730935/model/22909853...

Look at the section titled "Memory/Memory upgrade information" to see all of the information about the memory.  HP has not added XMP profiles to the BIOS/UEFI for any higher speeds: https://www.pcgamer.com/what-are-xmp-profiles-and-how-do-i-use-them/

Also, HP motherboards are very picky when it comes to new gaming memory.

Please click the Thumbs up + button if I have helped you and click Accept as Solution if your problem is solved.

[BHaldroon]

"The maximum speed of memory that is compatible is DDR4-2400."

I saw that, but since the RAM worked individually, I wasn't sure if there was another cause of the failure. After all, the PC came installed with a stick of DDR4-2666 -- which seems strange for a system that supposedly can't handle more than DDR4-2400.

"Also, HP motherboards are very picky when it comes to new gaming memory."

Is there a rundown about how picky it is? I'm nervous about just buying a new set of DDR4-2400 RAM if there's some other aspect that my PC rejects.

[old_geekster]

The motherboard has Dual channel (2 DIMMs per channel) memory architecture.  Therefore, it is good to install the memory as matched pairs: https://www.crucial.com/articles/about-memory/what-is-dual-channel-memory

I am sorry for the discrepancy in the specifications for the memory.  I see that it states DDR4-2666 in one section and DDR4-2400 in the other section.  This happens from time to time.  HP uses the same motherboard in many different models with many different configurations.  I suggest that you run CPU-Z to find the manufacturer and timings of the original memory: https://download.cnet.com/CPU-Z/3000-2086_4-10050423.html

This information is in the tab titled "SPD".

What is the manufacturer's name and model of the new memory that you bought?  This may be a problem, also.

[BHaldroon]

The original RAM was made by SK Hynix. Here's the related section of the CPU-Z report:

Spoiler

Chipset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge AMD Ryzen SOC rev. 00
Southbridge AMD B350 rev. 51
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x8
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR4
Memory Size 8 GBytes
Channels Single
Memory Frequency 1330.6 MHz (3:40)
CAS# latency (CL) 20.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD) 19
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 19
Cycle Time (tRAS) 43
Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 62
Command Rate (CR) 1T
Uncore Frequency 1330.6 MHz

Memory SPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR4
Module format UDIMM
Module Manufacturer(ID) SK Hynix (AD000000000000000000000000)
SDRAM Manufacturer (ID) SK Hynix (AD000000000000000000000000)
Size 8192 MBytes
Max bandwidth DDR4-2666 (1333 MHz)
Part number HMA81GU6CJR8N-VK
Serial number 92799ACA
Manufacturing date Week 25/Year 18
Nominal Voltage 1.20 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
AMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 10.0-10-10-24-34 @ 727 MHz
JEDEC #2 11.0-11-11-26-37 @ 800 MHz
JEDEC #3 12.0-12-12-28-40 @ 872 MHz
JEDEC #4 13.0-14-14-31-44 @ 945 MHz
JEDEC #5 14.0-14-14-33-47 @ 1018 MHz
JEDEC #6 15.0-15-15-35-50 @ 1090 MHz
JEDEC #7 16.0-16-16-38-54 @ 1163 MHz
JEDEC #8 17.0-17-17-40-57 @ 1236 MHz
JEDEC #9 18.0-18-18-42-60 @ 1309 MHz
JEDEC #10 19.0-19-19-43-61 @ 1333 MHz
JEDEC #11 20.0-19-19-43-61 @ 1333 MHz

The new RAM was made by g.skill (model - RIPJAWS V). Report section below:

Spoiler

Chipset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge AMD Ryzen SOC rev. 00
Southbridge AMD B350 rev. 51
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x8
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR4
Memory Size 16 GBytes
Channels Dual
Memory Frequency 1066.0 MHz (3:32)
CAS# latency (CL) 15.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD) 15
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 15
Cycle Time (tRAS) 36
Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 51
Command Rate (CR) 1T
Uncore Frequency 1064.5 MHz

Memory SPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR4
Module format UDIMM
Module Manufacturer(ID) G.Skill (7F7F7F7FCD0000000000000000)
SDRAM Manufacturer (ID) Samsung (CE000000000000000000000000)
Size 8192 MBytes
Max bandwidth DDR4-2132 (1066 MHz)
Part number F4-2666C15-8GVR
Nominal Voltage 1.20 Volts
EPP no
XMP yes
XMP revision 2.0
AMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 10.0-10-10-24-34 @ 727 MHz
JEDEC #2 11.0-11-11-27-38 @ 800 MHz
JEDEC #3 12.0-12-12-29-41 @ 872 MHz
JEDEC #4 13.0-14-14-32-45 @ 945 MHz
JEDEC #5 14.0-14-14-34-48 @ 1018 MHz
JEDEC #6 15.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz
JEDEC #7 16.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz
XMP profile XMP-2666
Specification DDR4-2666
Voltage level 1.200 Volts
Min Cycle time 0.750 ns (1333 MHz)
Max CL 15.0
Min tRP 11.25 ns
Min tRCD 11.25 ns
Min tRAS 26.25 ns
Min tRC 37.50 ns
Min tRRD 3.50 ns
XMP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage)
XMP #1 15.0-15-15-35-50-n.a @ 1333 MHz (1.200 Volts)

DIMM # 2
SMBus address 0x51
Memory type DDR4
Module format UDIMM
Module Manufacturer(ID) G.Skill (7F7F7F7FCD0000000000000000)
SDRAM Manufacturer (ID) Samsung (CE000000000000000000000000)
Size 8192 MBytes
Max bandwidth DDR4-2132 (1066 MHz)
Part number F4-2666C15-8GVR
Nominal Voltage 1.20 Volts
EPP no
XMP yes
XMP revision 2.0
AMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 10.0-10-10-24-34 @ 727 MHz
JEDEC #2 11.0-11-11-27-38 @ 800 MHz
JEDEC #3 12.0-12-12-29-41 @ 872 MHz
JEDEC #4 13.0-14-14-32-45 @ 945 MHz
JEDEC #5 14.0-14-14-34-48 @ 1018 MHz
JEDEC #6 15.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz
JEDEC #7 16.0-15-15-36-50 @ 1066 MHz
XMP profile XMP-2666
Specification DDR4-2666
Voltage level 1.200 Volts
Min Cycle time 0.750 ns (1333 MHz)
Max CL 15.0
Min tRP 11.25 ns
Min tRCD 11.25 ns
Min tRAS 26.25 ns
Min tRC 37.50 ns
Min tRRD 3.50 ns
XMP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage)
XMP #1 15.0-15-15-35-50-n.a @ 1333 MHz (1.200 Volts)

I don't quite understand the mechanics of RAM, so I'm a bit confused by the g.skill RAM only having a reported frequency of 1066MHz. DDR4-2666 should have a frequency of 1333MHz, like the original stick, right? For that matter, its default max bandwidth is only DDR4-2132; DDR4-2666 is associated with XMP. I guess this is what's causing the problem.

If I'm reading this right, I need to find a RAM that's DDR4-2400 but *doesn't* have XMP features. Anything else stick out as odd?

Thank you so much for the help. On my last HP I just got lucky. All I did was buy a paired set of RAM based on the label of the installed stick from a store down the road and everything worked fine. Following that method again didn't work out for me.

[old_geekster]

Thank you for the additional information, @BHaldroon!

The SK Hynix is fairly standard in HP computers.  I believe that your problem definitely is the G. Skill memory.  HP motherboards are picky when it comes to gaming memory.  I can't give you a good explanation as to why this is, however.

You are correct that the basic speed of the memory is DDR4-2132 and to get the 2666 it requires a XMP profile.  It would be a good idea to contact the manufacturer's Tech Support to see if they can help you.  The best way to get memory that will reach the 2400 is to buy it from HP.