Some memory RAM compatibility issue. Is this bad?

Tolkem

Tolkem

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Hi everyone! Hope you're having a nice life! :)
In a computer here, there is some memory RAM compatibility issue when using a specific set-up. Thing is, there are 16 GiB of RAM available: 1x 8 GiB (G.Skill) and 2x4 GiB (Crucial ballistix) = 16. MOBO is an ASUS p8h67-m pro running latest BIOS version available, 3904, downloaded from here https://www.asus.com/latin/supportonly/p8h67-m pro/helpdesk_bios/.
Working set-ups I tried:
1. 2x4 GiB give no issues when placed in dual-channel mode (blue slots)
2. 1x4 GiB + 1x8 GiB gives no issues when placing both in the blue slots in dual-channel mode + 1x4 GiB in any of the black slots.
3. 1x4 GiB + 1x8 GiB gives no issues when placing both in the blue slots in dual-channel mode.
Non-working set-ups:
1. 2x4 GiB in the blue slots + 1x8 GiB in any of the black ones.
The machine runs Linux, KDE Neon based on Ubuntu 22.04.
Here's some info I get from terminal using dmidecode:
Code: 
sudo dmidecode --type 17
# dmidecode 3.3
Getting SMBIOS data from sysfs.
SMBIOS 2.6 present.

Handle 0x005A, DMI type 17, 28 bytes
Memory Device
        Array Handle: 0x005B
        Error Information Handle: 0x005E
        Total Width: 64 bits
        Data Width: 64 bits
        Size: 4 GB
        Form Factor: DIMM
        Set: None
        Locator: ChannelA-DIMM0
        Bank Locator: BANK 0
        Type: DDR3
        Type Detail: Synchronous
        Speed: 1333 MT/s
        Manufacturer: 859B
        Serial Number: 362E237B
        Asset Tag: 9876543210
        Part Number: BL51264BA160A.16FH
        Rank: 2

Handle 0x005F, DMI type 17, 28 bytes
Memory Device
        Array Handle: 0x005B
        Error Information Handle: No Error
        Total Width: 64 bits
        Data Width: 64 bits
        Size: 8 GB
        Form Factor: DIMM
        Set: None
        Locator: ChannelA-DIMM1
        Bank Locator: BANK 1
        Type: DDR3
        Type Detail: Synchronous
        Speed: 1333 MT/s
        Manufacturer: 04CD
        Serial Number: 00000000
        Asset Tag: 9876543210
        Part Number: F3-12800CL10-8GBXL
        Rank: 2

Handle 0x0060, DMI type 17, 28 bytes
Memory Device
        Array Handle: 0x005B
        Error Information Handle: 0x0063
        Total Width: Unknown
        Data Width: Unknown
        Size: No Module Installed
        Form Factor: DIMM
        Set: None
        Locator: ChannelB-DIMM0
        Bank Locator: BANK 2
        Type: Unknown
        Type Detail: None
        Speed: Unknown
        Manufacturer: [Empty]
        Serial Number: [Empty]
        Asset Tag: 9876543210
        Part Number: [Empty]
        Rank: Unknown

Handle 0x0062, DMI type 17, 28 bytes
Memory Device
        Array Handle: 0x005B
        Error Information Handle: No Error
        Total Width: 64 bits
        Data Width: 64 bits
        Size: 4 GB
        Form Factor: DIMM
        Set: None
        Locator: ChannelB-DIMM1
        Bank Locator: BANK 3
        Type: DDR3
        Type Detail: Synchronous
        Speed: 1333 MT/s
        Manufacturer: 859B
        Serial Number: FC60C6F3
        Asset Tag: 9876543210
        Part Number: BL51264BA160A.16FH
        Rank: 2
My concern is this:
Code: 
Handle 0x005A, DMI type 17, 28 bytes

Memory Device

        Array Handle: 0x005B

        Error Information Handle: 0x005E

        Total Width: 64 bits

        Data Width: 64 bits

        Size: 4 GB

        Form Factor: DIMM

        Set: None

        Locator: ChannelA-DIMM0

        Bank Locator: BANK 0

        Type: DDR3

        Type Detail: Synchronous

        Speed: 1333 MT/s

        Manufacturer: 859B

        Serial Number: 362E237B

        Asset Tag: 9876543210

        Part Number: BL51264BA160A.16FH

        Rank: 2
That Error Information Handle: 0x005E message which is not present in the other DIMMs, this is one of the 1x4 GiB, a crucial one. This is with the 2 working set-up currently in use. The machine's running fine as far as I can tell. I googled that error message, but couldn't find anything I could use. Any help/advice is really appreciated. Thanks.
 


Beyond my paygrade Hornet, but I'll watch with interest and maybe learn something.

Good luck, and good tidings over the season.

Chris
 
wizardfromoz said:
Beyond my paygrade Hornet, but I'll watch with interest and maybe learn something.

Good luck, and good tidings over the season.

Chris
Click to expand...
Thanks wiz! You too!!
 
A few observations on: "Error Information Handle: 0x005E".

Since this is dmidecode output, it's not from an actual probe of the hardware, but rather from a table in the System Management BIOS. The question arises as to its reliability since dmidecode is known to produce unreliable output. Here's a read on it:

dmidecode: What's it good for? - Linux.com

Author: Joe Barr You know you’re living in a cutthroat world when your BIOS lies to your operating system at boot time. Yet that’s exactly what often happens, to one degree or another, depending on the manufacturer and model of the system. Some of the BIOS lies cause problems for Linux and some...
www.linux.com www.linux.com

To check the RAM by probe, a program like memtest86+ is likely to yield more reliable results. Some users run the program for hours to get more thorough results, even overnight.

Here's a summary of the memory sticks, so far as I can make it out from post #1:

Bank 0
4G stick
Manufacturer: 859B
Error Information Handle: 0x005E
Part Number: BL51264BA160A.16FH (made by Crucial)

Bank 1
8G stick
Manufacturer: 04CD
Error Information Handle: No Error
Part Number: F3-12800CL10-8GBXL (made by G.Skill)

Bank2
no module installed
Manufacturer: Empty
Error Information Handle: 0x0063

Bank3
4G stick
Manufacturer: 859B
Error Information Handle: No Error
Part Number: BL51264BA160A.16FH (made by Crucial)

It's interesting to notice that on the slot that is empty, Bank2, there is an error code. One wonders what that error could be referring to, since it's not a stick of RAM.

It's often recommended that RAM sticks be from the same manufacturer so that one can rule out that variable in the case of misbehaviour. Whilst these RAM sticks all have the same speed rating, the manufacturers vary. Different manufacturers do at times provide different information on their products which the BIOS may simply repeat without further ado. It's not possible to say, without further investigation whether this is a factor in the dmidecode output, but it's something to throw into the ring, so to speak.

To investigate further, it appears the System Management BIOS specification would likely be the most relevant document: https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0134_3.0.0.pdf
It's not reading for the faint of heart.

If the computer is functioning well, that's likely the best evidence that the references to errors are not significant.
 
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Hi this is the specification for your motherboard

Make & Model:Asus P8H67-M PRO
Device Type:Motherboard
Memory RAM TypeDIMM
Error CheckNon-ECC
Memory Speed1333MT/s (PC3-10600)
Number Of Memory Sockets 4
Maximum Memory 32GB
Maximum Memory Per Slot 8GB
Memory Form FactorDDR3
Memory Voltage1.5v

and this from the manual

1.7.2
Memory configurations
You may install 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB unbuffered non‐ECC DDR3 DIMMs into the
DIMM sockets.
• You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps
the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any excess
memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
• According to Intel CPU specification, DIMM voltage below 1.65V is recommended to
protect the CPU.
• Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum compatibility, we
recommend that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor.
 
If your computer is working just fine, you can ignore it. Although 2 separate companies for RAM sometimes cause issues for me, so check that.
 
Thank you all for your replies. @osprey that was an interesting reading. Thanks! @Brickwizard yeah, I read that. I RTFM (the parts I needed to) haha @timurs022 Yeah, so I read. I never had any tho, until now.
I eventually ran into some issues; apps crashing and stuff like that, so the "working set-up" wasn't that reliable after all. I even tried the MemOK! feature from the MOBO, but it either didn't work or I just didn't do it properly, so I took one of the 4 GiB sticks out (the one with the error message) and it's using the 3rd "working set-up", that is, 1x4 GiB + 1x8 GiB both in the blue slots for dual-channel mode for a total of 12 GiB. I'll see how it goes. Thanks again to everyone that took the time to reply. :)
 
Last edited:
Tolkem said:
I'll see how it goes.
Click to expand...
If we go back to kit made say 6 yrs ago or older, I never had a problem with mix n' match, but more recent boards seem to be more finicky
 
Brickwizard said:
If we go back to kit made say 6 yrs ago or older, I never had a problem with mix n' match, but more recent boards seem to be more finicky
Click to expand...
Oh, this MOBO isn't "recent" at all:
1702906911018.png

It's 12 (almost 13) years old! I picked it for $20 and put an i7-2600 + the RAM sticks that were in a dell optiplex 390. The 1x4 + 1x8 GiB set-up is still working well with no issues so far. I may or may not try and get a 16 or 32 GiB RAM kit, or maybe just another 8 GiB stick to match the one I have here. :)
 
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