Sager NP8170 Memory Issue

I have previously posted about 1600MHz XMP memory on 8170 has bootup issue. However after testing with another pair of non-XMP 1866MHz memory, I found the same issue.

I have just updated the BIOS to 1.01.05, EC 1.00.03, but the problem still exists.

Here are some details about the problem:

It SOMETIMES cannot boot up from power-off status. When I press the power button, it lights up for a couple of seconds then shutdown automatically, shows nothing on screen.

I can always reboot from power-on status. There won't be any problem. Only if I shut down completely then try to power on again, it may or may not be able to boot.

I have tried two different pairs of my own brand new memory, and they both have that issue:
1) Kingston Hyperx 1600MHz XMP Memory 2 x 4GB --- KHX1600C9S3K2/8GX;
2) Kingston Hyperx 1866MHz JEDEC-Standard Memory 2 x 4 GB --- KHX1866C11S3P1K2/8G.

There is something weird: the first bootup after installing the memory is always fine; once it cannot boot, I need to make >change< to the memory modules and then it would be able to boot. The change can be
1) switching the slots the two modules previously used, that is plugging module A into the slot module B used before and plugging B into the slot A used before;
2) plugging this pair of modules into other slots;
3) plugging another memory module into another slot and keep the two previously used unchange.

It looks like somehow the machine memorizes my memory after a successful bootup and locks it down during the next boot, you can cheat so that the machine cannot recognize it is the same memory as last time and agrees to boot up with it.

Any ideas? Has someone suffer the same problem? Or does any experienced friend think it is hardware failure or software unsupport?

I'd appreciate any sharing.

 

I don't want to sound smart, but stick with 1333MHz RAM. Not sure need for such fast RAM? Faster timings will work better to your advantage, but there's no options for changing that in the BIOS. That HyperX is CL9 at 1600MHz, so most likely CL7 at 1333MHz which is better than most RAM at 1333MHz at only CL9.

 

Thank you for your reply! It's just that I'm kind of frequency fan . From what I have tested, 1600MHz @ CL9 can achieve better than 1333MHz @ CL7. And 1333Mhz @ CL7 has also failed to boot once. So I have no idea about what's happening.

There's one other thing, is it normal that cpu-z sometimes cannot read any SPD info? Because even if I use the original 1333MHz @ CL9 memory, cpu-z sometimes cannot display any SPD info. Has the same thing happened to your 8170?

 

So far no issue with reading SPD info. I am using plain old G.Skill 1333MHz CL9. 4 x 4GB = 16GB total. I did mix sticks though with another brand at first and it didn't like the combination, so perhaps the machine is picky in general.

Although I'd like to see your results from 1600 CL9 vs 1333 CL7. Everything I've ever read has shown faster timings are much more beneficial than faster clocks.

 

other app like hwinfo32 and aida64 can always read SPD info, just cpu-z has issue.

Most benchmarks show no difference between those two profile. Only 32M super pi shows 9m45s vs 9m52s for 1600@CL9 vs 1333@CL7. Also everest bench shows 18XXX MB/s vs 16XXX MB/s for read speed, 48.8 vs 51.8 for latency, no much difference between write and copy.

So generally they are equal, except for my personal preference

 

I think BIOS for Clevo P170HM it's still underdeveloped. I have for example sometimes memory leaks on my BIOS 1.01.02 , unexpected freezes and so on. Try to stick with safe memories 1333mhz CL9 for example KINGSTON, Corsair, A-data. And we need to send your problems to Sager/Clevo to fix this problem in next BIOS revision.

One more thing can you share this new BIOS and EC ? I need to try solve my problems with freezes. My reseller don't want to provide any newest BIOS. Sager also can't send me becouse I'm not their customer :/