i9-13980HX and 128GB DDR5 3600MHz RAM - Windows 11 BSoD Errors - Constant and Random

[Willy-Ray]

Hello,
This is a Lenovo P16 Gen2 laptop I configured and ordered on 5/18/2024 on Lenovo website. I selected memory option: 128GB which was described as DDR5-5200MHz at the time of order. I received laptop on 6/3/2024 at 5:30PM and it has been constant battle between Windows 11 (BSoD) blue screen errors and other anomalies ever since.

Spent all day researching issues encountered over last 15 days, reading Intel i9-13980HX specifications and examining the memory actually installed. My conclusion is the RAM memory speed is the problem. The actual RAM installed is 4 x 32GB DDR5 3600MHz Non-ECC. The Intel i9-13980HX specifications states 5600MHz speed and non-ECC memory.

The BSoD critical errors happen moving windows between screens, adjusting windows within a screen, opening an application or sometimes while typing in text editor. I have not seen one happen when laptop is idle and I am not interacting with it.

Other problems encountered are installation errors with Oracle Database Express 21c, Adobe Acrobat Standard and Microsoft SQL Server where the process lost track and failed. There are problems with NT services starting inconstancies where Oracle listeners and database instances are missing each other and I need to restart after Windows 11 loads. Five or six times while playing a YouTube video the sound will have loud knocking noise like an electric shock.  

The Windows 11 startup seams incredibly slow for the hardware. I have two older Lenovo desktops - i7-6700 3.40GHz with 32GB running Windows 10 Pro and i7-4790 3.60GHz with 32GB running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS that startup in 1/4 the time. I have a Lenovo W530 laptop with i7-3740QM with 16GB with Windows 10 Pro that starts faster than this new laptop. I also have a Mac Mini with 16GB that starts faster than all of them!

I’ve been a software/database developer and building computers since 1993 and know how to problem solve, research issues and analyze systems. I ran all Lenovo & Windows hardware and software tests with no problems found. The latest updates from Lenovo and Windows are checked daily and installed. 

On 6/13 I opened a Support Case with Lenovo Services since I have 30 days to return laptop for full refund. I really do not want to return it at this point since I’ve battled through this long. Lenovo wants me to send laptop back to them for repair. I want them to send me the correct memory which they have listed for sale on their website. If I send Lenovo the laptop I will not get it back until July 15 at the earliest.

Included is a screenshot on memory choices on Lenovo website when the i9-13980HX processor is selected which have changed since I placed my order. Notice the variation is memory speeds. I included the Intel processor comparison and mismatch ram error screenshot along with screenshot of 32GB 5600MHz memory prices including Lenovos which is 3 times Amazons price. I also included three of the laptop in question.

I found documentation about faster memory speed than the processor speed but nothing about slower memory speed than the processor speed.

From today's research my understanding is memory installed with slower speed than processor memory speed specification would be the "weakest link" making the processor not perform to it's full potential. I have not found any documentation stating at what memory speed difference will things start to break.

There must be a "value" or a "measurable difference" between memory speed and processor specification memory speed when things begin to break and become unstable.

Any feedback is appreciated on the situation. Would really like to hear from Intel Representative regarding how a large difference between actual memory speed  and processor memory speed specification can affect the processors functionality and technically effect software processor is running.

At what speed difference between slower memory and faster processor do things start to break? 

Thanks, Will

[Mike_Intel]

Hello Willy Ray ,

Thank you for posting in Intel community Forum.

The supported Memory speed for your processor is Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s. Please refer to the link below:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/232138/intel-core-i913980hx-processor-36m-cache-up-to-5-60-ghz/specifications.html

MT/s and MHz are different so when you say that the installed memory is slower it is because the installed memory on your system is at 3600MHz. Please check this 2 Intel community links discussing MT/s and MHz.

https://community.intel.com/t5/Processors/Question-about-the-DDR5-Ram-MT-s-and-MHz/td-p/1549097

https://community.intel.com/t5/Processors/Difference-between-MT-s-and-MHz/td-p/323062

As for your system, since it is built by Lenovo, it is better to contact them to check the compatibility or possible hardware failure.

If you have questions, please let us know. Thank you.

Best regards,

Michael L.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Mike_Intel]

Hello Willy Ray ,

I hope this message finds you well. 

Were you able to check the previous post?

Please let us know if you still need assistance.

Best regards,

Michael L.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Mike_Intel]

Hello Willy Ray ,

I hope you are having a good day.

I am sending another follow up if you still have clarifications. 

Since we have not heard back from you, I need to close this inquiry. 

If you need further assistance, please post a new question as this thread will no longer be monitored. 

Thank you and have a great day. 

Best regards,

Michael L.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Bachdev]

I have the same error! same as yours! There is a serious problem, intel should seriously consider our article  https://community.intel.com/t5/Processors/I9-13980HX-frozen-crashing-error/m-p/1640007#M78525

[Bachdev]

hello @Willy-Ray  ! Please reply me ! I have the same error  like you !

[Willy-Ray]

I ended up returning Lenovo laptop for a full refund. I spent many hours analysing this issue... over 40 I would bet. Lenovo throttles processing and memory speed in their BOIS. Lenovo is very aware of the problem due to me and have no plans of changing. It has to do with keeping the laptop cool I think. The throttling the memory speed is the issue with Windows 11 Pro. It causes all kinds of problems. Lenovo with 128GB runs at 3600 due to the BOIS throttling. That is just too slow for the system.

I could not get a straight answer from the tech support I was able to reach. There is nothing a person can do to fix this problem with Lenovo. 

Lenovo are not the laptop to buy if you want 128GB of RAM. In fact, Dell also throttles memory speed the more memory it has. The more I use 2 virtual machines and Oracle, SQL Server and MySQL and lots of other processes running I really do not see the need for 128GB of RAM on a workstation. 

I settled for a Lenovo Thinkstation P3 Tiny Workstation with i9-13900T and much happier. The Thinkstation P3 Tiny is awesome! I have 2-32", 1-34", 2-27" and 1-18.5" monitors running on the integrated Intel® UHD Graphics 770 and  optional NVIDIA® T1000 8GB GDDR6.

I bought it with 16GB and ordered 2-48GB 5600MHz DOSIMM from Crucial memory. Lenovo says that 64GB (2-32GB DOSIMMs) but I took a chance and sure enough I have 96GB running at 5200 MT/s

Ended up putting new SSD drive and another 16GB in old Lenovo W530 laptop in rare cases I must go onsite. It is like a New laptop!

My advise is return the computer or drop down to 64GB and the laptop will run fine.  

Best Regards,

Will

[Bachdev]

thanks for the reply.
I bought this machine 6 months ago so I can't refund.
I'm trying to live with it
As you know, I'm also a programmer, I built the 128GB ram configuration because I will be using a lot of wmware Virtual Machines

I also read lenovo spef site :

With 4 x32 ram, lenovo will config speed at 3600 MT/s

With 2x32 , lenovo will config speeed at 4000 MT/s