What is REF-TIMEOUT?
REF-TIMEOUT shows up as a critical-severity system memory (RAM) fault. Memory cells have lost their charge before the next refresh cycle. The usual suspects are different modules in one board, poor quality CPU controller, frequency too high and dust in slot. Follow the steps below to fix it.
Common Causes
- Different modules in one board
- Poor quality CPU controller
- Frequency too high
- Dust in slot
Step-by-Step Fix Guide
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1
Disable XMP profile in BIOS
Begin with Disable XMP profile in BIOS; it's the step that resolves REF-TIMEOUT for the largest share of reported cases.
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2
Clean the RAM contacts with a school eraser
If the fault persists, continue with the next steps, which account for less common ram instability causes.
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3
Update BIOS for better compatibility
Still seeing REF-TIMEOUT after that? "Update BIOS for better compatibility" is the next thing to check.
Commands & Diagnostics
mdsched.exe
wmic memorychip get capacity
Frequently Asked Questions
REF-TIMEOUT is most often triggered by different modules in one board. Other reports point to poor quality CPU controller, frequency too high and dust in slot as contributing factors.
Try "Disable XMP profile in BIOS" first — it resolves most REF-TIMEOUT cases on its own. Only work through the rest of the guide above if it comes back.
REF-TIMEOUT is rated critical severity in our database. It's worth acting on quickly rather than letting it recur.
In most cases, yes — the guide above resolves REF-TIMEOUT without a clean install. Treat a reinstall as the last resort, not the first move.
MemTest86 is strongly recommended if REF-TIMEOUT occurs repeatedly. It runs overnight and tests all RAM slots independently. Even a few errors in MemTest indicate faulty RAM that should be replaced.
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