GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

No, I meant all boards have issues trying to run 4 sticks at 1066Mhz.

You will need to post all your info for me to tell you what I think about your bsod issues.

Here is a little BIOS layout, copy and paste in your settings and post back. If there is something extra leave it out, if you have something different add it in>>>

Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [XX]
CPU Host Clock Control_ [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [266]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [102]
C.I.A. 2__________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.00]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Manual]

CAS Latency Time_____________ 5 ____ ?
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay______ 5 ____ ?
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_____5 ____?
Precharge Delay (tRAS)________15 ____ ?
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_______4 _____ ?
Rank Write to READ Delay______3 _____ ?
Write to Precharge Delay______6 _____ ?
Refresh to ACT Delay________42 ______ ?
Read to Precharge Delay_______4 _____ ?
Static tRead Value_______________ 1-31
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ 1-31

System Voltage Control____ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [+0.300V]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control_ [+0.1V]
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [+0.1V]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [+0.1V]
CPU Voltage Control_______ [1.25]

And you say "Since" did you test the stick before you started using them? They could have come DAO, working but with errors. I would put them in 2 a ta time and go to stock settings and run memtest86+ on them. Both pairs separately, you may just have bad sticks and need to RMA them

[va00]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

I'm already running on stock settings. I've found no
errors on memtest with settings below, but if I reduce
DDR2 voltage slightly e.g. to +0.25V I get errors on memtest test 1 at approx. 3GB address, regardless of timings. If I swap pairs of sticks I still get errors in the similar address range.
Pairs of sticks do not lead to any errors alone, only
if all four are put in. I have also tested all four sticks
together on another mobo and no errors were found.

My current setings are (in place of question marks) :
Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [8x]
CPU Host Clock Control_ [Disabled] i.e. 333
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [333]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [Auto]
C.I.A. 2__________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [Auto]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Manual]

CAS Latency Time_____________ 5 ____4
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay______ 5 ____ 4
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_____5 ____4
Precharge Delay (tRAS)________15 ____ 12
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_______4 _____ 3
Rank Write to READ Delay______3 _____ 3
Write to Precharge Delay______6 _____ 6
Refresh to ACT Delay________42 ______ 42
Read to Precharge Delay_______4 _____ 3
Static tRead Value_______________ 6
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ 25

System Voltage Control____ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [+0.35V]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control_ [Normal]
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [Normal]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [Normal]
CPU Voltage Control_______ [Normal]

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

I would try adding .50v, .75v, +1v to the MCH. And I would try taking the system memory multiplier out of auto, and setting it to whatever is closest to what you want.

If you are wanting 800 you will need to overclock your cpu maybe. As I said I will be posting a guide that you help you alot with all of that, tonight when I get home.

All that being said, I always say leave nothing on auto. But for now try adding some volts to the MCH until I get the guide posted to better help you

As for your memory voltage, what is it supposed to be on, sometimes more doesnt help

And also Static tRead may need to be 7 or 8 with 4 sticks, but try adding more mch before changing that

[va00]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

So I'll try to add +0.05V to MCH. My memory is supposed
to work at 2.1V.

[va00]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

This seems to be hopeless. Even with MCH +0.1V,
DDR2 +0.3V, Static tRead Value 8 i still get
error on memtest test #1 (address test). Errors
do appear above 2GB e.g:
0x000aefc1d70 (2799.0MB)
0x000bf381778
0x000c8818ed4
0x00105b03e38
Curiously, error rate in memtest increases with MCH overvoltage. This looks like NorthBridge overheating problem for me, memory seems to be OK. As i wrote before it has been tested on another PC.
Any further suggestions?

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

Do you get errors with all "Sub" settings for memory on AUTO? If not then it is just one of those settings you need to bump further up.

If you do get errors with all subtimings on auto, I would say it is bad ram. What frequency are you testing now? If it is 1000 or above I have no doubt you will have issues with 444 timings, but if we are talking 667-800 then the ram may be bad itself

And hey, I just noticed the last Static Value, I have heard to leave alone, so set to zero once you do get this figured out

You can (And I would) add a 40MM fan on that NB if you think that is the problem. but it should be of no concern at +.05 or .075 or .1 and only 800Mhz ram

Are you using a older memtest maybe? If so here is the new version, with x38 support added

Floppy>>>

http://www.memtest.org/download/2.01/memtest86+-2.01.floppy.zip

All downloads>>>

http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

[va00]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

I have these problems even at 666 MHz.
Some explanation: I have P35 not X38, sorry for this off-thread
postings. Anyway, on Auto settings memtest (the newest one) gives
multiple address (test #1) errors. Now I'm on ridiculously
low settings: DDR600 and 5-5-5-18 timings, and no errors
has been found by memtest. Now i have work to do,
so this is better than crashes, but this is very, very disappointing.

I will investigate this problem with a more detail later,
but i don't think it is a fault memory because:
1) on another motherboard no errors were found on any set of
typical settings
2) errors appear only when all four sticks are put in
3) errors are above 2GB address
This looks like chipset has a problem with four sticks.
I suspect that radiator is not attached properly to the northbridge,
temp during memtest reach 53 celsius with all fans (cpu and 2 case fans) on full speed. I'll try your suggestion to attach a fan to NB
and see what happen.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

Well, either way you would want the newest memtest86+. Sorry about my confusion, I should have seen your siggy.

Well hmmm, have you looked thru the guide I posted? Yeah 53 is kinda hot for the NB, I would add a small high RPM fan on there. Have you removed it and reapplied Some thermal paste? I would, and use NON conductive paste if you do not trust yourself with artic silver. You can use any non conductive such as arctic ceramic, mx-2, tx-2

So you are finding this with +1 on the mch and fsb even at 667-800 eh?


Have you tested only 2 sticks, in both sets of channels? YOu may have a pair of bad channels as well. I would also check that, a pair of channels could be bad. If you still have errors after adding a fan on the NB and those temps come down and you have checked that it isnt just faulty channels, you may need a RMA on that board possibly.

Ya, I always re-apply the NB thermal pastes on all boards I get. A great cooler for you to think about getting for that board would be a Thermaltake Extreme Spirit II, I had one on a P965 and it worked GREAT, and those ran hotter then P35.

The only other thing I can suggest is it would be great if you could get 2X2GB single sticks, that should help as well. But yeah I think NB cooling is a Must

[va00]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

Thanks for all suggestions. I have attached an 92mm fan
blowing on both chipset and memory and this helped a little, i.e. now I can run memtest without errors on stock
clock (800MHz) but nothing more. Overheating is obviously a problem: I was unable to hold my finger for more than few seconds on memory radiator ;-) Memory modules are too close to each other using 4 sticks.

Why do you reapply these heatsinks? Is it ''standard''
procedure for these boards? Should i really expect that something has been screwed at factory?

Now I'm running on 2 sticks. I must rethink what to do next. I'm a little bit tired of this board...

Anyway, does anyone managed to get 4x1GB sticks working at (much) more than 667 MHz without additional cooling? What about 4x2GB? Is 8GB (4x2GB) just marketing term? Memory amount is crucial for me but i must admit that i was unaware of these problems.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

Well no I just personally do it because sometimes yes the factory doesnt do it right IMO.

I have seen half covered chips as well as ones that are drowning in paste.

You can add a fan right on top of the memory stick by hanging it off the latches. I would buy a 40mm fan if you NB is getting that hot and stick it right on only the NB heatsink directly. Too hot to touch is HOT.

I would redo the paste, but that is just me. Use non conductive in there as there is circuits right by the chip itself if you do this.

To answer you, no plenty of people run 4 sticks at 1066 and 800. Some have issues but some do not. I never have, are you sure your ram isnt bad? I read several reviews about BAD ram getting to customers new from GEIL at newegg

[va00]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

After a bit more systematic memory testing I found
fault (or maybe marginal stability is a better word,
because it "worked" on recommended 4-4-4-12 2.1v settings) in one of the memory modules. Now I have new pair of sticks and all problems are gone. I'm running all four sticks without stability issues for now. Memory
is still hot (55 celsius from digital thermometer)
so better cooling is a must on a longer timescale.
It is possibly a time to dig up my old big typhoon, it could blow also on northbridge and memory modules.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

Glad you got it, I thought maybe it was a memory issue. Yes active cooling always makes things last longer whether it is needed or not. So that is a good plan

[Oh NO !]

Re: GA-x38-DQ6 Memory Issues

Hello all,

I was looking at the new bios F9a and it says it fixes the 4 and 8 gig memory issue, is that the 4 memory stick issue that they fixed or 2X2gig and 2X4gig setup? I have tried the F9a beta bios and still have the 4 sticks of 1 gig memory issue but there was an improvement, I dont have to adjust the voltage, the new bios already detects it already at 2.2v.

Has anyone else have success with the new bios F9a at 1066 with 4 sticks of memory?