GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

[Ilen]

I am building a new system with the following components:

GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz
mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996603
Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU 500W ATX 12V 2.0 Power Supply
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F

The motherboard came with BIOS F4, I've flashed it to F8.

I just don't seem to be able to get it stable, it has been freezing in BIOS screen, freezes within 12-90 seconds into a Memtest, freezes partway into a Vista install.

I'm currently trying with just one of the memory sticks in and still having issues. I've also tried with two other sets of Corsair memory (setting the correct voltage / timings for the memory each time) and still have the same issues.

My current BIOS values are:

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9 X
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.+ 0.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.00GHz ( 333x9)


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Disabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800mV
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 800mV
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0ps
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 0ps


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [Standard]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: [Auto]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: [Auto]
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Auto]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ 4
tRCD ......................................... 4
tRP'........................................... 4
tRAS.......................................... 12

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 3 [Auto]
tWTR.......................................... 3 [Auto]
tWR............................................ 6 [Auto]
tRFC........................................... 42 [Auto]
tRTP........................................... 3 [Auto]
Command Rate (CMD) .................... 0 [Auto]

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................: 6 [Auto]
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.........................: [Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 6 [Auto]
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.........................: [Auto]

Motherboard Voltage ControlCPUMCH/ICHAdvanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Enabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Enabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Enabled]

Any help would be much appreciated..

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

Try this, Mushkins Rock >>>>

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Fast
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9 X
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.+ 0.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.00GHz ( 333x9)


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Disabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800mV
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 800mV
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0ps
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 0ps


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [Standard]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto or 333]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.40
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ 4
tRCD ......................................... 4
tRP'........................................... 4
tRAS.......................................... 12

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 3-5
tWTR.......................................... 3-6 (Will likely need 8-12 to start, then lower)
tWR............................................ 4-6 (Will likely need 8-14 to start, then lower)
tRFC........................................... 38-42
tRTP........................................... 3-6
Command Rate (CMD) .................... 2

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................: 7-10 (333 Mch latch only)
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.........................: [Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 7-10
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.........................: [Auto]

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: [Auto]
CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: [Auto]
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: [Auto]
CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: [Auto]
CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......: [Auto]

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.14 for stability
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........;
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........:
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: [Auto]
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............:

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 1.900V
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............:
Channel A Reference 0.900V............:
Channel B Reference 0.900V............:

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Enabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Enabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Enabled]

[Ilen]

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

Ahh, well then just add .1 so 1.2 would be fine. but ya you can leave it if you like

[Ilen]

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

Can you test these sticks on another board? And also, please look in CPU-z to be sure the SPD data matches, and is the correct model you bought. Sometimes they mix things up!

Does 444-12, and the rest of the timings on auto work ok at all? Have you tried slots 2+4 instead?

Can you please also test Less then stock MCH voltages, a have seen a few users who had 2x2 which should have needed 1.2 or so say less then stock helped them more then adding. So I think stock may be off from what it says in some boards

[CpuMan]

Re: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

Another thing to check is your cpu temp. Boot into the bios and monitor the cpu temperature for a few minutes. If its overheating then the cpu might be throttling and shutting down to protect itself. The fix would be to reseat the cpu heatsink/fan.

[Ilen]

Re: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

CPU temp started at 25 C, rose to 33 after 15 minutes, system didn't crash while in the PC Health page on the BIOS

As soon as I rebooted and ran memtest it locked up instantly on the memtest screen.

Next I tried lowering the MCH Core from 1.1 v to 1.0.. and that appears to be the fix.. it's been running memtest for over 30 minutes now with no errors.

So now we have it running stable thanks to your suggestions I assume the next course of action would be to try and tighten up the settings right?

At the moment I have:

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 5
tWTR.......................................... 12
tWR............................................ 14
tRFC........................................... 42
tRTP........................................... 6
Command Rate (CMD) .................... 2

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................: 7 (tried 10 here too and still the same)
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.........................: [Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 7 (tried 10 here too, still the same)
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.........................: [Auto]

[Ilen]

Re: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

Ok I spoke to soon.. when I got it working fine above, that was with one stick in. When I put the second stick in and tried memtest it froze about 2 and a half minutes in.

Going to single stick test the second stick now to see if that is the culprite.

[Ilen]

Re: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

Single stick test with the second stick seems to be working fine too (though so far it's only been running memtest for 5 minutes, it's always frozen in 2 and half minutes or less in previous tests though).

EDIT: The second stick passed a full set of memtests, so both sticks are good individually.

So.. it seems like it doesn't like having both sticks in.

Once the single stick passes a full set of tests I'm going to try seating both sticks in the 2 & 4 DIMM slots instead of 1 & 3.

EDIT: Using 2 & 4 DIMM slots instead of 1 & 3 froze after 1 and half minutes in memtest, the same as when using 1 & 3.

Though I'm also wondering if MCH voltage of 1.0 is fine for one stick, if it needs 1.1 for the two..

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

1.1 is default, so I would think that would be fine for 2x1

Please post the full settings you try So I can see everything

[Ilen]

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

Try this, with Both sticks>>>>

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Fast
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9 X
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.+ 0.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.00GHz ( 333x9)


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Disabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800mV
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 800mV
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0ps
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 100-200


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [Standard]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [333]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.40B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ 4
tRCD ......................................... 4
tRP'........................................... 4
tRAS.......................................... 12

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 3-4
tWTR.......................................... (3-6) 9-11
tWR............................................ (4-6) 8-14
tRFC........................................... 42-48
tRTP........................................... 3-6
Command Rate (CMD) .................... 2

Set Driving Strength Profile to 800 or 1066

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................: 7-8
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.........................: [Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................: 7-8
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................: 0 [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................: 0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................: 6 [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................: 5 [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................: 8 [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.........................: [Auto]

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: [Auto]
CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: [Auto]
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: [Auto]
CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: [Auto]
CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......: [Auto]

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.1-1.5 if you have it. 1.2 is not likely needed. see below comment

MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........;
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........:
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: [Auto]
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............:

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 2.0V <<< Your board has a droop here so 1.9 may only be getting you 1.85 or so

DRAM Termination .…0.900V............:
Channel A Reference 0.900V............:
Channel B Reference 0.900V............:

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Enabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Enabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Enabled]

[Ilen]

Re: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

Ok tried the above and no luck. It seems the lower voltages are more stable..

MCH Voltage is most stable at 1.0, at 1.1 it's less stable at 1.2 it won't POST.

DRAM Voltage at 2.0 won't post, will post at 1.9.

With the above settings and MCH at 1.0 and DRAM Voltage at 1.9 it gets about 50-60 seconds through a memtest before freezing.

MCH 1.1 and DRAM 1.9 got 8-12 seconds through before freezing.

[ed1]

Re: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L freezing in BIOS / Memtest

I also had better luck when reducing MCH voltage - in my case from 1.1v to 1.05v with 2x2gb of Corsair 1066. Not sure at the moment what the actual voltage is, but I am referring to the setting in the bios.