X48T-DQ6 and 8 GB - how to get it stable?

[L-Fin]

I've been searching for information on this for a week now and just can't seem to be able to make my system stable. By stable I mean running MemTest86+ v2.01 without errors for more than 2 hours. I've read lots of guides and instructions but none of them seem to apply when using 4 modules and/or 8 GB of memory and/or quad-core CPU.

I've been talking with OCZ and they wanted me to RMA the modules, even though it appears that 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) configuration seems to be stable. Before I send the modules out, I'd like to atleast try to get 8 GB to work with my motherboad+CPU. On their product page OCZ says:

Due to additional bus load, four module configurations may have to be run at lower frequency and relaxed latencies for stable operation. Test specifications are based on dual core CPUs only. If quad core CPUs are used, higher bus thresholds and core arbitration may necessitate lowering the memory frequency below tested specs.

but I don't know how that translates into actual BIOS settings. Hence I was hoping you guys could help me with:

1) getting my system stable WITHOUT any overclocking. Basically just set the BIOS so that I could run 8+ hours of MemTest without any errors

2) only if I can solve issue #1, maybe do some tweaking/overclocking

Here are my system specs:

• Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X48T-DQ6
• Motherboard Bios rev: F5
• Memory: 4 x OCZ3G18002G (OCZ DDR3 PC3-14400 / 1800MHz, rated 9-9-9-27 @ 1.9V) for a total of 8 GB
• Manual Memory voltage in BIOS: +0.4V (=1.9V)
• Manual Memory timings in BIOS: 9-9-9-27
• CPU model and rated speed: Intel Q9550 Yorkfield
• CPU speed: Auto
• Divider and FSB used: Auto
• Video card:-2 x GIGABYTE GV-R485MC-1G in Crossfire
• Power supply:-ENERMAX MODU82+ EMD625AWT

All other settings are either Auto or Normal.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: X48T-DQ6 and 8 GB - how to get it stable?

Are you not adding MCH Voltage? If not, that is likely your issue. Please add +0.25-0.35V to MCH Voltage and see if it helps.

And please for now set Refresh to act delay to 80-85. You may also find that adding some MCH Skew could help as well

What that above quote means is you may have to underclock the ram or run it with looser then 999-27 timings, like 10-9-9-27 or 10-10-10-24/27

If the above tips dont get you anywhere please post me your full settings and I will see if I can help >>>

This is Just a template I use to ask people their settings, pay no attention to the numbers in it, replace with yours

Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [8] 
Fine Clock Ratio ____________[0.5]
CPU Host Clock Control_ [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [450] 
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [100]
C.I.A. 2__________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.00]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Manual]

Performance Enhance = [Standard]

CAS Latency Time________________ ?
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________ ?
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______?
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________ ?

ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________ ?
Rank Write to READ Delay________ ?
Write to Precharge Delay_________ ?
Refresh to ACT Delay______________ ?
Read to Precharge Delay__________ ?
Static tRead Value_______________
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ [Auto]

CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control [800mV]
CPU Clock Skew Control [normal]
GMCH Clock Skew Control [Normal]

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]

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

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect___________________[Disabled] *Note* Must be enabled to flash from USB

[L-Fin]

Re: X48T-DQ6 and 8 GB - how to get it stable?

Thank you very much! It's always a pleasure to learn from people who know what they are talking about.

What a difference your suggestion made - just setting both (G)MCH and CPU skews to 100 ps (and DDR3 still at +0.4V, everything else at their default values), stabilized the system immediately. At the moment I'm happily running at 3315 MHz, FSB 390 MHz, DDR1248 and CAS 6-6-6-18. I ran three passes of MemTest86+ v2.01 with no errors. I haven't run Prime95 yet, though.

Here are the complete settings from my BIOS MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.) page, maybe you could look them over and let me know if I made any newbie-mistakes and/or should try tweaking some of them:

Robust Graphcics Booster_____________: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio______________________: 8X
Fine CPU Clock Ratio_________________: +0.5
   (CPU Frequency 3.31GHz (390x8.5)
CPU Host Clock Control_______________: Enabled
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)____________ : 390
PCI Express Frequency (MHz)__________: 100
C.I.A.2______________________________: Disabled
Performance Enhance__________________: Standard
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)_______: 3.20B
   (Memory Frequency (MHz): 1248)
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)_________: Manual
CAS Latency Time_____________________: 6
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay______________: 6
DRAM RAS# Precharge__________________: 6
Precharge delay (tRAS)_______________: 18
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)______________: Auto
Rank Write to READ Delay_____________: Auto
Write to Precharge Delay_____________: Auto
Refresh to ACT Delay_________________: 90
Read to Precharge Delay______________: Auto
Static tRead Value___________________: Auto
Static tRead Phase Adjust____________: Auto
Command Rate (CMD)___________________: 2T
CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control______: 800mV
CPU Clock Skew Control_______________: 100ps
(G)MCH Clock Skew Control____________: 100ps
System Voltage Control_______________: Manual
DDR OVerVoltage Control______________: +0.4V
PCI-E OverVoltage Control____________: Normal
FSB OverVoltage Control______________: +0.20V
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control___________: +0.300
Loadline Calibration_________________: Auto
CPU Voltage Control__________________: 1.27500V
   (Normal CPU Vcore: 1.25000V)

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: X48T-DQ6 and 8 GB - how to get it stable?

Great to hear!

Well, at that ram speed you may be able to do a few things. My Suggestions to what you have will be in BLUE, and overall suggestions for ram at most any speed will be normal color >>>>

Robust Graphcics Booster_____________: Auto or Fast
CPU Clock Ratio______________________: 8X
Fine CPU Clock Ratio_________________: +0.5
(CPU Frequency 3.31GHz (390x8.5)

CPU Host Clock Control_______________: Enabled
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)____________ : 390
PCI Express Frequency (MHz)__________: 100
C.I.A.2______________________________: Disabled
Performance Enhance__________________: Standard
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)_______: 3.20B
(Memory Frequency (MHz): 1248)

DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)_________: Manual
CAS Latency Time_____________________: 6
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay______________: 5/6
DRAM RAS# Precharge__________________: 5/6
Precharge delay (tRAS)_______________: 15/18

^^ Try ^^

ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)______________: 3-6
Rank Write to READ Delay_____________: 4-8
Write to Precharge Delay_____________: 6-12
Refresh to ACT Delay_________________:90 << Try 62-75

Read to Precharge Delay______________: 3-7
Static tRead Value___________________: 7-12
Static tRead Phase Adjust____________:Always Auto/Zero
Command Rate (CMD)___________________: 2T

CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control______: 800mV
CPU Clock Skew Control_______________: 100ps << maybe 50 or none would be best

(G)MCH Clock Skew Control____________: 100ps << Test more if you have issues


System Voltage Control_______________: Manual
DDR OVerVoltage Control______________: +0.4V << Much less can be used now that you are not running 1800 ram speed, maybe +0.1-0.2 for 1.6-1.7

PCI-E OverVoltage Control____________: Normal << maybe +0.1-0.15 for your crossfire

FSB OverVoltage Control______________: +0.20V << Maybe less, if prime fails, maybe more?

(G)MCH OverVoltage Control___________: +0.300 << Maybe a bit more if memtest86+ will not pass 5-10 passes or prime fails
Loadline Calibration_________________: Auto
CPU Voltage Control__________________: 1.27500V << maybe more if Prime fails on you
(Normal CPU Vcore: 1.25000V)