G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

[d0rift]

I have some issues with my memory from the very start and I'll try sum up the problems as concise as possible. Firstly, here are my specs:

CPU: i7-860 (running stock)
Motherboard: GA-P55M-UD4
Motherboard BIOS: F5
Memory: F3-12800CL7-4GBRH x 2 (8GB in total)
GPU: 7900GT
OS: Windows 7 64bit

My problems started with random shutdowns. At that stage I tested everything and narrowed it down to the motherboard, which I sent off and got replaced. before it was sent off, I tested all 4 sticks and found thousands of errors. I also test the memory one stick at a time and didn't manage to find any errors with memtest. So i assumed it wasn't memory related.

With the new motherboard, the random shutdowns stopped, which I was pretty happy with. However, I left my computer run overnight and woke up to a BSOD (Memory Management). I ran memtest with all 4 sticks again and found thousands again! Not wanting to pull my comp apart again, I used the settings i found here and ran memtest again. Initially, it was fine. After a couple of hours it can up with a low amount of errors like ~4.

Windows7 is running fine in this state but I can't overlook those errors that memtest has detected. Do I need to do some further tweaking? I prefer not to take the sticks out but I will if I must. I hope I've given enough info. I have some screenshots of my settings if required.

Thanks in advance.

[wazza300]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

its usually ram timings,voltage and qpi voltage that cause ram bsod's tell me what voltages and ram/speed/timings your using

[d0rift]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

At first I was running them at 1333Mhz with everything set to AUTO (i think it was 9-9-9-24?)

Now I'm running them at 1600Mhz @ 1.64V at 7-7-7-24, which is what the ram is rated at (well ram is rated at 1.65V but I can only select 1.64V on my board)

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

Auto was the issue likely, especially when you were using 8GB.

You should use 1.66 instead of 1.64, because 1.64 is likely 1.62-1.63 actual. You may need a bit more PCH voltage, and you may need to try Standard Performance Enhance, also try Turbo/Extreme as some have reported Standard to cause issues.

Please grab a template from my signature if you think you need help and give us your full settings.

[d0rift]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

Thanks for helping out..
I've just changed it to 1.66V

Here are the rest of my settings:


Advanced Frequency Settings:

CPU Clock Ratio 21x

Advanced Core Features [Press Enter]:

Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech................[Disabled]
CPU Cores Enabled........................[All]
CPU Multi-Threading......................[Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)..................[Auto]
C3/C6/C7 State Support...................[Auto]
CPU Thermal Monitor......................[Auto]
CPU EIST Function........................[Disabled]
Bi-Directional PROCHOT...................[Auto]

QPI Clock Ratio..........................[Auto]
QPI Link Speed........................[4.86Ghz]
Uncore Clock Ratio....................[18x]
Uncore Frequency.........................2400MHz

>>>>> Standard Clock Control <<<<<

Base Clock (BCLK) Control................[Enabled]
BCLK Frequency ..........................[133]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.)..........[Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)...........[12.0]
Memory Frequency (MHz)................1600
PCI Express Frequency (MHz)..............[100]
C.I.A.2..................................[Disabled]

>>>>> Advanced Clock Control <<<<<

CPU Clock Drive..........................[ 800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive..................[ 900mV]
CPU Clock Skew...........................[ 0ps]

Advanced Memory Settings:

Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.)..........[Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)...........[12.0]
Memory Frequency (MHz)................1600
Performance Enhance (SPD)............. [Standard]
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)............ [Expert]
Profile DDR Voltage ..................
Profile QPI Voltage ..................
Channel Interleaving.....................[Auto]
Rank Interleaving........................[Auto]

>>>>> Channel A & B

Channel A Timing Settings [Press Enter]:
Cas Latency Time........................[7]
tRCD....................................[7]
tRP.....................................[7]
tRAS...................................[24]

>>>>> Advanced Timing Control

tRC....................................[Auto]
tRRD...................................[Auto]
tWTR...................................[Auto]
tWR....................................[Auto]
tWTP...................................[Auto]
tWL....................................[Auto]
tRFC...................................[Auto]
tRTP...................................[Auto]
tFAW...................................[Auto]
Command Rate (CMD).................. 1 [2]

>>>>> Misc Timing Control

B2B Cas Delay..........................[Auto]
Round Trip Latency.....................[Auto]

Channel A Turnaround Settings [Press Enter]:
Different DIMMs........................[Auto]
Different DIMMs........................[Auto]
On The Same Rank.......................[Auto]

>>>>> Channel A Writes Followed By Writes

Different DIMMs........................[Auto]
Different DIMMs........................[Auto]
On The Same Rank.......................[Auto]


Advanced Voltage Settings:

******Mother Board Voltage Control ******
Voltage Types............Normal......Current
--------------------------------------------

>>> CPU
Load Line Calibration...................[Auto]
CPU Vcore..................1.19375v..[Auto]
QPI/VTT Voltage..........1.100v.....[Auto]

>>> MCH/ICH
PCH Core....................1.050v.....[Auto]
CPU PLL......................1.800v.....[Auto]

>>> DRAM
DRAM Voltage..............1.500v.....[1.660v]
DRAM Termination.........0.750v.....[Auto]
Ch-A Data VRef............0.750v.....[Auto]
Ch-A Data VRef............0.750v.....[Auto]
Ch-B Data VRef............0.750v.....[Auto]
Ch-B Data VRef............0.750v.....[Auto]


Miscellaneous Settings:[/SIZE]

Isochronous Support....................[Enabled]
Virtualisation technology..............[Disabled]
USB Storage Function? .................[Enabled]</pre>
Are you also suggesting that i change Performace Enhance (SPD) to Turbo? What does that do exactly?

Thanks again

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

Yes, normally in older boards Performance Enhance Default of Turbo caused issues, so the normal suggestion was to start with this on standard. Now with P55 I have seen a few reports already that standard caused issues and turbo did not, so do try turbo out and extreme if you like. All this does is increase memory performance via hidden timings.

Try these changes, Auto QPI/Vtt is likely your issue

CPU Vcore..................1.19375v..[Auto]
QPI/VTT Voltage..........1.100v.....[Auto] << Try 1.2-1.35

>>> MCH/ICH
PCH Core....................1.050v.....[Auto] << may need 1.1-1.15 but do try QPI/Vtt first
CPU PLL......................1.800v.....[Auto]

>>> DRAM
DRAM Voltage..............1.500v.....[1.660v]

[d0rift]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

Sweet. Thanks mate.

I've upped he DRAM to 1.66v and put it on Turbo.
Running memtest now, we'll see how it goes.

If it still has errors I'll try QPI/VTT and let you know how it goes.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

Good luck, you will likely for sure need to set your own QPI/Vtt

[d0rift]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

Yea still came up with an error.
Just applied QPI/VTT at 1.21 and running memtest..

Really appreciate the help. Didn't get any help over at the G.Skill forum

[flyfisher]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

That memory has an XMP profile, I would load that and try it. It sets the subtimings differently on Auto than if you set them on Auto without using the profile. It can make a big difference.

[d0rift]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

Ok. Should I continue to tweak as previously or should I just load the XMP?
Or load the XMP and tweak further?

[flyfisher]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

Load XMP then see if it's stable. Then tweak from there. Don't change too many things at once, you'll never know what you did that made it work (or not work)

[d0rift]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

Good point!

Raising QPI/VTT to 1.21V didn't do the trick..still gave me a few errors

Just loaded the XMP and running memtest now..

Will keep you posted! Thanks

[d0rift]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

Update: With XMP loaded and QPI/VTT at 1.33V, I still get errors.

Funnily errors aren't detected in the first pass but in subsequent ones.
I'm running memtest with QPI/VTT at 1.35V atm...waiting on results

I'm running out of ideas..could it be possible that one of sticks are bad and initial individual stick testing didn't detect it?

[flyfisher]

Re: G.Skill F3-12800CL7-4GBRH and P55M-UD4: Intermittent Memory problems

With 4 sticks of ram perhaps the CPU's memory controller just can't handle it. Since you tested each stick separately they all appear to be good, the errors crop up when all 4 are installed. Can you test with just two installed? If two work and four don't I would consider RMA on the CPU.