Dual Channel problem w/ new system

[corylation]

I recently built a new system and am having trouble getting it to work. After some memory errors, I ran memtest86+ and it freezes at 5 seconds. I tried removing all but one stick of ram, and the test finished with no errors. I did this with each stick, and none of them give any errors. I've also tried this test in each dimm slot and it succeeds.

It seems to me that the problem is when the memory goes into dual-channel mode, memtest86+ won't complete. Is there anything I should try?

System info:

MB: GA-EP45-UD3P
Intel Core 2 Quad 2.83GHz
FSB 1333 MHz

8 GB (2GBx4) PNY DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz RAM

Any help would be REALLY appreciated.

Thanks!

[Salty]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/memo...vs-bios-27283/

Please post a template, with your bios values filled in.

Two matched sets do not always work well together, but show us your bios settings, as there may be settings that can be improved on.

You have tried booting with just the one pair?

Can you borrow a set of different ram to check whether it does the same?

[corylation]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

Actually, after working on it for hours yesterday, I started noticing various "memory" problems, sometimes "disk" problems, sometimes "graphics" problems etc... so I'm pretty sure I'm going to RMA the MB -- probably something wrong in the board itself. Its very possible I have one from the "bad set" of this MB that people are talking about online too...

I'll try to remember to let you all know if the new one poses the same problems.

[Psycho101]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

There's almost certainly nothing wrong with the board. Every single problem you listed can be put down to errors in RAM. To RMA the board without taking steps to get the RAM stable would be wasting your time. You will have the same problem with the replacement. Add to that the fact that when they test the board and find nothing wrong, at best you'll get the same board back and at worst they'll bill you for the labor costs.

Note that there is no "bad set" of boards. This is merely internet forum superstition and incorrect guesswork, akin to avoiding the cracks in the pavement. People only post things about boards usually when there's a problem. The problems only occur in probably 2% of cases which is statistically tiny.

8GB of RAM is notoriously difficult to get running in a stable manner. If memtest86+ Version 4 won't complete then your RAM is definitely the cause. Data corruption in RAM can cause all sorts of issues. The Graphics card was probably mentioned in a BSOD because its driver got corrupted in RAM. The HDD was mentioned because Windows uses RAM to buffer reads and writes to/from the drive, and the data got mangled along the way.

You need to go through your settings with a fine tooth comb and tweak them carefully. Do as Salty asks and post a template of your full BIOS settings. Only then can anyone help you and prevent you from wasting your time and potentially your money doing an unnecessary RMA.

[artdrivers]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

I think that Salty and Psycho101 are related in some way.

[corylation]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

Been out of town for a few weeks; picking this back up now.

Ok, I'll try here before I RMA, thanks for the advice.

SETTINGS

CPU Clock Ratio [8x]
Fine CPU Clock Ration [+0.0]
[I]CPU Frequency 2.66GHz(333x8)[/I]

Performance Enhance [Turbo]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch [333MHz]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) [Auto]
[I]Memory Frequency(MHz) 667 667[/I]
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) [Manual]

CAS Latency Time [5]
tRCD [5]
tRP [5]
tRAS [15]

Advanced Timing Control -> [ALL AUTO]

DRAM Voltage 1.800V [1.800V]





*** Anything not specified is currently set to [Auto] ***</pre>

Currently, MemTest86+ runs without errors over 3-4 hours w/ all 8GB RAM installed, but I'm still getting all kinds of strange, random errors all over the OS (or trying to re-install the OS).

Let me know if any more info is useful, and thank you all so much for your time!

[Chike]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

1.8v DRAM Voltage is lower than auto will set it (1.9v).
Set Performance Enhance standard, for now.
tRAS 5? Is that correct or is it a typo?
For 4x2GB you may need much more MCH Core, 1.2-1.28v.
A screem capture of MemSet main(click >>) and SPD(click spd) windows may be helpful.

[corylation]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

That tRAS was a typo, I fixed it. Should have been 15. I also upped the DRAM voltage to 1.9, so I'll let you know how that works. Unfortunately, I can't post screen caps since I can't get the OS to finish installing (blue screens in install, etc...) :(

Thanks for the help!

[corylation]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

Well, that didn't fix the problem, but it did give me a different bluescreen. This one provided an actual error message, namely "BAD_POOL_CALLER" which is generally caused by a corrupted pool address being passed, which supports the theory that the memory is the culprit!

Thanks again to you all, and keep the suggestions coming if you have them :)

[Chike]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

DRAM Voltage alone is not going to fix it, but may help fixing it.
Set Performance Enhance standard.
MCH Core 1.2v, increase if needed, one step at a time, up to 1.32v.

[corylation]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

So that didn't work -- tried everything from 1.00V-1.32V for the MCH Core.

What's next that I can try?

[Chike]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

Can you please post full BIOS settings? use the template in this post. You can put ranges for values you have tried.

Also please fill your forum signature with your system specs, board rev, and link to ram specs if possible.

[corylation]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

Here you are, hope it helps :)

Motherboard: GIGABYTE Model: EP45-UD3P Rev#: 1.6 Bios Version: 6.00PG
Cpu: INTEL CORE 2 QUAD 2.83 GHZ
Ram: PNY DDR2 PC2-5300 OPTIMA Part#: MD2048SD2-667
Power Supply Unit: THERMALTAKE "TOUGHPOWER W/ CABLE MANAGEMENT", 750W

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster -------------- : [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ---------------------- : [8X]
Fine CPU Clock Ratio ----------------- : [+0.5] <-- ignore if not available
CPU Frequency ---------------------: 2.83GHZ( 333X8.5)

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

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

Advanced Clock Control ------- [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive ---------------------- : [800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive -------------- : [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew (ps) ------------------ : [0ps]
MCH Clock Skew (ps) ------------------ : [0ps]

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance ------------------- : [Standard] <--- set to STANDARD when overclocking
Extreme Memory Profile --- (X.M.P.) --- : [Disabled] <--- Leave this Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch ---------------- : [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier -------------- : [2.00B]
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ---------------- : 667
DRAM Timing Selectable ---------------- : [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time -------- 5 ---------- : [5]
tRCD -------------------- 5 ---------- : [5]
tRP --------------------- 5 ---------- : [5]
tRAS ------------------- 15 ---------- : [15]

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD ------------------- ?? ---------- : [Auto]
tWTR ------------------- ?? ---------- : [Auto]
tWR --------------------- ?? ---------- : [Auto]
tRFC ------------------- ?? ---------- : [Auto]
tRTP ------------------- ?? ---------- : [Auto]
Command Rate (CMD) -------------------- : [Auto] <--- Auto or 0 is OK

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength --------- : Press Enter

Channel A
Static tRead Value --------------------- : [Auto]
tRD Phase0 Adjustment ------------------ : [Auto] <-- leave this and below set to AUTO
tRD Phase1 Adjustment ------------------ : [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment ------------------ : [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment ------------------ : [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank) ----------------- : [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank) ----------------- : [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank) ----------------- : [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank) ----------------- : [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control --------------- : [Auto] ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control --------------- : [Auto] ps

Channel B
Static tRead Value --------------------- : [Auto]
tRD Phase0 Adjustment ------------------ : [Auto] <-- leave this and below set to AUTO
tRD Phase1 Adjustment ------------------ : [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment ------------------ : [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment ------------------ : [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank) ----------------- : [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank) ----------------- : [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank) ----------------- : [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank) ----------------- : [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control --------------- : [Auto] ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control --------------- : [Auto] ps

Motherboard Voltage Control
CPU
Voltage Types------------ Normal -------- Current -----
Load-Line Calibration ----------------- : [Disabled]
CPU Vcore --------------- 1.30000V ---- : [Auto]

CPU Termination --------- 1.200V* ----- : [Auto]
CPU PLL ----------------- 1.500V* ----- : [Auto]

CPU Reference ----------- 0.760V* ----- : [Auto]

MCH/ICH
MCH Core ---------------- 1.100V ------- : [1.100,1.160,1.180,1.200,1.220,
1.240,1.260,1.280,1.300,1.320]
MCH Reference ----------- ?.???V ------- : [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Ref ------------ ?.???V ------ : [Auto]
ICH I/O ----------------- ?.???V ------- : [Auto]
ICH Core ---------------- ?.???V ------- : [Auto]
DRAM
DRAM Voltage ------------ ?.???V ------- : [Auto, Normal]
DRAM Termination -------- ?.???V ------- : [Auto]
Channel A Reference ----- ?.???V ------- : [Auto]
Channel B Reference ----- ?.???V ------- : [Auto]

Advanced Settings
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]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ------------- : [Disabled]

[Chike]

Re: Dual Channel problem w/ new system

BIOS version shows on the upper left corner of post screen. For this board is FA, FB, or FD.

Did memtest86+ with two sticks only in slots 1 & 3, then 2 & 4 too?
Can you get another pair of 2x2GB memoty modules you can test with?
Long shot but try MCH Core 0.95v.