GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

[Decrypted]

Hello all, I'm new to this forum :p

I have a memory problem with my GA-EX58-DS4. I have encountered a thread where a few users have the identical issue and they had to RMA their boards...I have an unreplied to support ticket with GB already. I am really hoping there is a fix as I believe it is broken code or something at the bios level...But barring that advice on the best way to do an RMA with Gigabyte would be greatly appreciated.

Right off the bat I should mention this is due to flashing my bios from f5f to f11...though I am certain I flashed correctly. I used a USB drive and Qflash, and loaded optimised defaults. No problems were encountered. Previous to the flash triple channel was running fine at 1580, 6x1 GB, 190 BCLK. All voltages STOCK, except for Vcore, which is even only at 1.34, a little less than intels warranty spec for my i7 920 @ 3.8 ghz. Yes...I lucked out on my proc. All torture tested with prime 95 and stable. DRAM at 1.5v as suggested for the ram.

Basically channel C is broken. If I put all my ram in, 6x1GB Aenon Xtune DDR3-1600 CL9 at the rated speed (1580 with my 190 bclk), it wont post. A restart will produce a screen saying that my system was unstable from overclocking, and four gigs will be detected. If I remove the memory from channel C, 4 gigs is still detected, but I can have it running at the old stable OC, 1580mhz (which isnt actually OC for the ram...it's rated slightly higher.) Oddly, with all the slots populated, it will set one timing for the ram in channel C, the first one, the other values are -. CPUZ sees it as 6gb running in triple channel, and DMIinfo sees it as well, though it says something about bank 4&5 for channel C, whereas channel a and b show their own banks...I have no idea what that means but I was looking for differences between the working channels and channel C. Windows (Vista x64) will see 6GB but task manager will only see 4. I have checked my socket for bent pins, tried reseating the heatsink a couple times, made sure it wasn't on too tight. Of course I have tested all my ram in the working slots and they are fine. I have flashed to older and newer BIOS. Older versions of the bios will have every timing set for the ram in channel C, except "turnaround time" which is -. But post on old bios will still show 4gb despite that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks for reading my lengthy post.

Where do you live first of all, and I can direct you to where you need to go to setup a RMA

Flashing from F5 to F11 should not cause any issues, provided you did it safely and nothing went wrong, as you mentioned all sounds good.

All voltages stock is a problem, especially at 190 Bclk.

Missing memory can be several things, most often this is caused by bent CPU socket pins or a poorly seated CPU. In your case though I think you may be falling into one of the other causes categories, which is incorrect voltages and settings. Incorrect amounts of Uncore, QPI/Vtt, and Vdimm can cause this easily. This is something I can fully reproduce on my end anytime by using wrong settings, and since you mentioned all voltages stock I suspect this is the problem and we should look into that before you go as far as checking your CPU socket pins.

Please copy your initial post, my reply, and your new reply all into a new thread so I can further help you. Please grab a template from my signature and include in that post your full specs (Including BIOS Version and Ram link) and current problematic full settings.

Hey, thanks for responding. I should mention that even at all stock settings, immediatly after flashing for example, the ram still isn't detected. I don't have time at the moment, on my way to work, but tonight I'll post my exact bios config as requested.

The company that makes my RAM went bankrupt in during the economy meltdown. The sticker on it reads: 1GB DDR3-1600 CL9 PC3-12800U-9 AXH78UD10-16. Again it is Aenon XTUNE. Anyway sorry I'm in a hurry, will post everything you asked tonight.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

Well detection at default or not, could still depend on QPI/Vtt and Vdimm voltages. Does it detect properly at stock, if you set your own memory multiplier, then Uncore 2x the memory multi, then QPI/Vtt to 1.35, and Vdimm to 1.66?

When you get back home, please also add a screenshot of CPU-z showing the SPD Tab, thanks.

You may be looking at incompatible memory, or bent CPU socket pins, but lets check a few things first. Do you by chance have any other DDR3 memory, even one stick would be fine, or can you borrow one at work or from a friend?

[Decrypted]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

Ok I have everything.... Heres a paste of my bios


anced Core Features [Press Enter]:
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech................[Disabled]
CPU Cores Enabled........................[All]
CPU Multi-Threading......................[Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)..................[Enabled]
C3/C6/C7 State Support...................[Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor......................[Enabled]
CPU EIST Function........................[Enabled]
Bi-Directional PROCHOT...................[Enabled]
QPI Clock Ratio..........................[Auto]
QPI Link Speed........................[6.84]
Uncore Clock Ratio....................[auto]
Uncore Frequency.........................3800MHz
>>>>> Standard Clock Control <<<<<
Base Clock (BCLK) Control................[Enabled]
BCLK Frequency ..........................[190]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.)..........[Profile1]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)...........[Standard?]
Memory Frequency (MHz)...................1520
PCI Express Frequency (MHz)..............[Auto]
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.)..........[Profile1]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)...........[8.0]
Memory Frequency (MHz)................1520
Performance Enhance (SPD)............. [disabled]
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)............ [auto]
Profile DDR Voltage ..................1.5
Profile QPI Voltage ..................auto
Channel Interleaving.....................[6]
Rank Interleaving........................[4]
>>>>> Channel A & B ----------------------------------Channel C only sees Cas lat at 9, rest are -
Channel A Timing Settings [Press Enter]:
Cas Latency Time........................[9]
tRCD....................................[9]
tRP.....................................[9]
tRAS...................................[28]
>>>>> Advanced Timing Control
tRC....................................[37]
tRRD...................................[5]
tWTR...................................[6]
tWR....................................[12]
tWTP...................................[24]
tWL....................................[8]
tRFC...................................[88]
tRTP...................................[6]
tFAW...................................[24]
Command Rate (CMD).................. 1 [2]
>>>>> Misc Timing Control
B2B Cas Delay..........................[-] .
Round Trip Latency.....................[55]
Channel A Turnaround Settings [Press Enter]:
Different DIMMs........................[Auto] -------I dont see this when i go into turnaround settings....
Different DIMMs........................[Auto]
On The Same Rank.......................[Auto]
>>>>> Channel A Writes Followed By Writes ------- 9 9 9
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...................[Level 2]
CPU Vcore..................1.25..[1.34375xv]
QPI/VTT Voltage..........1.100v.....[1.x00v]
>>> MCH/ICH
PCH Core....................1.050v.....[Auto]
CPU PLL......................1.800v.....[Auto]
>>> DRAM
DRAM Voltage..............1.500v.....[1.5v]
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..............[Enabled]
USB Storage Detect ....................[Disabled] Located In Integrated Peripherals Page - havent changed this from its default.

[Decrypted]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

The previous screenshot was with all six dimms installed, and I had to lower my BCLK to get it to post. Left everything else the same...I think were borked :(. I tried going to stock settings with your suggested settings and it would post, but still only detected 4 gigs. I honestly do not see how it could be bent pins, as this problem presented itself after I had seated my cpu and used it with 6 gigs in triple channel fine for nearly a year. I did not remove the processor or reseat it since the problem occured, and, since this problem started, I have checked the pins not once but twice just to be sure, and obviously reseated the proc twice as well. At one point, the same problem occured with channel B. The way I fixed channel B was by removing the dimms, and reflashing the bios. But this is not working for C.

With the f5f bios, it was all completely stable and torture tested, bclk 190, all intel turbo crap off (HTT on...) with the only voltage change being vcore to 1.34. Ram at 1.5. That is why I so desperatly want to fix this board instead of RMA...it was a dream OC pairing that required little in increased voltages.

Anyway, this screenshot is with 4 dimms installed. I dont have another stick of DDR3 readily available to test...but considering all the ram works tested in the known working slots, and the fact that previously it was all detected/working, with respect I think that is irrelevant.

I still hope it doesn't come to this but, regarding the proper RMA process, I'm in Canada. I hope it is still under warranty.

[Decrypted]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

Something is still bothering me, it doesn't seem right, so i took some screenshots to show you what I mean...

[Decrypted]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

Notice the Bank Connections figures? Slots 0-4 have their own respective bank. But the last two, which would be channel C i presume, show RAS 4&5. RAS 6 is never mentioned...

#5 and #4 both show these values. I am pretty sure this is the same even if I populate channel, but I do remember DMIinfo saw the memory present. I can double check for you if you like.

Like I said it doesnt seem right to me but I do not know exactly what it means.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

You could also have a faulty IMC in your CPU? You would still be under warranty with Gigabyte, it's a three year warranty.

Canada does RMA through GA California, so aside from customs at the border your RMA should be fairly quick if it comes down to that.

You would setup a RMA here and input Canada
RMA

I see your Uncore/NB is way off what it should be, explained below. This could be the problem for sure, even though you used it in the past it may be making your memory or CPU slowly fail

Try these settings and see if things are corrected, using the latest BIOS

Adanced Core Features [Press Enter]:
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech................[Disabled]
CPU Cores Enabled........................[All]
CPU Multi-Threading......................[Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)..................[Enabled] << Disable for testing for now
C3/C6/C7 State Support...................[Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor......................[Enabled]
CPU EIST Function........................[Enabled] << Disable for testing for now
Bi-Directional PROCHOT...................[Enabled]

QPI Clock Ratio..........................[Auto] << Set x36 manually
QPI Link Speed........................[6.84]
Uncore Clock Ratio....................[auto] << Set x16 manually, this may be part of your problem. Normal amount is 2x memory mutli or 2x +1-2, auto is using x20 as shown by 3800/190 = 20
Uncore Frequency.........................3800MHz

>>>>> Standard Clock Control <<<<<
Base Clock (BCLK) Control................[Enabled]
BCLK Frequency ..........................[190]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.)..........[Profile1] << Disabled
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)...........[Standard?] << Set x8 for 1520Mhz
Memory Frequency (MHz)...................1520
PCI Express Frequency (MHz)..............[Auto] << Set 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.)..........[Profile1] << Disabled
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)...........[8.0]
Memory Frequency (MHz)................1520
Performance Enhance (SPD)............. [disabled] << Set Standard, or Extreme (Sometimes in X58 Standard can cause more issue than extreme so try both)
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD)............ [auto] << Expert, set each channel main timings one by one including command rate 2T

Profile DDR Voltage ..................1.5
Profile QPI Voltage ..................auto
Channel Interleaving.....................[6]
Rank Interleaving........................[4]
>>>>> Channel A & B ----------------------------------Channel C only sees Cas lat at 9, rest are -
Channel A Timing Settings [Press Enter]:
Cas Latency Time........................[9]
tRCD....................................[9]
tRP.....................................[9]
tRAS...................................[28]

>>>>> Advanced Timing Control (ALL AUTO If not already)

tRC....................................[37] Auto
tRRD...................................[5] Auto
tWTR...................................[6] Auto
tWR....................................[12] Auto
tWTP...................................[24] Auto
tWL....................................[8] Auto
tRFC...................................[88] Auto
tRTP...................................[6] Auto
tFAW...................................[24] Auto
Command Rate (CMD).................. 1 [2] Set this 2T as you have for each channel
>>>>> Misc Timing Control
B2B Cas Delay..........................[-] Auto/disabled
Round Trip Latency.....................[55] Auto


All these can be left in Auto as well *
Channel A Turnaround Settings [Press Enter]:
Different DIMMs........................[Auto] -------I dont see this when i go into turnaround settings....
Different DIMMs........................[Auto]
On The Same Rank.......................[Auto]
>>>>> Channel A Writes Followed By Writes ------- 9 9 9
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...................[Level 2]
CPU Vcore..................1.25..[1.34375xv]
QPI/VTT Voltage..........1.100v.....[1.x00v] << An issue, you MUST set this. For 1520Mhz/3000-3200 QPI try 1.25-1.4
>>> MCH/ICH
PCH Core....................1.050v.....[Auto] << What is this? X58 does not have PCH core?
CPU PLL......................1.800v.....[Auto]

MCH/ICH
PCIE 1.500v ........................... 1.5-1.54
QPI PLL 1.100v ....................... 1.2-1.24
IOH Core 1.100v ..................... 1.14-1.24 (1.2-1.24 often best)
ICH I/O 1.500v ....................... 1.5
ICH Core 1.1v ........................ 1.14-1.16

>>> DRAM
DRAM Voltage..............1.500v.....[1.5v] << Set 1.6 for now
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]

[Decrypted]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

Hey

Is the possibility that it is just the cpu? Is there a way to test that?

Going to try your settings now.

[Decrypted]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

Well...I tried all your settings. No dice. Oddly, afterwards, I took the ram out of channel C, left qpi x36 uncore x16, and left qpi/vtt ioh core voltages higher as suggested, and it posted...but bluescreened on windows boot a few times, even when i tried safemode and loading from the disc.

Machine_Check_Error

I should have written the error down but I didnt...so im like crap maybe i bricked this board somehow, went back put everything to stock...and it booted.

I'll consider the RMA but I would really dislike being without a mobo for that long. Might just buy a new one. Can I be fairly confident it is not the proc?

[warren300]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

can i ask what type of cooler your using?check its not overtightened as that will give you ram faults

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

No, no real way to test CPU as the issue for sure, unless you had other memory and even then it may not help.

Thanks warren, I had forgotten all about that. A short on the rear of your cooler backplate or front can also do this. Be sure none of the traces on both sides are shorted by your cooler

As for my settings, sounds like they would work (As they should) with some tweaking, something you should have done from the begining. Since you did not start that way, it sounds like you gave up way to quickly. I can't give you spot on settings that will work for your CPU, you will need to tinker. The way I gave you settings though is the proper way to go about things, and until you can get it going with similar settings I can't say for sure what the issue could be or not as I am not sure you are setting up your memory properly without it being set like above.

Your BSOD should be in event viewer, if you remember what time you were doing this you should be able to find it. Then you can tell us the issue and we can advise back, likely you needed more Vcore (0x00000101 Or 101) or more QPI/Vtt (0x00000124 Or 124)

I suspect it is settings, you used it for a year without issue, so I think things just slowly became unstable due to your setting choices or lack of. Now you need to find and re-tweak your settings to find proper settings and stability at the clocks you were using and your memory should all work properly.

[Decrypted]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

I'll take this one on piece by piece.

Thanks warren, I had forgotten all about that. A short on the rear of your cooler backplate or front can also do this. Be sure none of the traces on both sides are shorted by your cooler

Hm...That's a possibility. What do I look for? I don't know what traces are.

As for my settings, sounds like they would work (As they should) with some tweaking, something you should have done from the begining.

Why the hostility? And frankly, that simply isn't true. I have held this back thus far, respecting your position here as support for Gigabyte. However, I will respond in kind.

Your telling me to increase voltages when everything is/has been running fine. Is that not totally against
one of the most basic rules of overclocking? The best stable performance you can achieve with the lowest voltages possible, in order to preserve and lengthen the life of your hardware, as overvoltages do the most damage, and produce more heat, reducing the life of a component. I personally fried a couple of DDR2 sticks of Mushkin HP by going .1v over spec with my previous e6600 build. Honestly I was very hesitant to run the XTUNE at the voltages you wanted. But I did. I do not know nor claim to know everything. This information has been gleaned from reading a few guides for overclocking i7 920's. Perhaps I am wrong.

And I did do tweaking from the beginning. I spent two straight days on this build increasing my bclk, then my vcore, slowly, each one, closely monitoring the temps and adjusting everything accordingly. Like I have said many times, it was perfectly stable under Prime95 torture testing. So I should have increased my voltages just for the fun of it?

The way I gave you settings though is the proper way to go about things, and until you can get it going with similar settings I can't say for sure what the issue could be or not as I am not sure you are setting up your memory properly without it being set like above.

Firstly, I did every setting exactly as you suggested. If you said something to be from 1.2-1.4 volts, I tried both. No, I did not try every setting inbetween. I did everything you asked, but I'm not going to go over it. I do not know why you have reason to doubt me and am not inclined to prove it to you.

Secondly, your forgetting a few things. This is a premium motherboard that I paid 300$ for. I shouldn't be required to have exactly the right voltages and every single timing set for my ram in order for it to work. If this were a new build, incompatible memory would be a possibility...but not even, the ram is detected in some slots fine, and was known to work and be detected fine previously to a bios flash. At stock the ram should be detected. Period. Claiming this is not a fault of the motherboard, but of my settings, has frankly just made me angry.

can i ask what type of cooler your using?check its not overtightened as that will give you ram faults

Thermalright Ultra-120 RT in a push pull config.

Your BSOD should be in event viewer, if you remember what time you were doing this you should be able to find it. Then you can tell us the issue and we can advise back, likely you needed more Vcore (0x00000101 Or 101) or more QPI/Vtt (0x00000124 Or 124)

I couldn't find it, either I'm looking in the wrong spot, or it's not there. There are two possiblities, I have no page file on my OS partition, and it warned me it might not save some error reports when I set that. Also, the windows load screen with the bar underneath flashed for only a second before the BSOD. Not sure it would record that.

I think the grounding thing is a real possibility. At one point I moved my case back after doing some work to it and heard something fall on my desk. It was a motherboard standoff screw thing. I knew that was possibly bad but didn't know it could cause this exact symptom. Have a couple days off over the weekend, I'll rebuild it from the ground up.

[warren300]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

he means the memory traces printed into the motherboard,sometimes if you overtighten your cpu cooler esp with a backplate it can damage or block the signal to your ram from the cpu,or even short on the motherboard itself,its worth checking just incase.when it blue screens try to see what number it gives at the end of the error code on screen Vcore (0x00000101 Or 101) or more QPI/Vtt (0x00000124 Or 124) thats what lsdme is saying

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

A trace is all those little wire like lines on your motherboard, it is copper wire ran under the PCB. If your heatsink front mounts or back mounts or plate are scratched through or pressing very hard on these they can cause a short. Easiest way to test for this if you are unsure, is to put on the Intel Stock cooler for a quick test and see. If it works with that, then most likely something on your cooler is shorting and you will need to find the cause and fix it if you can.

Sorry, I did not mean to come off as hostile at all!!

I only said things like that, so you would know that this is likely the cause of the issue and were not stuck in thinking with the "it's always worked before" thoughts. My main thing was your uncore was way off what it should be, any voltage changes I suggested are only to try and see what the issue is here and not meant to be used for 24/7 running or something I am telling you that you must use at all. Only trying to help you sort this out is all. You will not fry anything with any of my suggestions, and going over by .1 on memory will not fry it either that memory had to have some other fault and was on it's way out.

I did not mean to make you upset, or contradict your thoughts or ideas. Sorry, sounds like we have got off on the wrong foot here. I am only trying to help you find the cause of this issue. If you think it is the board and or memory and do not wish to further troubleshoot let me know and I can get you the RMA pages for either so you can get moving on that route so things can get back to working order.

I was just trying to help and save you from that hassle, sorry if I came off as hostile or anything like that!

Ya, both of those things you mention in regards to BSOD could mean there would not be one. So no luck with that I guess.

Sounds good, I will for sure do a rebuild before RMA'n anything just in case. I'd say go ahead and set the system up outside of the case on a wooden desk or cardboard box, then if everything starts fine you know you had a short or something inside your case.

Again, I am very sorry for the way I sounded to you, that was in no way my intentions! I am always here to help, and happy to do so. It takes a lot for me to be upset, and you are no where near my bad side, so not sure why I sounded the way I did to you, but I see it would be my fault of course so I do apologize for how things sounded.

I am here to help, hopefully we can figure this out without you having to RMA but sometimes that is all you can do. If I sound offensive to you again, please let me know as that is not my intentions at all, ever.

[Decrypted]

Re: GA-EX58-DS4 not detecting channel C

I guess it's my turn to say sorry. You have been very helpful thus far. I'll try building it on cardboard, going to be a pain as my cables are routed very carefully in my p182se.

Warren, that's a sick rig. Why an ati 1950pro? That's just a waste. You tried Bad Company 2 yet?