Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

[dehunt911]

I am having considerable stability problems when playing games on my system. The video becomes unstable and then goes mostly black within the game.

Config is:
Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping (SLBEJ) 2.66GHz (Nehalem) (Socket LGA1366)
Asus ATI Radeon HD 4890 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R Intel X58 (Socket 1366) DDR3 Motherboard
OCZ Gold 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 Low-Voltage Triple Channel (OCZ3G1333LV6GK)
CORSAIR TX 650W ATX SLi Compliant Power Supply (CMPSU-650TXUK)

OS is now Win XP 32bit

DRAM timing is 9-9-9-20 @ 1333MHz (1066 MHz is less stable)
DRAM Voltage is 1.64v
QPI voltage is 1.295v

It happens when playing:-
- Battlefield Bad Company 2 (Worst offender)
- World of Warcraft
- Call of Duty Modern warfare
- Also strategy games such as Dawn of war and dawn of war 2

Memory Timings in detail are:-
For memory for all channels (A, B & C) unless stated otherwise.

ITEM Default Setting
----------- ------- -------
CAS Latency 7 9
tRCD 7 9
tRP 7 9
tRAS 16 20

tRC 27 Auto
tRRD 4 Auto
tWTR 4 Auto
tWR 8 Auto
tWTP 19 Auto
tWL 7 Auto
tRFC 60 88
tRTP 4 Auto
tFAW 16 Auto
Command Rate (CMD) 1 Auto

B2B CAS Delay - Auto
Ch A Round Trip Lat. 57 Auto* NOTE DIFFERENCE
Ch B Round Trip Lat. 60 Auto* NOTE DIFFERENCE
Ch C Round Trip Lat. 58 Auto* NOTE DIFFERENCE


Channel A Writes Followed By Reads (Same for Ch B & C)
Different DIMMs 7 Auto
Different Ranks 7 Auto
On The Same Rank 6 Auto

Channel A Reads Followed by Writes (Same for Ch B & C)
Different DIMMs 7 Auto
Different Ranks 7 Auto
On The Same Rank 7 Auto

Channel A Reads Followed By Reads (Same for Ch B & C)
Different DIMMs 6 Auto
Different Ranks 5 Auto
On The Same Rank 1 Auto

Channel A Writes Followed By Writes (Same for Ch B & C)
Different DIMMs 6 Auto
Different Ranks 6 Auto
On The Same Rank 1 Auto


DRAM Voltage 1.500v 1.640v
QPI/Vtt Voltage 1.175v 1.295v


We still believe that the memory is playing a part in the game failures.

We bought the OCZ3G1333LV6G memory from OVERCLOCKERS.CO.UK after seeking
their advice about its compatibility and now we find that the memory
is not on the list of supported memory from Gigabyte for this board.
In fact the only OCZ 1366 MHZ part number that is the OCZ3P13331GK
which I cannot find on the OCZ website.

We believe that the OCZ3G1333LV6G should work and by tweaking we have made
The system more stable than it was when we left things at BIOS defaults.

There is probably something to be gained from fine tuning.

We would be most appreciative if someone would have a look at all
the above timings and voltages and make any recommendations.

Diagnostic effort so far:-

- Started in Win XP 64 bit - changed to 32 bit (Unnecessary)

- Changed Video card to Nvidia 8800 GTS w/512MB mamory - this improved things slightly

- There is no overclocking, we've also tried Turbo and Extreme mode acceleration within the BIOS - Extreme seems to work longest

- Prime95 with 8 worker stacks exercises all 8 processor threads @ 100% endlessly (2+ Hours) w/o problem

- MemTest Deluxe 64 bit (boot from CD) runs endlessly (12+ Hours - 1000%) w/o problem

[wazza300]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

I am having considerable stability problems when playing games on my system. The video becomes unstable and then goes mostly black within the game.

Config is:
Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping (SLBEJ) 2.66GHz (Nehalem) (Socket LGA1366)
Asus ATI Radeon HD 4890 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R Intel X58 (Socket 1366) DDR3 Motherboard
OCZ Gold 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 Low-Voltage Triple Channel (OCZ3G1333LV6GK)
******* TX 650W ATX SLi Compliant Power Supply (CMPSU-650TXUK)

OS is now Win XP 32bit

DRAM timing is 9-9-9-20 @ 1333MHz (1066 MHz is less stable)
DRAM Voltage is 1.64v
QPI voltage is 1.295v

It happens when playing:-
- Battlefield Bad Company 2 (Worst offender)
- World of Warcraft
- Call of Duty Modern warfare
- Also strategy games such as Dawn of war and dawn of war 2

Memory Timings in detail are:-
For memory for all channels (A, B & C) unless stated otherwise.

ITEM Default Setting
----------- ------- -------
CAS Latency 7 9
tRCD 7 9
tRP 7 9
tRAS 16 20

tRC 27 Auto
tRRD 4 Auto
tWTR 4 Auto
tWR 8 Auto
tWTP 19 Auto
tWL 7 Auto
tRFC 60 88
tRTP 4 Auto
tFAW 16 Auto
Command Rate (CMD) 1 Auto

B2B CAS Delay - Auto
Ch A Round Trip Lat. 57 Auto* NOTE DIFFERENCE
Ch B Round Trip Lat. 60 Auto* NOTE DIFFERENCE
Ch C Round Trip Lat. 58 Auto* NOTE DIFFERENCE


Channel A Writes Followed By Reads (Same for Ch B & C)
Different DIMMs 7 Auto
Different Ranks 7 Auto
On The Same Rank 6 Auto

Channel A Reads Followed by Writes (Same for Ch B & C)
Different DIMMs 7 Auto
Different Ranks 7 Auto
On The Same Rank 7 Auto

Channel A Reads Followed By Reads (Same for Ch B & C)
Different DIMMs 6 Auto
Different Ranks 5 Auto
On The Same Rank 1 Auto

Channel A Writes Followed By Writes (Same for Ch B & C)
Different DIMMs 6 Auto
Different Ranks 6 Auto
On The Same Rank 1 Auto


DRAM Voltage 1.500v 1.640v
QPI/Vtt Voltage 1.175v 1.295v


We still believe that the memory is playing a part in the game failures.

We bought the OCZ3G1333LV6G memory from OVERCLOCKERS.CO.UK after seeking
their advice about its compatibility and now we find that the memory
is not on the list of supported memory from Gigabyte for this board.
In fact the only OCZ 1366 MHZ part number that is the OCZ3P13331GK
which I cannot find on the OCZ website.

We believe that the OCZ3G1333LV6G should work and by tweaking we have made
The system more stable than it was when we left things at BIOS defaults.

There is probably something to be gained from fine tuning.

We would be most appreciative if someone would have a look at all
the above timings and voltages and make any recommendations.

Diagnostic effort so far:-

- Started in Win XP 64 bit - changed to 32 bit (Unnecessary)

- Changed Video card to Nvidia 8800 GTS w/512MB mamory - this improved things slightly

- There is no overclocking, we've also tried Turbo and Extreme mode acceleration within the BIOS - Extreme seems to work longest

- Prime95 with 8 worker stacks exercises all 8 processor threads @ 100% endlessly (2+ Hours) w/o problem

- MemTest Deluxe 64 bit (boot from CD) runs endlessly (12+ Hours - 1000%) w/o problem

first set timings to 9-9-9-24, 20 might be a little too tight then set dram voltage to 1.66,set ioh core to 1.16v this helps when in games....also are you overclocked at all or at stock?

[dehunt911]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

Thank you - I'll give it a try.

[dehunt911]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

I'm sorry, I missed the question about overclocking - No we are running at stock speeds, no enhancement standard acceleration (- i.e. standard clock for single and multi cores 2 X 133Mhz.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

You may also need 1.3-1.4 QPI/Vtt, and you may need to set Uncore to a manual value of 2x memory multi or 2x +1-2, auto sometimes sets this way to high.

Can you please post me your full exact settings in a template from my signature so I can check your other settings as well. Be sure to mention BIOS version too!

Thanks

[dehunt911]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

I was a problem - instability in games.

Yesterday I removed the CPU, blew the contacts with compressed air, reseated the CPU, reinstalled the fan/heat sink and voila! I now have the problem that the unit won't POST.

The system starts, all mobo led's lightm, all fans spin, no video system shuts down then restarts over and over and over and over . . . .

Tis is the second Gigabyte durable mobo in a row that has acted this way.

I've cleared CMOS, removed the battery over night to no avail.

I have now ordered an ASUS P6T mobo.

I have used Gigabyte motherboards for many years without a problem but 2 of 2 durables going south is a bit hard to take.

I would apply complete the template if I could get the thing to POST.

Thanks for your assistance.

[wazza300]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

have you inspected the cpu socket since?? try re-seating it sometimes lifting the cpu lever and re seating it helps

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

Sounds like you have a short after putting your heatsink back on, that or you bent some pins when you tried to clean the socket out?

Post some pics of the socket if you are not sure

[dehunt911]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

I'm going to reseat again as soon as some more thermal compound arrives.

I doubt that I bent any pins with compressed air but one never knows.

We looked at the socket with a magnifying glass to check for debris or bent pins thinking that this might be the problem but did not notice anything so we just blew on it with thecan of compressed air.

[wazza300]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

was it out of an airline? or in a can? airlines sometimes blow water out unless you have a new inline filter in the pipeline

[dehunt911]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

Acan purchased from an electronics store.

[wazza300]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

check you havn't overtightened the heatsink also esp if it has a backplate

[dehunt911]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

It is a standard Intel supplied heat sink with punch through springy clips - pretty hard to over-tighten.

However I will have another go at reseating the CPU.

Thank-you for your attention.

Kind regards,

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

Are you sure you got them all fully snapped down then?

Good luck on reseating the CPU, while you have it out check to be sure you do not have any bent socket pins. And please be careful!

[dehunt911]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UDR3 (Rev 1.6) BIOS FI - Unstable in games - OCZ3G1333LV6GK

Well, well, well . . .

Hard to believe but I think we have a buckled/bent pin underneath the CPU!!

The odd thing is that one never touches the pins when dropping the CPU package into the "socket".

We shined a very powerful light on the pins as we looked them over with a magnifying glass.

One of them reflecteed light differently than all the others - we couldn't see that it was bent but I'm betting that it was buckled and was making poor contact initially and when we removed and replaced the CPU package contact became poor or even misconnected.

I cannot see how we could have bent/buckled the pin in question - it is in the middle of a forrest of pins that reflect light identically.

I believe that this is and has been a defect in the manufacture of the "socket" and was not picked up during Q/A.

We've replaced the CPU package and the system now powers up, all lights lit on the mobo which now remains powered on but nobody is home - no boot.

If anyone form Gigabyte is watching - is there any chance of an RMA and repair or replacement?

Wazza - thank you for pointing out the possibility of a bent pin. If I hadn't looked at the socket with a powerful light I would have never picked up on it and would never have thought it likely.

Kind regards