GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

[MrGav]

I decided to update my BIOS to F9 and had nothing but trouble since, random blue screens and boot failures and windows start up repairs (Windows 7 ).
After going to BIOS F5 I had a bit more success but still not entirely stable, no more blue screens and boot failures but when testing with Intel burn test I got a pass after 10 runs on standard but failed on high so I tried the standard test again but failed on the second run.
I put all settings to stock and tried again on standard but still failed but one thing I did notice was the voltage moving between 1.36 and 1.28 as seen in cpu-z. Is it normal for the cpu voltage to fluctuate?
I tried BIOS F8 tonight and couldn`t even get it to boot, just lots of blue screens and continuous short beeps (power error)during post.
I went back to BIOS F5 and booted straight away although the voltages are still fluctuating between 1.136 and 1.28.
The IDE/sata diagnostic led`s are lit during post but chk disc says the hard drive is ok,
and the ram passes 24 hrs of Memtest 86+.
I`m wondering if the inconsistent tests in Intel burn test and the voltage fluctuations are pointing to a faulty PSU?
If anyone can shed any light on this or point me in the right direction it would be appreciated.

Regards

Gav

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

You can't use the same settings with newer BIOS, are you trying to? You have to tweak things all over again, and the older settings you are used to may or may not work, so this may be the problem.

Yes that is normal for the voltage to flucuate in CPU-z, that is called Vdroop. There is Vdrop and Vdroop, Vdrop is what you get in windows at idle Vs what you set in the BIOS, Vdroop is what you get at Idle Vs Load.

Those are per Intel Design, to lessen this affect you need to enable LLC (Load Line Calibration) in the BIOS

Continuous short beeps normally means your tRD (Static tRead Value) is set to low in the BIOS.

Please flash back to the Latest BIOS, using Qflash and Disable Keep DMI Data. Then load optimized once you are done and reboot back to the BIOS to make all your needed changes, if you are using RAID please be sure to see the flashing guide so you do not mess up your array.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/bios-flashing-how-qflash-guide-27576/

If you get the continuous beeps right after the BIOS flash and load optimized/reboot, then do it again or remove one stick of ram so you can get in the BIOS. Then once in the BIOS set tRD (Static tRead Value) for each channel to 9 until we can help, and put performance enhance on standard.

Please give me a link to your ram if you can, if not I'll go by the model # in your signature. Just wanted to verify the voltages mainly.

Once you get going give me your current BIOS settings you are trying to use in a template from my signature, then I'll advise back.

[MrGav]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

Thanks for that Lsd, I was tarting from scratch with my settings using optimised settings but just got reboots and blue srceens even after setting voltages and timings to stock.
Here`s the link to my RAM, I`m using 2x2Gb.
I`m not using raid and I read the Q flash guide thoroughly before I did it so I would be comfortable with what I was doing, think I might take a stick of ram out anyway and take it from there but i`ll get back to you when I`ve got the latest BIOS up and running.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

What FSB do you want to run? Let me know and I will give you some optimal settings that should help get you going.

[MrGav]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

I think I`m gonna go with1066 FSB and try for a stable 3Ghz with my CPU.
I had a stable 3Ghz with my Mushkin ram but only had 2Gb and now I`m using 64 bit Windows 7 I decided to go for 4Gb but as Mushkin is unavailable in the UK at the moment I went for the G.Skill ram and seem to be struggling getting a stable 3Ghz.

Thanks again

[MrGav]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

I had to take a stick of ram out to get it to boot and then everything was ok, after going into the BIOS and entering some voltages (set at stock).
I rebooted and everything was still fine so I shut down and put in the other stick of ram but back to square one, crashes and black screens so I shut down again and removed a stick of ram again and everything was fine again.
It boots fine with each stick of ram individually but not both together with F9c BIOS but with F5 BIOS it boots with both, it`s a bit frustrating.

I`ll post my settings tomorrow but basically they`re all auto at the moment

Thanks again

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

1066 FSB (266) is only 2.4Ghz, is that really what you meant?

As for your memory issue, did you set performance enhance on standard? If not do that, and set your memory voltage to the spec amount on the sticker of your ram, and also you may need to set MCH Core voltage to 1.2-1.24 for 4GB of memory.

[MrGav]

[Chike]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

BTW, how do you put your BIOS settings in a box instead of a list, been trying to work it out but it`s got me beat ;-)

Wrap them with code tags, or select the text and click the # icon in the forum editor's toolbar.

With your memory timings at FSB 333MHz tRD 6 or even 5 should be possible.

[MrGav]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

I`ve tightened my timings up a bit and lowered my cpu voltage and everything is nice and stable so with these timings do you think that tRD 6 is possible and are there any more gains to be had?

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............:  Fast
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.0


Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:Set to 100

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


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: <<< 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< 
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< 


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: 333
System Memory Multiplier ..............:3.20B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1066
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: manual

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................  5
tRCD ......................................... 5
tRP'........................................... 5
tRAS.......................................... 15


Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 4
tWTR..........................................  4
tWR............................................ 6
tRFC........................................... 48
tRTP........................................... 4
Command Rate (CMD) .........................   2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................ 1066

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:7
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: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.........................:7
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................: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
CPU Vcore�.���.........................: 1.3350

CPU Termination�..... 1.200V*.......: 1.260

CPU PLL�������....1.500V*.......: 1.500

CPU Referen.����....0.755V*.......: auto

CPU Reference2���,,0.800V*.......: auto 

MCH/ICH
MCH Core�����.....1.100V...........: 1.260
MCH Reference�.��.0.760V...........;  .798
MCH/DRAM Ref.�......0.900V...........: .930
ICH I/O������.....1.500V............: 1.500
ICH Core����...��1.100V............: 1.200

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ��....1.800V............: 2.1
DRAM Termination .�0.900V............: auto
Channel A Reference 0.900V............:auto
Channel B Reference 0.900V............:auto

Thanks in advance

[Chike]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

tRD 6 or even 5 may be possible, for the gains run benchmarks.
Is there a reason MCH/DRAM Ref set manually?
MCH Reference is at default anyway so realy no reason not to leave it on auto.

[MrGav]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

The only reason I was setting things manually was cos I was using someone else`s template to get me going again after all the blue screens i was getting. I`ve just been concentrating on lowering the advance memory timings and running Memtest86+ to make sure things are ok. I`ll go back into my BIOS and put them on auto, also when I`ve got my timings right I`ll lower my DRAM voltage a little at a time, it`s rated at 2.0 - 2.1v.
I`ve been making small gains each time with Maxx Pi so at least I`m going in the right direction.

[Chike]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

Memtest86+ is not sufficient, run 8+ hours Prime95/Orthos blend to be sure, and 5-10 runs of IBT/LinX if your temperatures allow it.
tRFC is a bit tight, if increasing it don't hurt performance set it 52-56.

[MrGav]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

I ran Intel Burn test on standard for 10 runs and passed and then ran it on high for 5 runs and passed. I ran Prime 95 for 7 hours on blend and passed and ran Memtest 86+ test No2 for fifteen minutes without errors and then ran test No5 for an hour and fifteen with no errors. I know I need to run some tests for 24 hours and will do when I have the time but this will do for a start.
Incedently all the settings in the advanced memory timings are set at whats in the EPP which is why tRFC is set at 48, seems to work ok though ;-)

[Chike]

Re: GA-EP45-DS3P boot failures and blue screens after BIOS update

tRFC is 48 in the EPP? I find it hard to believe, not for the 533MHz profile.
If it works it works, but if there's no gain setting it so low I'd set it up to the point it start effecting performance.