[GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

[compuser]

Thx for reading.

My GA-P55-UD4 mobo with F9 firmware is working fine with 2x2GB RAM.
Recently I added the exact same modules to end up with 4x2GB=8GB RAM.

I'm using 2x G.E.I.L. GV34GB1333C7DC PC3 10660 1333MHz CL 7-7-7-24 2GB x 2 DC Kit.

Here the problems start, most of the time my screen freezes and only the reset button will help me out.

After reading here I already bumped QPI/Vtt and PCH Core with no result.
All other settings are @ Auto.

Tested memory with Memtest86+ v4.00 for 10 hours with no errors. (!?)
Tested memory with MemTest from hcidesign dot com and yes it does give me errors!
(Running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.)

I just want to run it stable and i'm not into overclocking.
Any suggestions are warmly appreciated.

(If you need more info, please ask.)

[wazza300]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

what voltage is your ram rated ta? if its 1.65 then set dram voltage to 1.66 in the bios,and what are you setting qpi/vtt voltage to? try with 1.2v to start with,set cpu voltage to normal setting in cpu voltage list

[compuser]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

The sticks are rated @ 1.5V
If I look in the BIOS -> M.I.T. overview page, i see the DRAM voltage is already switching between 1.584V and 1.568V. I guess because in -> Advanced Voltage Control the DRAM Voltage 1.500V is set at [Auto] right?
I can choose here between [Auto,Normal,1.3,1.4,1.5,1.56,1.58,1.6,1.62,1.64] any higher the setting changes color to purple.

What setting do you suggest for my setup?

QPI/Vtt and PCH Core are back at [Auto] setting to test things one by one.
As suggested cpu voltage is set to [Normal] setting. (CPU Vcore setting to be exact.)

Today i put in only the 2 new 2GB sticks to see if my system is stable again.
I need to know this as quickly as possible to send them back if faulty.
But no problems so far, so it really looks 4 sticks together is the problem.

[wazza300]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

set dram voltage to 1.5v and set qpi/vtt voltage to 1.2v and try,pch core can be left on auto

qpi/vtt voltage i ment to say

[compuser]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

Thx, I'll fix DRAM voltage @ 1.5V. This means lowering the voltage from the current hopping between 1.584V and 1.568V the M.I.T. page shows me.
(I guess you want to know if stuff gets worse or better.)
With QPI/Vtt @ 1.2V and PCH Core @ Auto.

I'll report back. Thx for now!

[wazza300]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

yes 1.5v is what the rams rated at so it should run at that voltage,with you adding an extra 2gb of ram you need more qpi/vtt voltage to handle it all

what was qpi/vtt voltage on before do you know?

[Acebmxer]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

It is strongly advised to set all voltages manually to their rated setting.. The Auto setting on gigabyte boards tend to Over volt slightly or way Over Volt.

[compuser]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

OK, here we go!
After testing only the two new sticks, i'm sure they are not at fault.

Put back in the 2 older sticks, so mobo sees 4 sticks again, troubles came back.
My system refuses to boot most of the time or freezes while Windows booting.

After setting QPI/Vtt at the suggested 1.2v my system boots again.
But MemTest from hcidesign dot com gives some failures.
Setting QPI/Vtt any higher the BIOS shows purple values so i didn't raise this setting. (Too scared.)

So back to the DRAM Voltage setting, i raised it from 1.5v to the next value at 1.56v.
Running MemTest now for 6 hours and no problems yet!

PCH Core is still left at [Auto] and CPU Vcore at [Normal].

Any comments from you guys?
Some other stuff to do/check or leave it as it is when stable?

Big thanks!

[compuser]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

You will not believe this, while browsing the forum my computer freezes again!
Critical Kernel-Power message only in the Event Viewer.

I raised the DRAM Voltage once more and set it at 1.58v (Is this safe?)

If this will not fix the problem what else can I do?
Maybe relax some memory timer(s).
If so, which and will it affect performance drastically?

Thx.

[compuser]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

OK, DRAM Voltage at 1.58v does not do the trick.
MemTest reported some RAM copy error.
I set it back at 1.56v.

To try something else I changed the System Memory Multiplier from [Auto] to 8x.
The effective memory speed dropped from 1333 MHz to 1066 MHz.
I don't like this but just to test if stability improves.

Your input is again more than welcome.

[wazza300]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

you could try two clicks up from 1.2v qpi/vtt,and keep dram at 1.5v

[compuser]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

OK, it is entering purple values for QPI/Vtt.
It indicates danger to a n00b like me.
Can you explain if/why this is OK?

Leave DRAM at rated 1.5v or try first with 1.56v? (One click higher.)

Thx.

[wazza300]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

leave ram at 1.5v,try with more qpi/vtt,two clicks more from 1.2v even if its in purple it will be safe to use,if no fix then take back to 1.2v

[compuser]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

OK, fair enough, memory back at 1333 MHz and two more clicks Vtt.
Still having troubles so i looked for the specs of my i5-650 and Intel says the absolute maximum for Vtt = 1.4 Volt.

So added a few clicks and now running Vtt at 1.3V

I have to say no freezes until now.
This weekend some more stability tests and i will report my results.

Thx.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: [GA-P55-UD4] 4x2GB stability problem

QPI/Vtt is rated safe by Intel up to 1.4 as you mentioned, just be sure you keep your QPI/Vtt within at least 0.5 of the Dram voltage.