System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

[doru]

Hi all,

This is a new built started 3 weeks ago. I spent a lot of time trying diferent things (on the default assumption that memory is first to blame) but no fix found.

I'm looking for some wisdom on what might be the cause of random system freeze, meaning the keyboard and mouse are stuck and the UI frozen. It happens gradually not all of a sudden. They happen often enough but random. Sometimes no freeze even under heavy load with Intel Burn or Everest, etc, and sometimes is almost at idle reading a web page. When this happens I can hear that the fans are going to minimal speed - sign that the CPU load goes to idle. This is also confirmed by the power consumption when I powered the machine via Kill A Watt device. I can see HDD activity via the HDD LED keep going.

I tested the memory extensively with lattes memtest86+ and no errors in default or OC to 16600 mode. It is now left on optimized/defaults (1066).

There is no error or unusual stuff left in Windows event log. There is no crash. It does not matter how long I wait it never recovers.

Sometimes I do get a BSOD but when the machine is left to sleep by itself. The error is power management related (0x9f DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE).

Do you guys have any advise? Have anyone else posted something similar (I searched but could not find).

Config:
mobo - X58A-UD3R rev 2
mem - OCZ3G1600LV6GK
BIOS - FD, all mem and CPU settings on auto/optimized
OS - Win7 64 Ultimate
GPU - ATI (older 2xxx) or nVidia (new EVGA 01G-P3-1452-TR) based - makes no difference
PSU - OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP
BOOT/SYS - RAID0 on Intel port 0 and 1 using 160GB Seagate SATA HDD same model
DATA - RAID0 on Intel port 4 and 5 using 250GB Fujitsu SATA HDD same model. Ports 2,3 left empty for future expansion.
DVD - Gigabyte controller port 8 set to SATA/IDE

[wazza300]

Re: System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

you need to set manual ram speed/timings and voltages

set dram to 1.66v
set qpi/vtt to 1.315000v

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

I would also update to the latest BIOS if you are having S3 sleep issues.

In order to resume from sleep you need to be sure your system is 100% tested stable also, with memtest86+ and something like Prime95, OCCT, LinX, ect.

[doru]

Re: System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

I'm running the latest BIOS now (beta). Yes, I'm doing the testing using Prime95, OCCT, and IntelBurn test. The behaviour has not improved.

I'll try the memory settings next although if it is having problems at 1066 I do not see how it will run better at teh memory ratead speed 1600.

[wazza300]

Re: System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

try with more qpi/vtt voltage,try 1.350000v

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

Any luck tweaking things yet?

[doru]

Re: System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

Hi there,

Sorry for the delayed reply. I've been away.

Those settings do not change machine behaviour.

I've seen memory problems before but this is nothign like that. First a few GUI apps (usually IE) start not responding to input then more and more, then it is hard to impossible kill them, perfmon reports 100% CPU when the on the wire power meter and computer fans idicate there is idle load, untill all GUI apps stop responding. At this time the console apps still work (if a cmd window was open before) and I can try killing some of the processes but for some (like perfmon, prime95, task manager, bench32) I'm getting access denied. Going further the console apps start returning later and later untill the latency is so large (tens of minutes) that I just gave up. In the past if I go further the experience is that the system is going to stop responding to mouse and keybord.

What I know is that this is not a storage, power, or video problem. It should be one of the mobo, CPU or memory, although I don't believe the memory is to blame this time.

I no longer have the package for CPU and memory so I can no longer RMA them.

I'm very close to be out of the RMA window for the mobo. So I think it will be wise to RMA the mobo.

How can you tell if a CPU is bad? Are there any tools to test a i7 950 on its own w/o the OS being involved?

Thanks,
Doru

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

If you live in the US you can RMA for up to 3 years on the board.

Have you tested a clean install to rule out any software-side issues?

Could you please post your full settings in a template from my signature.

Can you test with another power supply, or have you already? If so which was it?

[doru]

Re: System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

I clean install it a few times, last time taking care to install minimum software necessary.

The other power supply was a 450W antec not powerful enough for the nVidia card and all the storage. I only used the older less demanding ATI card with it.

CPU = Intel i7 950
Motherboard = X58A-UD3R rev 2
BIOS Version = FE1 beta
Ram = OCZ3G1600LV6GK

Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio ................................ [23x]
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech .................. [Auto]
CPU Cores Enabled ............................ [All]
CPU Multi Threading .......................... [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ................... [Auto]
C3/C6/C7 State Support .................... [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor ......................... [Auto]
CPU EIST Function ............................ [Auto]
Virtualization Technology ................... [Enabled]
Bi-Directional PROCHOT ..................... [Auto]


Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed .............................. [Auto]
Uncore Frequency ..........................  [Auto]
Isonchronous Frequency ..................[Enabled]


Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control ................ [Disable]
BCLK Frequency (MHz) ..................... 
PCI Express Frequency (MHz) ........... [Auto]

C.I.A.2 [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ..............................[700mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive ................... [700mV]
CPU Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]
IOH Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]


Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance ...................... [Standard]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) ......... n/a
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........ [Auto]
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) .......... [Auto]

Channel A + B + C
All left on auto. Setting them makes no difference.

Advanced Voltage Control:

CPU
Load Line Calibration ................. [Auto]
CPU Vcore ............................... [Auto]
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v ............ [1.135v]
CPU PLL 1.800v ....................... [Auto]

MCH/ICH
PCIE 1.500v ........................... [Auto]
QPI PLL 1.100v ....................... [Auto]
IOH Core 1.100v ..................... [Auto]
ICH I/O 1.500v ....................... [Auto]
ICH Core 1.1v ........................ [Auto]

DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v .............. [1.660v]
DRAM Termination 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

You are using Fail Safe BIOS settings, that may be part of your issue.

Please load optimized defaults, then save/apply/reboot BACK to the BIOS. Once in the BIOS again set your SATA/disk settings and then anything else you need to adjust.

So you are leaving everything at stock?

If so below would be optimal settings, but do not set any of this please until you load optimized and reboot.

Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio ................................ [23x]
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech .................. [Auto]
CPU Cores Enabled ............................ [All]
CPU Multi Threading .......................... [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ................... [Auto]
C3/C6/C7 State Support .................... [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor ......................... [Auto]
CPU EIST Function ............................ [Auto]
Virtualization Technology ................... [Enabled]
Bi-Directional PROCHOT ..................... [Auto]


Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed .............................. [Auto]  << Set x36 or X44 for 133 Bclk
Uncore Frequency ..........................  [Auto]  << Always set 2 x your ram multiplier, or 1-2 above that amount.   So for 12 memory multi you need 24-26 here
Isonchronous Frequency ..................[Enabled]


Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control ................ [Disable]
BCLK Frequency (MHz) ..................... 133
PCI Express Frequency (MHz) ........... [Auto]

C.I.A.2 [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ..............................[700mV] << Will be changed once you load optimized
PCI Express Clock Drive ................... [700mV] << Will be changed once you load optimized
CPU Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]
IOH Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]


Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance ...................... [Standard]  << Extreme is best
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) ......... n/a
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........ [Auto]  << Set x12 for 1600Mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) .......... [Auto]  << Set Expert and then set each channel main timings and cmd rate one by one

Channel A + B + C
All left on auto. Setting them makes no difference.

Set 888-24 cmd rate 1 for each channel

Advanced Voltage Control:

CPU
Load Line Calibration ................. [Auto]
CPU Vcore ............................... [Auto]
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v ............ [1.135v]  << Will need 1.25-1.35 or more, depending on your CPU.  1.13 is def. not enough for 1600Mhz
CPU PLL 1.800v ....................... [Auto]

MCH/ICH
PCIE 1.500v ........................... [Auto]
QPI PLL 1.100v ....................... [Auto]  << Set 1.2
IOH Core 1.100v ..................... [Auto]
ICH I/O 1.500v ....................... [Auto]
ICH Core 1.1v ........................ [Auto]

DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v .............. [1.660v]
DRAM Termination 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v [AUTO]

[doru]

Re: System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

Got tired of messing with OCZ memory. It will probably be the last time I use OCZ. I also had (still have) issues with Gigabyte and OCZ on my HTPC. I have yet to find out why the Media Center stop responding to the input for a few seconds. There the problem is complicated by the integrated video that is using the same memory and bus as the main memory.

So I ditch OCZ and with Kingston memory it works fine w/o me having to do any special setting. It also cost less for double the memory (12GB) on same 3 modules.

The freeze may not have to do with the memory but with Intel RAID controller. It does not like to have two arrays each made up of different SATA HDD speeds. I had one with SATA and one with SATA II disks and the freezing went away when running only one array or when using same disk speed in all arrays (SATA II).

Thanks for the help.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: System freeze on X58A-UD3R rev 2

Nice to see you finally got a stable system in the end! I bet that SATA + SATAII was an issue, ditch those old drives already - no need to use them anymore when you can get a 1-2TB SATAII drive for around $50