Possibly Memory Problems.

[Mama Sumae]

Ok i seem to be having some problems with my new system (have a look at my system for specs) casual boots and errors while running some programs. This tend to happen more often during heavy loads and it is impossible to play oblivion and FEAR . Never overclocked the system since there was no real need and have recently reinstalled the xp but the problem remained.

For all i know it seems to be due to the memory, have used memtest and Microsoft memory diagnostic and there seems be errors everywhere. Corsair recommends disabling legacy usb during the tests any other recommendations for the tests? can i use the tests with dual channel active?

Already updated the bios just in case.

[Clunk]

Have you entered the timings for the ram manually? If so, what did you use? Are you using a divider at all? What bios for the P5B are you on?

[Mama Sumae]

i have 1Gb (2X512Mb) CorsairTwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 4-4-4-12, EPP


I have used the automatic settings and the bios version is 0711 they are fast a new one jus came out. what is a divider ?

CPU-Z on the memory tab shows they are uctually running with this settings

1024Mb
Frequency 400MHZ
FSB 2:3
and 5-5-5-18

but in the SPD tab the individual sticks shows the right timing speeds
PC2-6400 ( 400MHZ )
4-4-4-12

[Mama Sumae]

Ok can anyone help me to manually change the memory settings on the bios, i had a try looking around but i have no clue regarding some settings.

i know how to set the obvious ones:

cas latency = 4
Ras to cas delay to = 4
Ras Precharge = 4
cycle tras = 12

CPU-Z also identifies de ram frequency as 400Mhz shouldn’t it be 800Mhz?

Please do give me a hand here boys.

[BlindMelon7]

Isn't it 800 if its dual channel?

[Mama Sumae]

dont ask me

But dual channel should be working at least during boot it says Interleaved.

[oralpain]

Dual Channel has nothing to do with frequency (nor does double data rate to be honest).

DDR-II 800 (aka PC 6400), uses a 200 MHz physical clock, operates at a real frequency of 400MHz, and transfers data twice per clock cycle.

The 400 listed by CPU-Z is correct.

A divider, in this sense, is synonymous with ratio. The first number is the FSB in relation to the memory. With a 2:3 ratio, you have a 266MHz (two pieces of 133.3) FSB/external clock, and a 400Mhz (three pieces of 133.3) memory clock.

Most PC6400 memory, especially the kind that operates at timings tighter than CL5, will require more than default voltage. It's quite possible that your system is still set to 1.8v for the memory. Look up what your memory's rated voltage is, and change the voltage control in the BIOS to match.

I believe your memory is rated for 2.1v, so use at least that amount.

Another point I would like to make is that, with Core 2 systems, there is very, very little real world benifit to be had by running the memory at a ratio greater than 1:1. You would probably see slightly improved performance if you went to the 1:1 ratio (ie 266MHz, DDR2-533, PC4200, ect) and tightened the timings.

However, overclocking to your system to 400x8 (3.2GHz cpu speed) and running at 1:1 at the full 400MHz would be a far better idea, in my opinion...at least after you get your current stability issues sorted out.

[Mama Sumae]

Thanks oralpain didnt find were to change the memory voltage but i am in a worry (uni lectures at 9) so i will give it a try later on.

CPU-Z tells me my FSB: DRAM is 2:3

i am also trying to get the other memory settings from corsairs website.

[Mama Sumae]

its not like the bios is a huge thing but i cant seem find the dam thing, WHERE can i change the memory voltage???

[oralpain]

*sigh*

It's all in section 4.4 of your motherboard's manual.

More spcifically, go to the advanced tab, set AI Tuning to Manual. This should enable several more options. One of these options will be Memory Voltage. Set this to 2.1v.

If you want to run your memory at 1:1, you can set the DRAM Frequency option to 533.

[Yellowbeard]

Mama Sumae, here is the memory spex page and the PDF for your memory:

XMS Qualification: http://www.houseofhelp.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=52348

PDF: http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair...048-6400C4.pdf

If you are failing under heavy load, I would suspect a heat and/or power issue.

[oralpain]

Thanks for the spec sheet Yellowbeard (wasn't that a Cheech and Chong skit?).

Sumae, in addition to what I said in my last, post check to make sure you are running T2 command rate under your timing options.

[Mama Sumae]

Sry guys i am sure you all have better things to do than to teach me how to use a manual but i am a complete noob with these timings/overcloking things.

I have changed the memory voltage to 2.1V these are the rest of my settings:

Memory remap feature Disable ( bios default )

Dram CAS latency = 4 (changed it from 5)
Dram RAS to CAS delay =4 (changed it from 5)
Dram RAS Precharge =4 (changed it from 5)
Dram RAS Active to Precha = 12 (changed it from 18)

Dram Write recovery time = 6 ( bios default )
Dram TRFC = 42 ( bios default )
Dram TRRD = 10 ( bios default )
Rank write to read delay = 10 ( bios default )
Read to precharge delay =10 ( bios default )
Write to Precharge delay = 10 ( bios default )
Static Read Control = auto ( bios default )

Do i need to change any of those? what i have to do to run a T2 command rate ? sry again guys

[Yellowbeard]

Thanks for the spec sheet Yellowbeard (wasn't that a Cheech and Chong skit?).

Cheech n Chong were in it. But,it was primarily a Monty Python crew movie and also included Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Nigel Planer, and a lot of other funny people. It's one of my favorite movies of all time. And since Corsair wanted me to have a pirate themed name, here I am.

Mama Sumae, you cannot adjust command rate on Intel systems so don't worry about that particular setting. For the time being do not adjust these settings.

Dram Write recovery time = 6 ( bios default )
Dram TRFC = 42 ( bios default )
Dram TRRD = 10 ( bios default )
Rank write to read delay = 10 ( bios default )
Read to precharge delay =10 ( bios default )
Write to Precharge delay = 10 ( bios default )
Static Read Control = auto ( bios default )

Unless you continue to have problems, do not adjust these and are better left at MOBO defaults. When we validate memory on a MOBO, these settings are left at default and only the other 4 timings are adjusted.

[oralpain]

See if everything is stable now that you are at the correct voltage.

[Mama Sumae]

Did a short test with memtest in 20 minutes i had only one error, still not good but things look a lot better now since i previously had errors every second. The error is always in the same greatness, 04000000000000 difference from the expected value.

haven’t done any heavy loading yet so i will have a look how it behaves under those conditions, i have checked the heat conditions in the case and they seem stable even during heavy load the cpu is at 43º and the mobo at 31º .

I guess my next step will be to extensively test the memories separately.

thank you guys i will report soon