fajorry Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Hello Ramguy, I have had problems for quite some time now, and finally narrowed it down to RAM problems. The problems result in bluescreens all the time in Windows XP, SP2 as well as freshly installed Windows XP x64 Edition. I've been running with one stick, two sticks (placed as recommended by MSI manual, slot1 & 3) but everytime bluescreens, which seem to come at random times. The reason i belive it's ram related is because i tried to run the system with another stick a CMX1024-3200C2PT, and that worked like a charm. No bluescreens, ran stable for three days straight. My bios settings(bios v1.5) are default, and the timings for the memories are as follows: 2,3,2,6 @ 1T and voltage at 2.7V. I cannot seem to find anything about any known conflicts with my ram and the rest of my hardware, even your guide says that my ram is supposed to work fine. I have been trying for several months now to solve this problem, but im tough out of luck and ideas. Any help and suggestions would be gratefully appreciated. I did run Memtest86+ V1.51 on one stick, 10 passes, no problems, but right after i reboot and enter Windows, boom, another bluescreen. Looking forward to your reply! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted May 25, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted May 25, 2005 I would try the modules in slots 2-3 if you have a socket 754 MB and set the Dim Voltage to 2.8 Volts and see if that helps. In addition, please try and catch the stop error code and do a search at http://www.microsoft.com/technet to see or get help to trouble shoot the problem. Also I would try the modules one at a time and see if you can isolate this to one of the modules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fajorry Posted June 2, 2005 Author Share Posted June 2, 2005 Update: I also tried the other stick by itself as well as both sticks in memtest, no errors. But the fact of the matter remains. Windows bluescreens atleast 5 times/day. And by switching ram, it does not. Help please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fajorry Posted June 2, 2005 Author Share Posted June 2, 2005 Update continued: These are my current memrelated bios settings: Mem Voltage: 2.8V Max Memclock: 200MHz 1T/2T Memory Timing: 1T Tcl: 2.0 Trcd: 3 Trds: 6 Trp: 2 If im not mistaken, these should be the correct timings for these modules? I have tried with looser timings too, but with no success. As for the stop messages, they differ all the time. It's almost never the same, which leads me to belive the error is quite random, as could be with faulty or inproperly configured ram. I will however keep track of all the bluescreens from now on and note down the stop codes. When I tried your suggestion to put the sticks in slot 2-3 (Yes i do have the socket 754 board), the pc would hang at memory testing in the bios POST. I have no idea why? Finally, sorry for my slow response, i had made a mistake and bookmarked only my own post, so i did not see that you had replied so fast. Thanks for the serious and quick response! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 2, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 2, 2005 Do you have just the Neo or Neo2, since they do not have Platinum2? If you have the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum, socket 939 MB; set the following BIOS settings. Please make sure that you have the latest BIOS installed on your MB and set the following BIOS settings; DRAM Configuration : Max Memclock: Limit or 200 1T/2T Memory Timing : 1T CAS# latency (Tlc): 2 RAS# to CAS# delay (Trcd): 3 Min RAS# active time (Tras): 6 Row precharge Time (Trp): 2 High Performance Mode : Manual Aggressive timing : DISABLED Dynamic Overclocking: DISABLED Spread Spectrum : Enabled HT Frequency : 5x Cool’n’Quiet: Disable Adjust CPU Rotation: Startup Adjust CPU FSB Frequency: 200 Adjust AGP Frequency: 66 Adjust CPU VID 1.550v CPU Voltage: By CPU VID Memory Voltage : 2.75 AGP Voltage: 1.50V *1.6V if you have 9200 or 9600 ATI or 5200 or 5700 Nvidia card. All other settings should be left to MB default settings. Then please test them one at a time with http://www.memtest.org and let’s make sure it's not some other issue! I would run the test for at least 2-3 passes to be sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fajorry Posted June 2, 2005 Author Share Posted June 2, 2005 Im sorry, i do not have s939, rather 754 (K8N Neo Platinum), dont know where i got the 2 from :/ The settings u described for 939 i did already try without any luck. My gfx card is a Gainward Nvidia GeForce 6800GT, but I have a nice PSU 520W that peaks 600W, which should be quite suffcient. What i cannot understand is why i do not get any errors in memtest with my current ram, although it bluescreens my system, and my one stick of 3200C2PT does not. Thanks for the quick reply, a confused customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 3, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 3, 2005 Do you have the latest BIOS installed for your board? If you are getting BSOD's, more than likely the problem of your computer is coming from somewhere else; if memtest has found no errors on your system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fajorry Posted June 3, 2005 Author Share Posted June 3, 2005 Yes, i have the v1.6 Bios installed now. I do see your point about the BSOD's, but i have replaced and tested all parts in the pc with other parts one at the time to figure out what was wrong, and the only thing that helped was when i changed the ram as i said in my previous post, to a single 1gb stick. Also the bluescreens are different every single time, pointing at something random, which also leads me to the conclusion of the ram. I have heard that memtest doesn't always catch errors even if they are there? Have you got any other suggestions, this problem is quite frustrating as you probably can understand. Thanks again for all the help so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddyPetch Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 Fajorry, I feel for you. In making the leap from Intel to AMD, I've needed to learn new bios settings and of course the oc theories derived from this new awesome technology. My MSI board arrived over a week ago and I've learned a considerable amount since. Fajorry: I want to fire up my game! So, at this point I'm going to spare you a lengthy narrative of my own challenges and setbacks (reinstall XP...lol) and make some general observations as well as specific suggestions for yourself and other MSI users. I've read threads on various types of MSI boards and there are common hurdles MSI users face. Concerning high overclocks MSI Boards are often characterized as: 1. Second to DFI's mobos, since MSI mobos appear to have more compatability issues and require a bit more patience. * -Some have observed problems w/certain Antec PS's * -One inquisitive soul :roll: appears to have purchased a 754mobo that does not support dual channel. This individual has gone thru a 'right of passage' in the build-it-yourself computer culture. One must trample THE RAM GUY at least once while taking baby-guru steps. [Give the proc&mobo to a lil kid and you will be blessed 3fold in return] * -Some were able to achieve good oc's w/CORSAIR XMS3200XL only after lowering the voltage to 2.6ish. Apparently, MSI assigns 2.7volts to CAS2. * -Many, including myself, are unable make use of 1T command rate (and suffer a heart-wrenching 2% loss, on average, in gaming). * -One fella used numerous types of high performance ram on MSI mobo and then entered a somewhat technical discussion of MSI mobo prefering BH or TCCD or (can't remember these names and lost my links during a reinstall: Google your mobo or proc stepping and you'll surely link into the forums I've read). READ HERE: One user reported crashing/Blue Screens/etc. over and over.....crimson and clover.......until when doing yet another fresh install of XP and Nforce chipset/mobo drivers, -he decided to CLICK 'NO' TO THE SCREEN ASKING IF HE WANTED TO INSTALL THE SW/IDE DRIVERS (remember that part?). Figuring he was only using SATA RAID, he skipped that part of the CD install and HIS PROBLEMS ENDED! No more BSOD. Hello Ramguy, I have had problems for quite some time now, and finally narrowed it down to RAM problems. Given what I have read on the web, and my own experience w/CORSAIR RAM and MSI, I'm certain the process by which you narrowed the problem down to the ram ought to be reevaluated in light of MSI's peculiarities. I cannot seem to find anything about any known conflicts with my ram and the rest of my hardware, even your guide says that my ram is supposed to work fine. Perhaps the ram works fine? Google 'best mobo for 939' or 'best ram for MSI' or 'overclocking MSI' and you should find an entry into useful info. In conclusion, do not give up on the MSI mobo. It is an overclocker! If you keep exploring forums and asking questions you might eventually reach a desireable system configuration. Finally, are you sure your 754 mobo operates in 'dual channel'? MSI's specs do not advertise dual channel for Neo 754 http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K8N_Neo_Platinum&class=mb To convice yourself, see MSI's specs for the Neo2 (939) where 'dual channel' is indeed advertised: http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K8N_Neo2_Platinum&class=mb Good luck & Peace, EP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 4, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 4, 2005 Please make sure that you have the latest BIOS installed on your MB and set the following BIOS settings; Advanced Chipset/DRAM Configuration : Max Memclock: Limit or 200 1T/2T Memory Timing : 1T CAS# latency (Tlc): 2.5 RAS# to CAS# delay (Trcd): 3 Min RAS# active time (Tras): 6 Row precharge Time (Trp): 3 Cell Menu High Performance Mode : Manual Aggressive timing : DISABLED Dynamic Overclocking: DISABLED Spread Spectrum : Enabled HT Frequency : 4x Cool’n’Quiet: Disable Adjust CPU Rotation: Startup Adjust CPU FSB Frequency: 200 Adjust AGP Frequency: 66 Adjust CPU VID 1.500v CPU Voltage: By CPU VID Memory Voltage : 2.75 AGP Voltage: 1.50V *1.6V if you have 9200 or 9600 ATI or 5200 or 5700 Nvidia card. All other settings should be left to MB default settings. Then please test them one at a time with http://www.memtest.org and let’s make sure it's not some other issue! I would run the test for at least 2-3 passes to be sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fajorry Posted June 4, 2005 Author Share Posted June 4, 2005 Thanks a million for your new insights to my problems. I will do what both Eddy and Ramguy suggested, and also put in a fresh copy of WinXP. AND i will not install the Nvidia SW/IDE driver (now that i think of it, i do remember hearing that was no good). Once again, thanks for your suggestions, i will post back with my results! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fajorry Posted June 4, 2005 Author Share Posted June 4, 2005 Okey, tried my system with the NV SW/IDE driver removed, seemed to run quite stable, but after a while weird things started to happen again. No bluescreen though. After upgrading to bios V1.7 and altering the settings to what RamGuy suggested i tried to install WinXP. Every time it got to Installing Devices, i would get a bluescreen saying Page Fault In Non Paged Area. :( Now I still dont know what to do, since the ram does not show any errors in memtest, but obviously something is seriously wrong when i cannot even install windows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddyPetch Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 When i set up XP, I did so with one stick of RAM in slot one, which I assigned a value of '166'. I did this cause I pretend to know things about computers and randomly changing settings in Bios excites me :) (Eddy takes his medication). Ok. Seriously, I read of the argument on another forum and decided to try it. Given how much faster the proc/mem function at compared to the harddrive, it's not unreasonable to attempt to slow the processing down a lil to reduce the likelihood of any errors whatsoever in the installation process. Windows installs in 11 minutes instead of 10. Secondly, I disable 1394, the ancient parallel and serial ports, one of the LAN devices, infared stuff, onboard sound, usb, etc. I take out my old keyboard with the purple plug and use that. Once XP is up and running, then put 2 or more sticks of RAM in, and install other devices as needed. Lil update: This morning I plugged my corded mouse into an unused usb port, as the cordless one was on the charger. I powered up and observed instability/lockups and pulled the last inserted usb out, rebooted, and observed stability. I still have that bossy ide driver in my system and it shares both IRQ's and mem resources with USB controllers. While there is no 'device conflict' stated in 'System Information', it seems these two controllers don't play nice together. So, I updated to bios 1.8 (latest for Neo2) and have decided to wait patiently for the next bios. For now, I use only 2usb slots and will unplug one device to use another. Keep in mind that the fundamental problem here is most likely the lightening fast memory controller of the revised 3700 processor. I heard MSI will release bios 1.9 at the end of the month. At that time, we'll likely see '3700Rev-E' added to their list of supported procs. MSI's homepage suggests a competitive organization, -and I bet the next bios will allow for a significantly greater number of truly compatable system configurations composed of top-end hardware. FYI: Bios 1.8 is stable and the temps are much lower. Last night, in this air conditioned room, my temps read in the 30s/40s idle and 50s load (celsius), w/bios136. A moment ago Core Cell read 19c, and another look, 22c. THAT IS WITH THE STOCK HEATSINK FAN THAT SO MANY FIND DEPLORABLE. MY 3700 IS CLOCKED AT 2500 (10x250) AND IS IDLING AT 21c WITH THE STOCK HEATSINK! When I removed it from the first MSI mobo (which suicided and death fragged my powersupply) AMD instructions stated to clean thermal and reapply. I cut up one of those pci-slot covers into finger sized scrapers and used the smooth end of each to apply Artic's Silver paste #5. I smeared that silver into that generic $5 dollar heatsink, and then a lil on the proc. Since the silver is likely worth more than the heatsink, I suppose I'll call it 'The ArticSilver Heatsink'? I ordered a new 939 clip for my koolance waterblock and did not expect much from this heatsink. -I'm impressed. Finally, I've tried several bios and have not yet been presented with the command rate setting of 1T/2T. I tried to set 1T w/A64v031 and had no luck. The command rate appears to be related to other non-gui bios settings, so I guess I wait for next bios? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 7, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 7, 2005 It would seem that a bios update may be needed with this CPU, as I have seen other MB's needing an update. Please talk to MSI and see if they know of any issues or maybe have a beta bios you can try. However, I have no problem replacing your modules if you want to try that, but from what you have posted I would suspect some other problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fajorry Posted September 19, 2005 Author Share Posted September 19, 2005 Dear RamGuy, Im back again, having tried these same modules on two more pcs. One Intel P4 platform and one AMD X2, both directly making bluescreens right after i put in the sticks. This makes 4 systems I have tried the sticks in, dont you think that would be enough to RMA these sticks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted September 19, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted September 19, 2005 I offered to replace them several posts back. Yes lets try replacing them. Please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fajorry Posted October 11, 2005 Author Share Posted October 11, 2005 Got the replacement modules today, and just want to say thanks for great support. Keep up the good work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 11, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 11, 2005 No problem and thank you for letting me know. Please let us know if you have any questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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