Polydactyl Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 I know there are a lot of threads on this particular motheboard (I think I've read most of them), but I want to make sure I haven't missed something before I resort to an RMA. According to the label it is XMS3202v1.2, if that makes a difference. I've had the RAM since June and the memory tested fine at 1T 2-3-3-6 in Memtest86+ at the time, but that was on my previous motherboard (Gigabyte). That system was 100% stable. Now that I've got the DFI board with the latest official BIOS, I've experienced instability. After some reinstalls and hairpulling, I've finally traced it back to memory errors. I've tried just about everything I've seen here. Even with the voltage upped to 2.9 and my timings at 2T 3-3-3-8, I get errors in Memtest86+ v1.65. I've seen errors in tests 4, 5, 7, and 8, although never all in one single pass of the test. I have not found a single configuration of memory timings that is error free. I've also made the switch from the yellow slots to the orange slots. It seems to take longer for errors to appear, but they don't go away. Is there something else I can try? Most of my memory timings are set to Auto (if I'm not trying manual settings). Unfortunately DFI Street has been down all week, so I haven't been able to look there for more ideas. I'm testing the individual modules at the moment, in hopes of pinpointing a faulty module. However, even if they come up clean individually, I intend to RMA if I can't get the pair to work in Dual Channel. I've seen the excellent support provided here, so I thought I'd post before going straight to the RMA process. Thanks for any advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Are you able to test the DRAM in another board? Have you disabled Legacy USB? DFi is known to have compatibility issues with quite a bit of DRAM. You might well RMA and have the same issues with the new DRAM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polydactyl Posted January 20, 2007 Author Share Posted January 20, 2007 The DRAM did work flawlessly in my previous board and I did test it pretty heavily, but I no longer have that board available. I also ran the individual memory modules through 6 passes of MEMTEST86+ each, with no errors. I think it may be an issue with running Dual Channel. I couldn't find the Legacy USB option, although I found a number of other USB settings. Perhaps they changed the name of Legacy USB to a different setting as they sometimes do between BIOS updates. Or maybe I didn't look in the right place, although I went through all the chipset settings as well as the timing options. Right now I'm running another test with Bank Interleave disabled, but it just started, so no verdict yet. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polydactyl Posted January 21, 2007 Author Share Posted January 21, 2007 Quick update: Turning off Bank Interleave did not work. Additionally, I've also tried downclocking the memory to 180MHz, but that failed as well. I've cleared the CMOS, and changed the JP17 jumper to allow overvolting DRAM up to 4 volts. I don't plan to do this, but it DFI mentioned moving this jumper in one of their FAQs to "increase compatibility." I'm set at 2.7 Volts at the moment and have made it through the 1st pass of Memtest86+. Sometimes the errors don't show until the 3rd pass though, so I'm nowhere near ready to declare success. Additionally, I looked through the BIOS completely, and could not find "Legacy USB." The closest I got was a few options to enable USB On-Chip support for USB 1.1+2.0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polydactyl Posted January 21, 2007 Author Share Posted January 21, 2007 Forgot to mentioned that I had set the CPU VID set at 1.55 Volts (as I saw recommended by RAM GUY in another thread with very similar hardware). This seemed to help as I ran five MEMTEST86+ passes with no errors. Of course everything was running quite hot in my system, so stepped the CPU VID back to Auto (which is 1.3 I believe), and then to 1.4, but both settings produced errors. Edit: I just got an error in what I thought was a stable config. The bottom line is, I haven't found one working combination of settings, even on the loosest timings over a range of voltages. Incidentally, the errors are almost always on Test 7 at one of two memory locations. Barring any last ditch ideas, I'm thinking the only option left is an RMA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 If you do not error when you raise your CPU voltage but error when you lower it, then I do not think the issue is the DRAM as the CPU voltage is not tied to the DRAM stability or the DRAM voltage. Be clear. Corsair will give you an RMA. I personally believe that you will find that the same issues remain and that your system is not stable due to your overclock or overclock settings or your motherboard. The only necessary functional requirements of Dual Channel Mode with regards to the DRAM is that the DRAM should be of the same timings and SPD. Usually a kit is the best way to find these characteristics. Any other function of Dual Channel Mode is dependent on the Memory Controller on either the motherboard or on an AMD integrated CPU. The DRAM must follow the criteria but the DRAM is independent of the mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polydactyl Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 I finally did get errors with the CPU voltage cranked up, so I think it was just a little bit of randomness associated with the probability-of-bit-error that gave me that run of 5 passes. I have a hunch you may be right about experiencing these problems even if I get an RMA replacement. Especially since the single sticks always pass MEMTEST. I'm experimenting with manually configuring some of the "lesser known" BIOS memory timings. Anything called "xxxxx delay" I set to the highest setting instead of Auto to maximize latency between memory operations. I figure if this works, then at least I have a starting point to work with. I've also increased the refresh rate by lowering the Tref value from the BIOS default of 3120 to 25xx. I really wish the "Auto" settings would tell you what they default to. Is there any program that will tell you what ALL your memory timing settings are, not just the big five (e.g. 2-3-3-6, 1T)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Is there any program that will tell you what ALL your memory timing settings are, not just the big five (e.g. 2-3-3-6, 1T)? I use Everest Ultimate Edition as it gives me all the information I need. It even gives the Vdimm. http://www.lavalys.com http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e269/Ropey123/timings.jpg http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e269/Ropey123/timings1.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polydactyl Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 Still no luck with changing timings. I get 2 errors, always at the same 2 memory locations in Test 7, and sometimes test 5. Even though I can't prove that the problem is my RAM (testing the sticks individually never results in an error), I simply can't get it to work. RAMGUY, I'd like to try an RMA, unless you can suggest something I haven't tried yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 RAMGUY, I'd like to try an RMA, unless you can suggest something I haven't tried yet. Post in here: http://www.houseofhelp.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=146 Give this post as a reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polydactyl Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 I posted in warranty like you suggested. What is the proper tREF value for my RAM supposed to be? My motherboard defaults to 3120 cycles, which at 200MHz works out 15.6 micro-seconds. I've seen several references that list the memory as 7.8 micro-seconds, which would make the tREF 1560 cycles. I also set everything to "Auto" and booted into Windows and pulled all the settings from Everest like you suggested. When I'm back on that computer I'll post the list of timings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legend Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Try TRC 11 and TRFC 16. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polydactyl Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share Posted January 23, 2007 As I mentioned, here is the full listing of timings as pulled from Everest. Everything that could be set to AUTO was, except for CAS and CPC (aka Command Rate) which I had set to 2 and 1 respectively. Do any of these look way off base? Memory Timings CAS Latency (CL) 2T RAS To CAS Delay (tRCD) 3T RAS Precharge (tRP) 3T RAS Active Time (tRAS) 8T Row Cycle Time (tRC) 12T Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC) 14T Command Rate (CR) 1T RAS To RAS Delay (tRRD) 2T Write Recovery Time (tWR) 3T Read To Write Delay (tRTW) 4T Write To Read Delay (tWTR) 2T Write CAS Latency (tWCL) 1T Refresh Period (tREF) 200 MHz 15.6 us DQS Skew Control Disabled DRAM Drive Strength Weak DRAM Data Drive Strength 1 (50% Reduction) Max Async Latency 6 ns Read Preamble Time 5.0 ns Idle Cycle Limit 256 Dynamic Idle Cycle Counter Disabled Read/Write Queue Bypass 16 Bypass Max 7 32-byte Granularity Disabled Error Correction ECC Supported, Disabled ChipKill ECC Supported, Disabled RAID Not Supported DRAM Scrub Rate Disabled L1 Data Cache Scrub Rate Disabled L2 Cache Scrub Rate Disabled Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legend Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Memory Timings CAS Latency (CL) 2T RAS To CAS Delay (tRCD) 3T RAS Precharge (tRP) 3T RAS Active Time (tRAS) 6T Row Cycle Time (tRC) 12T Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC) 16T Command Rate (CR) 1T RAS To RAS Delay (tRRD) 2T Write Recovery Time (tWR) 3T Read To Write Delay (tRTW) 4T Write To Read Delay (tWTR) 2T Write CAS Latency (tWCL) 2T Refresh Period (tREF) 200 MHz 15.6 us DQS Skew Control Disabled DRAM Drive Strength Weak DRAM Data Drive Strength 1 (50% Reduction) Max Async Latency 9 ns Read Preamble Time 6.0 ns Idle Cycle Limit 256 Dynamic Idle Cycle Counter Disabled Read/Write Queue Bypass 16 Bypass Max 7 32-byte Granularity Disabled Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polydactyl Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share Posted January 23, 2007 Even though Everest shows it, I dont have the option to change the Write CAS Latency (tWCL) in the BIOS. But I'm trying the rest of your suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polydactyl Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share Posted January 23, 2007 No luck. In fact I started getting more errors so I'm throwing in the towel on this. Now that I've gotten 1 stick to produce errors and the other doesn't, I'm sure it's the RAM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted January 25, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted January 25, 2007 Let's get them replaced, please use the On Line RMA Request Form and we will be happy to replace them or it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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