Random restarts/crashes, XMS2 6400C4 2Gb

[jonnex]

Hi,

 

I've got both windows XP and Vista installed on the same disc in a dual boot setup. With Vista I've had absolutely no problems, never crashed once. With XP I've had constant problems, I've had to reinstall it once because it completely failed to boot, and now it's reinstalled i often get random restarts.

 

Sometimes they occur when I've just booted in to windows, sometimes just before it shows the desktop on boot, and sometimes during games. I've just had HL2 ep2 completely freeze on me after the ending credits as well, and I had to hard reset the computer.

 

I've just listed all my system specs when i joined the forum, so I assume people will be able to view them. But the short of it is i have an Asus P5B deluxe mobo, and 2gb of XMS2 6400C4 ram, in 4 sticks of 512mb.

 

I would have assumed the problem would be down to something else, but the first google search i did for random crashes with this mobo came up with a thread about duff ram - funnily enough the exact ram that i have.

 

I've been meaning to run memtest (how do i actually do this, it seems a bit complex!), but i dont have any spare CDs, so i'm wondering if there are any tests i can do or settings i can change in the BIOS to try to fix the problem now.

 

I've got my chip overclocked, it's running at 2.4Ghz. The settings relating to that (i think!) are (from CPU-z):

multiplier = x7.0

bus speed = 357.0 MHz

Rated FSB = 1427.8 MHz

 

and info relating to RAM from CPU-z is :

frequency = 446.2MHz

FSB:DRAM = 4:5

and the timings are 5,5,5,15

 

I dont know how to find out the voltage without going into the bios, so ill leave it like that for now.

 

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks for reading!

 

Jonny

[DerekT]

With four banks populated the issue is of the montherboard memory controller (MCH/Northbridge) not being able to run as fast as you are up clocking it.

 

Set your system to default and the DRAM to 800Mhz with 2 sticks. Test both sets of these sticks with Memtest (as they are Twin kits) in Dual channel mode.

 

Download memtest from http://www.memtest.org and extract the ISO image. Burn the ISO image to an CD-ROM disk. Boot to the optical drive with the memtest disk and allow for two full passes.

[jonnex]

Hi Derek, thanks a lot for your reply and information. My email address is ronsill@hotmail.com, if you add me to your MSN that'd be really useful to get some one to one help from you! I'm not sure if i'll be able to get on msn this weekend, but I'll definately be online on monday.

 

Is there anything you can suggest i do in the mean time, you mentioned changing some settings to do with the ram?

 

thanks again for your help!

[RAM GUY]

Moved to correct section.

[jonnex]

Hi again,

 

Derek: i've get to get chance to come onto MSN, but hopefully soon i will as it'd be great to have your views on these problems.

 

In the meantime, someone suggested to me that i should increase the voltage of my ram, so i put it up to 2v. the computer didn't crash for a bit, but then it's always been a bit sporadic. Suffice to say, it did crash eventually.

 

I've had it crash while playing COD4, and also on boot. I've set it in control panel to show the blue screen of death when it crashes, instead of just restarting (someone said it'd be good, just so i know its showing the blue screen)

 

The last blue screen gave this error at the top:

 

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

 

then a load of stuff about restarting your pc if this it the first time you've seen the error etc etc.

 

I've just played COD4 again, and it's *really* laggy, i get about 13fps when there are enemies on screen. The last time i played it, a few days ago, it was super smooth and handling loads of enemies with no slow down at all.

 

I'm really bummed out by this, and would love to find the problem and get it sorted.. any help, greatly appreciated!

 

thanks for reading :)

 

Jonny

[DerekT]

I'm on now but you have to be patient. :)

[jonnex]

gah, i keep missing you! i'm generally online during the day, work hours from 9 till 5. Are you in the US or UK? Could be the problem of not seeing you!

[DerekT]

Canada - Pacific Standard Time :)

[jonnex]

Ahh, we're a big time difference apart then, this could be difficult!

 

I'll update you with where i'm at now.

 

I realised my ram should be running at either 800Mhz or 1000Mhz,and that it was running at about 840. So i changed my cpu core clock speed to 400, so that my ram could run at 800Mhz/1000Mhz. I didnt previously know anything about this, and that my ram had an optimum speed it should be set at, so we'll see if it crashes now!

 

But even if it now doesnt crash, i've got another weird issue, to do with Call of duty 4.

 

Before i changed my core clock speed (and so the cpu speed and ram frequency) it was running really smoothly, i would get around 40fps even with lots going on.

 

Now, since i changed that core speed to 400, cod4 runs really choppy, and i get down to as low as 12 fps when there's only a few enemies on screen. Really unplayable.

 

I had my multiplier for the cpu speed at 7, so 400 x7 made it run at 2.8Ghz. Before, when cod4 ran well, i had it at something like 342 x7, which gave around 2.4Ghz. I changed the values to 400 x6, to give me exactly 2.4Ghz (thinking it might run ok again), and still its choppy.

 

I'm really really confused about this, is it possible that i would need to reinstall COD4 now that i've changed that core speed? All my other games, like HL2 and TF2 run perfectly - just as they did before.

 

Any ideas?

[DerekT]

The 4 X 512MB really limits you. Yokur CPU-z showing your DRAM at 446.2MHz gives you ~900Mhz with 4 X 512 and that could well be the issue. With 4 X 512 you want to set low and bring your DRAM up with the overclock and if you can make 800Mhz with the overclock and concurrent raise of the DRAM, then you will do doing well.

 

2 X 1024 would be far better. Download memtest from http://www.memtest.org and extract the ISO image. Burn the ISO image to an CD-ROM disk. Shut the system down and restart. Enter the BIOS Setup Utility and Load Setup Defaults. Save Setup Defaults. Reboot. Enter the BIOS and set to these values.

 

Configure System Frequency/Voltage

 

AI Tuning - Manual

 

Advanced Settings

 

CPU Frequency = 400Mhz

PCI-E Frequency: 100

PCI Clock Synchronization Mode: lock this in at 33.33MHz

Spread Spectrum: Disabled

CPU VCore Voltage: 1.4V

Memory Voltage = 2.0V

NB Vcore = 1.4V

DRAM Frequency - DDR 533Mhz

Memory Remap Feature = Disabled

Configure DRAM Timing By Spd = Disabled

DRAM CAS# Latency = 5

DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay = 5

DRAM RAS# Precharge = 5

DRAM RAS# Activate to Precharge = 15

DRAM Write Recovery = 6

DRAM TRFC = 42

DRAM TRRD = 10

Rank Write to Read Delay = 11

Read to Write Precharge Delay = 14

Write to Precharge Delay = 10

Static Read Control = Disabled

 

After entering these settings, boot to the optical drive with the memtest disk and allow for two full passes. Do not enter Windows until you are memtested clear for two passes. Keep in mind that these are ~ settings and you may have to tweak them. Certainly the Number 1 issue is that you do not want to exceed 800Mhz on 4 X 512 of 6400Mhz DRAM when you are overclocking and 667Mhz when you are not overclocking. The overclock, raises the Northbridge frequency, and smooths out the transition from CPU<--> MCH <--> DRAM.

[jonnex]

Hi again,

 

I've only just seen your new post, and I'm currently at work, but I'll try the things you've mentioned when I'm home.

 

Just to update again, I've been playing around with my DRAM frequency, and just yesterday I set it to 800Mhz (having had it set at 1000Mhz), and the computer wouldn't boot -at all-. It didnt even show the ASUS splash screen. I had to turn it off and on again a good few times so that I could get back into the BIOS to put it back to 1000Mhz, where it seems to boot.

 

I'm not fully understanding what you're saying about the relationship between the DRAM frequency, northbridge controller, MCH, etc? Getting a little way past what I know!

 

But you're saying that there is basically another setting i may need to change to get it running well at DRAM = 800Mhz? I'll give the things you mention a go when I get home though, thanks a lot for your continued help!

 

Jonny

[DerekT]

But you're saying that there is basically another setting i may need to change to get it running well at DRAM = 800Mhz? I'll give the things you mention a go when I get home though, thanks a lot for your continued help!

 

With four DRAM slots in use, you will never get the highest overclock or DRAM speed that you would with 2 slots filled. This is because you are making the memory controller (that's situated on the motherboard) that is called the "MCH/Northbridge" do "double duty" and do it at the full speed capability of the DRAM. With two slots filled, this works, but with tour slots filled, the memory controller can not "speed up" to perform data access and loads.

 

So I am saying that you might wish to "overclock" that data transmission line, thus speeding up the MCH and allowing it to reach a higher speed, thus enabling it to access and load the four dram slots faster.

 

What cooling do you have for your CPU?

[jonnex]

Ahh, I think I see more what you're saying. This stuff always takes me a while to get! Thanks a lot for your time helping me :)

 

You say I might want to overclock the 'data transmission line', is this done by over clocking the CPU even higher?

 

I've got this cooler for my CPU:

 

'Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 775)'

 

I bought it to replace the stock intel cooler, as when I was overclocking with that my CPU was running too hot. It seems to keep things running cool.

 

I've not used memtest or done the things you said yet, as I still haven't had the opportunity to go and buy some CDs, but I'll let you know what happens with that as soon as I'm done.

 

 

btw, with what you said about me having all for ram slots filled meaning my computer is having to work overtime, could this be the reason I've noticed COD4 giving me awful frame rates since i changed settings in my bios? everyone I've asked about that is totally stumped, as it worked fine before I changed my overclock settings. Have you any ideas why changing the clock speed + ram frequency might have changed COD4's performance? I even reinstalled it, still get awful fps...

 

:(

 

hehe, but thanks again for your continued help :)

 

Jonny

[DerekT]

You say I might want to overclock the 'data transmission line', is this done by over clocking the CPU even higher?

 

Are you overclocking right now? If so, what are your settings?

 

btw, with what you said about me having all for ram slots filled meaning my computer is having to work overtime, could this be the reason I've noticed COD4 giving me awful frame rates since i changed settings in my bios? everyone I've asked about that is totally stumped, as it worked fine before I changed my overclock settings. Have you any ideas why changing the clock speed + ram frequency might have changed COD4's performance? I even reinstalled it, still get awful fps...

 

I don't know what settings you've changed and if this was when you installed more RAM. I need to know your settings.

 

Download memtest from

Here

and extract the ISO image. Burn the ISO image to an CD-ROM disk.

Download CPU-z from

Here

and post screen shots of your CPU/Memory/SPD tabs.

You can use Photobucket

Here

to upload the graphics.

 

Also, please post your BIOS settings for CPU and Memory.

[jonnex]

Hi again,

 

I am overclocking now yeah, and always have been (since i installed windows on this disk a month or so ago).

 

I've gone through and written down all my bios settings, with the included screen shots that you asked for. :)

 

'Jumperfree Configuration'

AI tuning - manual

CPU frequency - 342

DRAM frequency - DDR2 855MHz

PCI Express Frequency - auto

PCI clock sync mode - auto

spread spectrum - auto

memory voltage - 2.0V

CPU Vcore voltage - 1.2V

FSB termination voltage - auto

NB Vcore - auto

SB Vcore (SATA/PCIE) - auto

ICH Chipset Voltage - auto

 

'CPU Advanced Configuration'

CPU ratio adjust - manual

Radio CMOS setting - 7

C1E Support - enabled

Max CPUID value limit - disabled

Vanderpool tech - enabled

CPU TM feature - enabled

Execute Disable Bit - enabled

 

'Northbridge Config'

Memory remap feature - disabled

configure DRAM timing by SPD - enabled

static read control - auto

initiate graphic adaptor - [PEG/PCI]

PEG port config:

PEG force x1 - disabled

PEGlink Mode - auto

ASUS CGI - auto

 

'Southbridge chipset config'

PCIEX16-2/PCIEXI-1 Force - auto

 

 

... ok! so that's all of them that i could find, even if they were just set to 'auto'. That's how i had it set up before i started messing with anything, and at that point COD4 ran really smooth with everything on almost the highest settings - but i did get random BSODs, on boot, when showing the desktop, and when playing games.

 

I've now got it running exactly like that,except with the 'Ratio CMOS setting' at 6, not 7. COD4 runs fine like that as well, though i expect it would randomly BSOD because the ram isn't running at it's optimum frequency (?). I've not been running it like this for long enough to see.

 

The only settings i changed were the CPU Frequency (to 400), and the CMOS ratio setting (just between 6 and 7, neither made COD4 run well) and the DRAM frequency (either at 800Mhz or 1000Mhz. at 800 when i saved and exited the bios, often it would not even boot at all, it wouldnt even show the ASUS splash screen. the one that shows right after you press the on button. I had to keep powering off and on and eventually it boot, so i could change it. at 1000, it boots through most times (dont think i had that same issue with it on 1000), but the COD4 problem is there. On one of the occasions i got it to boot with the DRAM freq at 800Mhz, COD4 still ran choppy as sin).

 

Here are the links to the pics of CPU-z:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee229/jonnexoi/spd.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee229/jonnexoi/mem.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee229/jonnexoi/cpu.jpg

 

..phew! that was a lot of typing. hope i've given you all the info you asked for, sorry for the delay.. hopefully i'll get some CDs tomorrow, so then i'll run Memtest.

 

Thanks again for your help!! :D

 

Jonny

[DerekT]

Use OCCT Perestroika for a quick, hard and fast CPU stability test. Download Here

 

Thanks for the information. Please enter your BIOS Setup Utility and set to these values:

 

JumperFree Configuration

 

AI Tuning = Manual

CPU Frequency = 400Mhz

DRAM Frequency = 800Mhz

PCI Express Frequency = 100Mhz

PCI Clock Synchronization Mode = 33.33Mhz

Spread Spectrum = Disabled

Memory Voltage = 2.1V

CPU Core Voltage = 1.35

FSB Termination Voltage = 1.3

NB Vcore = 1.4v

SB Vcore = Auto

ICH Chipset Voltage = Auto

 

Configure Advanced CPU settings

 

Ratio CMOS Setting - 7

C1E Support - Enabled

 

Advanced Chipset Settings

NorthBridge Configuration

 

Configure DRAM by SPD = Disabled

Memory Remap Feature = Disabled

DRAM CAS# Latency = 4

DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay = 4

DRAM RAS# Precharge = 4

DRAM RAS# Activate to Precharge = 12

DRAM Write Recovery = Auto

DRAM TRFC = 42

DRAM TRRD = Auto

Rank Write to Read Delay = Auto

Read to Write Precharge Delay = Auto

Write to Precharge Delay = Auto

Static Read Control = Disabled

 

Run Memtest before entering Windows. Allow for two full passes. If clean, then enter Windows and Run OCCT for a 30 minute run. Results?

[jonnex]

Hi again,

 

Well, good news at last, and all thanks to you Derek! The settings you asked me to use seem to be working great - i had no problems on boot, havent had a crash or BSOD yet, and COD4 works really smoothly again! I still (i know, ridiculous!) haven't got my hands on a CD, or had time to buy any, but i did run OCCT, and it said there were no issues after the 30 minute run.

 

I noticed with the settings you gave me that my CPU was running at around 60C during the test, so I changed the cpu Vcore back to 1.2V, is that ok or should i have it higher? I managed to play plenty of games and it ran fine with it like that, and it obvoiusly means the chips cooler, so i'm wondering if there's any disadvantage?

 

So other than that, what of the settings you gave me is the thing that's changed it? is it the fact i've manually set the CAS latencies? (i didnt even previously know i could do that in the bios, as you have to set something so it even shows you the options, which i guess you knew!)

 

One more thing though, i noticed in CPU-z that, even though in the bios i set the Ratio CMOS Setting to 7 that it seems to go between 6 and 7 depending on whether it's being worked hard. Like when it's doing nothing it was on 6, but then changed to 7 when it was running OCCT. Is that normal, didnt notice it doing that before.

 

Thanks a lot for your help though, i'm really realy greatful! I'll still try memtest when i get chance too.

[DerekT]

You had your Vcore set far too low. I set it to stock and an Orthos full load of 60C is very fine. You can lower the Vcore if you want but I think you will find issues again. That was my main focus on your issues. But hey, it is your system and you can set it back to low again.

 

My advice? Leave the settings where they are now. You are stable and 60C Full Load for that clocking is excellent. I don't know why you ask for advice and then set the Vcore to such a low value. I would set to no lower than ~1.3V personally. But hey, it's your system. Knock yourself out. :p:

 

The drop of the multiplier is Intels EIST/Speedstep which drops the multiplier to 6X when the power is not needed and raises it when it is.

[jonnex]

Ahh.. ok I'll put it back up, I'd been told by a friend that 60C was way too hot, but I think I'll take your word over his as you seem much better informed!

 

I don't mean to ask for advice and set my Vcore low out of arrogance, just I assumed one of the other changes you'd made was the thing that sorted out the issue, and plus I was under the impression the lower voltage you use, and still have a working system, the better. But consider me educated :D i'll set it back to what you said, and get back to you with the memtest results as i said.

 

Thanks again and again for all your help, I'm sorry if i've frustrated you!

 

Jonny

[jonnex]

Hi again,

 

just got home and i put my vCore up to 1.3v. Upon getting into windows, the mouse cursor was moving weirdly: it'd move then freeze in what seemed like a perfectly timed way, like 1 second it'd move, the next itd stop the next it'd go again. Just restarted and set vcore to 1.25v, and it's ok now. Is that a problem that could be down to vcore, doesnt seem like it could? if not then that's another issue to add to the list!

 

gaaah! haha

[DerekT]

Download Prime95 (OS: 9x/Me/NT/2k/XP) ---> Here

Download Prime95 (OS: XP x64/2003 x64) ---> Here

Download Core Temp -->Here

 

In the Core Temp, what is your VID?

 

If you can make ~8 hours with Prime95, then your core voltage is very likely fine. You may have a cherry CPU. Core Temp will show this.

[jonnex]

Hi again,

 

I've taken a screen shot of coretemp:

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee229/jonnexoi/coreTemp.jpg

 

After i booted with vcore at 1.3v (and got the weird mouse issue) i put it down to 1.25v (and the mouse is fine, as has everything else been for a while, including an hour or so of gaming).

 

I'll do the prime95 test tomorrow night when i get home, so i can leave it running for as long as i can while monitoring it.

 

What's the VID thing you mentioned, it seems to just be saying the voltage the cpu is running at when i open coretemp?

 

And is that mouse issue likely to be CPU related?

 

Thanks again :)

[DerekT]

Hi again,

 

I've taken a screen shot of coretemp:

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee229/jonnexoi/coreTemp.jpg

 

After i booted with vcore at 1.3v (and got the weird mouse issue) i put it down to 1.25v (and the mouse is fine, as has everything else been for a while, including an hour or so of gaming).

 

I'll do the prime95 test tomorrow night when i get home, so i can leave it running for as long as i can while monitoring it.

 

What's the VID thing you mentioned, it seems to just be saying the voltage the cpu is running at when i open coretemp?

 

And is that mouse issue likely to be CPU related?

 

Thanks again :)

 

The VID is the Voltage IDentification for the CPU. It was tested at the manufacturing level and found to need a startup voltage of 1.325 volts.

 

You need to find where you are stable and stay there. If it's at 1.25v then that's where although I am surprised that your CPU needs .75v less than the VID tested level. Perhaps you have some data corruption from your BSOD's, etc and need to re-install your OS.

 

This is the VID on my Quad Core.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee308/Dmtadman/36-1200.jpg