Question of the Week: 8500 Dominator fails memtest@ 1066, passes @800?

[td3]

I am truly baffled by this condition. I have spent at least twenty hours on this issue. If anyone can think of anything, please let me know!

 

New rig: evga 680i A1, dominator 8500 2 x 1G 2.1V (V / timing to follow), q6600 g0@ 2.4Ghz. Raptor 74G, Seagate SATA II 320G, evga 7900 GS KO (place holder for 8800GT-future upgrade), Zalman 600 PSU.

 

OK. Here goes...

 

SLI enabled, auto, 1066 oc0%, full auto ram timings, forced 2.1V (and auto voltage) brings the following results:

Installs XP (Home- as soon as I get this nailed down, I have a XPP sitting on my desk). Installs 3dm06. Does not install Fear DC (crc error). FAILS memtest straight off (+ or reg)! Creates corrupted images in Ghost booting from PE

 

SLI disabled 1066, 5-5-5-15-2T and tRC 28, forced 2.1 V.:

Fails installing 3Dm06. Creates corrupted images. Fails memtest at test 6 as long as long as pc powers down after adjusting timings. Otherwise i start out with two errors in first test.

 

SLI disabled 800, auto, auto V (1.85)

Fails memtest. Installed FEAR w/o CRC error. Does not install 3Dm06.

 

SLI disabled 800, forced 5-5-5-15-2T, tRC 28, auto V

PASSES memtest with flying colors! Creates PE images intact! Does not install 3Dm06.

 

Now, It looks like my RAM is unfortunately not recommended for this board by Corsair (look on eVGA's site, where it is! http://www.evga.com/support/mbmem/ ) This bugs me. Why is one company recommending another company's RAM, and the other company not recommending the first company's motherboard? Why do different programs install using different configurations within Windows? Why does it take a completely different config outside of Windows(if this was the only time I have to change it, then no problem. It's not. Problem.)? I would have tested individually, and still may, but why would it pass @ 800? Is it an issue with the Monster PC800 Surge protector I have plugged in? Does the board work with the 2.2V version of the 8500?

 

Some thoughts: on the ASUS boards, there is a legacy USB setting that needs to be thrown for memtest. Not this one. Windows itself boots fine and responds under all settings, no long term testing for any but Auto SLI 1066. Solid in windows. Just not installing stuff.

 

Many many thanks in advance.

[DerekT]

Why is one company recommending another company's RAM, and the other company not recommending the first company's motherboard?

 

This motherboard (and other *reference* 680i boards) is known to overvolt DRAM and lead to damaged DRAM.

 

Now I am just a simple member as you but I would guess that the RMA of DRAM from the reference 680i (of which EVGA is a part of) has led to not recommending the reference 680i with the higher end voltaged DRAM.

 

Here's a bit of research:

 

http://www.overclock.net/hardware-news/133686-evga-680i-sli-board-killing-ram-3.html

http://www.google.ca/search?num=100&hl=en&safe=off&q=EVGA+680i+c1&btnG=Search&meta=

 

Test this. Insert the DRAM in an Intel chipset based motherboard and set to 1066Mhz with 2.2v (for version 1.xx) or 2.1v (for version 2.xx) and see what happens with Memtest.

 

I know this is not what you want to hear but you may have to go the RMA route with EVGA and possibly more than once to finally get a board that works decently with that DRAM. Or install a less higher end DRAM that does not need as much voltage.

[RAM GUY]

Nvidia has released a statement suggesting that users set memory voltages to 2.2v or less. Your memory is fine for your board.

 

http://www.corsairmemory.com/configurator/product_results.aspx?id=131317

 

Just for testing, I would suggest that you plug the system directly into the wall and bypass your UPS. Also, when you are running Memtest, are you using a floppy drive or an optical drive? If it's an optical drive, is it the same drive that you are having install corruptions with? Do you have a seperate CD or DVD drive you could try?

 

Also, I would suggest that you clear the CMOS, load the setup defaults, and then set the memory voltage manually to 2.1v (or 2.2v, depending on your revision) and set the timings manually to 5,5,5,18 and command rate to 2T. Also, list any other settings you have made in bios that relate to the CPU or any voltages. Memtest each module again individually for 3-5 passes.

[td3]

 

Also, I would suggest that you clear the CMOS, load the setup defaults, and then set the memory voltage manually to 2.1v (or 2.2v, depending on your revision) and set the timings manually to 5,5,5,18 and command rate to 2T. Also, list any other settings you have made in bios that relate to the CPU or any voltages. Memtest each module again individually for 3-5 passes.

 

Thank you for your response. Just to clarify, are you referring to using the timings for the RAM meant to run at at a rated 800 MHz (6400) to run @ 1066 (8500)? As earlier stated, it is 2.1V. The timings for the Dominator 8500 are showing 5-5-5-15 on the table to which I was directed. Memtest was running from a floppy. Should I use the ISO for CD? Do you see overvolt or undervolt for many of these boards (I have seen reports of both)? I will be removing the power strip from the equation as suggested and trying this momentarily.

 

Thanks again!

[RAM GUY]

Thank you for your response. Just to clarify, are you referring to using the timings for the RAM meant to run at at a rated 800 MHz (6400) to run @ 1066 (8500)? As earlier stated, it is 2.1V. The timings for the Dominator 8500 are showing 5-5-5-15 on the table to which I was directed. Memtest was running from a floppy. Should I use the ISO for CD? Do you see overvolt or undervolt for many of these boards (I have seen reports of both)? I will be removing the power strip from the equation as suggested and trying this momentarily.

 

Thanks again!

I was asking about the optical drive in case the file corruption was due to a bad drive. The EVGA boards seem to be pretty accurate on actual Vdimm vs what is set in bios. Please try clearing your CMOS, load setup defaults, set the bios to alllow the CPU and DRAM to operate UNLINKED, set the RAM to 1066 mhz, set timings to 5,5,5,15, command rate 2T, and voltage to 2.2v. Test each module individually with http://www.memtest.org for 3-5 passes each while the unit is plugged into the wall, not using the UPS.

[td3]

running test right now @800. does SLi memory not go above 800 unless it is paired? This is my first experience with 8500. tried different sticks in different slot, it wouldn't boot @1066. kind of a noob @ troubleshooting this stuff. Running 2.1V. Also tried 2.2 V @ 1066, but that did not work. The only thing is that I already know that it will pass at 800. It did w/ 2 sticks. Is this experience normal?

[RAM GUY]

The Setting "SLI Ready Memory" has nothing to do with SLI Video and when its enabled as long as you have modules with an EPP Profile they should set the tested settings or whats set in the EPP Profile in this case of XM2S8500 Cas 5-5-5-15 at 1066 at 2.2 Volts for Rev 1.X and 2.1 Volts for Rev 2.X,

[td3]

Any pointers on getting it to boot @ 1066? It seems to only boot 1066 when both DIMMs are installed. It either posts and hangs, or does not post at all, rolling back settings and booting in safe mode. 2.1V either stick, any slot. Plugged into wall. 5-5-5-15-2T. I still have a few configurations to check, but that's what the data is saying thus far. And if I have to do 8 more hours to solve this, I will to avoid being without computer. I am fine with that. Also reset CMOS twice tonight.

 

The step I just thought to try is to drop the other stick in and run with the cd I just made. I was using that to eliminate the 1066 boot hanging issue. Previously using floppy.

[td3]

Nope, it does the same thing with either test media. Still not letting me test individually @ 1066.

 

All is well until test 6 (using both @ 1066).

[td3]

Just tried slots 1 and 3 and got a memory test error 52. Swapped stick locations because it wouldn't boot. Just shut down after 18000 errors in test 3.

[DerekT]

In case you are using some other form of Memtest. Download Memtest Version 1.70 from http://www.memtest.org and extract the ISO image. Burn the ISO image to an CD-ROM disk.

 

Enter your BIOS Setup Utility and enter these settings:

 

SLI-Ready Memory = Disable

CPU Freq. MHz = 266

CPU Muliplier = 9

x FSB - Memory Clock Mode = Unlinked

x FSB Memory Ratio = Auto

x FSB (QDR), MHz = 1066

X MEM (DDR), MHz = 1067

 

Memory Timing Setting

CL Cas Latency = 5

tRCD = 5

tRP = 5

tRAS = 15

Command Per Clock (CMD) = 2T

tRRD = 4

tRC = 28

tWR = 6

tWTR= 11

tREF = Auto

tRD = 7-8

tRFC = 42

Async Latency = Auto

 

Voltages

 

Vcore = Auto

Vdimm (DRAM Voltage) = 2.2v (for version 1.xx) or 2.1v (for version 2.xx)

Termination Voltage = 1.4v

1.2v HT: 1.3v

NB Vcore: 1.45v

SB Vcore: 1.50v

CPU VTT: 1.25v

 

Boot to the optical drive with the memtest disk and allow for two full passes on each stick singly.

 

Results?

[td3]

Still getting errors. Have not even tried to worry about Prime 95 yet. Most of my errors are coming up on 5, 6, and 7. Very end of 5. Most of my errors are coming in at about 1024 MB apart when testing both sticks. I keep seeing the same addresses come up too. Cannot test sticks individually at 1066 using any config I have tried thus far.

[DerekT]

Are you getting errors on each stick singly?

[td3]

I have tried to test sticks independently @ 1066 without luck. Have not tested at 800 independently because I figured that I would have errors in the dual 800 testing that I did. I found some timings that work @ 800 and are close to 1066 speeds, without errors in Memtest or Prime, but my mem bandwidth is still only 5383 in Sandra. Only about 3000 below what Sandra calls optimum. I still want to get this fixed, and hope that anything I can post gets closer to solution.

 

Thank you for your continued interest...

[RAM GUY]

If you are getting errors with both modules one at a time that would suggest some other problem and I would see if a friend can maybe help you test them in another system to be sure but I have no problem replacing the modules if you like, please use the On Line RMA Request Form and we will be happy to replace them.