koert Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 My Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX memory set seems to have some issues with the MSI P45 Platinum board: Memory at 4-4-4-12 timings with DDR voltage at 2.1V runs memtest for 24 hours without issues. However, in Windows I get random crashes. Furthermore, if a USB hub is connected (tried 3 different models), the system does not POST. Had the same issue on three different MSI P45 platinum boards. With memory at SPD timings and 2.1V, random crashes disappear and the system POSTs fine with the USB hub connected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 6, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 6, 2008 How many modules total are in your system and what are the exact BIOS settings you have set for CPU and memory? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koert Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 Just the two modules in the set (2x1GB) in dual channel. CPU settings are at their default values: 8x333MHz for the E6750. Automatic overclock features of the mainboard are disabled. Tried enabling and disabling each of the CPU features but that didn't change anything. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 6, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 6, 2008 Please make sure that you have the latest bios and load setup defaults and then set the memory Voltage to 2.1 Volts then set the timings manually to the tested settings for the specific module you have, and test the modules one at a time with http://www.memtest.org to be sure one is not failing. If you still get errors, please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it! However, if you get errors with both modules that would suggest some other problem and I would test them in another system or MB to be sure. In addition, with some MB's (Mostly ASUS) you have to disable legacy USB in the bios when running any memory test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koert Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 Tried just about any BIOS from the original 1.0 up to the recent 1.4 and some beta bioses. Started from fail-safe defaults, upping the memory voltage to 2.1V before changing the timings. Memtest works perfectly, even with both modules in dual channel mode (24 hours) at the 4-4-4-12 timings as long as no USB hub is inserted. The USB hub completely kills system stability however, unless memory timings are relaxed. Tried three different motherboards. Tried disabling USB legacy support. Tried a clean system with only a videocard (two different) and one harddisk and all onboard hardware disabled. Modules itself seem fine. All other hardware, including motherboard, seem fine. But the combination of the motherboard and memory modules causes instability. That's why I have my doubts replacing the modules with the same type will not solve anything. Can get them replaced through my retailer as well, but he suggested to try this forum before RMA'ing. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 6, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 6, 2008 Do you have the USB problem when you only have one module installed? And with MSI you have to load performance defaults I think it is and do you have the latest BIOS version from them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koert Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 Both fail-safe and optimized defaults have the same behavior. With one stick of memory, the system does POST sometimes with USB hub connected, but then crashes during Windows boot. Sometimes it doesn't POST. Also can't boot into memtest. This happens with both sticks. Just tested this multiple times with each stick separately in each of the memory banks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 7, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 7, 2008 I am not sure the memory is the problem but let's try replacing them. Let's get them replaced, please use the On Line RMA Request Form and we will be happy to replace them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koert Posted October 8, 2008 Author Share Posted October 8, 2008 Got the kit replaced through my retailer. Exact same behavior, however :( Some tweaking I can do in the advanced timing settings, maybe? These are all at their default values. The RAM kit was the last part that had not yet been replaced in debugging this issue so I'm out of ideas... Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 8, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 8, 2008 Please make sure that you have the latest bios and load setup defaults and then set the memory Voltage to 2.1 Volts then set the timings manually to the tested settings for the specific module you have, and test the modules one at a time with http://www.memtest.org to be sure one is not failing. If you still get errors, please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it! However, if you get errors with both modules that would suggest some other problem and I would test them in another system or MB to be sure. In addition, with some MB's (Mostly ASUS) you have to disable legacy USB in the bios when running any memory test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koert Posted October 15, 2008 Author Share Posted October 15, 2008 As said, tried two different sets of the TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX, both showing the same behavior. Tried all BIOS releases for the board. Was able to borrow a different branded pair of high performance sticks from a friend. This set POSTs with no issues, also when the USB hub is connected. This strengthens the idea the instability is caused by an incompatibility between the TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX and the Intel P45 chipset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 15, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 15, 2008 Again, test them one at a time and see if the problem is still present and with http://www.memtest.org to be sure one is not failing. And what is the spec of the other modules you tested and what are the BIOS settings you set them both to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 This strengthens the idea the instability is caused by an incompatibility between the TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX and the Intel P45 chipset. I have used this memory modules with many Asus P45 motherboards and no issues have resulted. I stay far away from MSI so I can't say anything about them. Since you have found DRAM that will work, I suggest you go to your retailer and change to those DRAMs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koert Posted October 16, 2008 Author Share Posted October 16, 2008 Again, test them one at a time and see if the problem is still present and with http://www.memtest.org to be sure one is not failing. And what is the spec of the other modules you tested and what are the BIOS settings you set them both to? Modules were tested separately with no issues. Spec of other modules: 4-4-4-15 @ 2.1V (it is a 4GB set, however) Tried the Corsair modules at both 4-4-4-15 and 4-4-4-12. Same behavior. Tried just about any combination of BIOS settings: Greenpower on/off, DDR phase control on/off, Enhanced memory settings auto/enabled/disabled, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 16, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 16, 2008 Modules were tested separately with no issues. If the modules will run and pass http://www.memtest.org one up or with both but you still have that USB Problem I would suggest contacting the MB maker to help you. Or test the memory on another system and the fact you replaced them once would also suggest it is not the memory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koert Posted October 16, 2008 Author Share Posted October 16, 2008 Just got a single module to post with the USB hub connected: unplug the USB hub, boot into memtest, plug in the USB hub while memtest is running and then reboot. Without the USB hub connected, memtest passes fine. With the USB hub connected I get errors. I already got the mainboard replaced as well (I'm on my third now!!) edit: Second module I can't get to post on its own with 4-4-4-12 timings and USB hub Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 16, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 16, 2008 OK this is a bit different now! That is a known issue with http://www.memtest.org and some MB's. There is a note about this is the read me file for Memtest. Just burn it to CD and Disable Legacy USB support and boot to a memtest CD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koert Posted October 16, 2008 Author Share Posted October 16, 2008 I was using a bootable memtest cd! But my issues only start occuring once I plug in the USB hub. I tried the latest memtest+ (2.1) and both memtest+ (1.70) and memtest (3.30) from an ultimate boot cd of a few months old. Without USB hub, both modules plugged in, memtest runs fine With USB hub and both modules plugged in: no post With USB hub plugged in and only module 1 (any bank): errors in memtest With USB hub plugged in and only module 2 (any bank): no post With USB hub, both modules plugged in and SPD timings, memtest runs fine Disabling USB legacy support doesn't change anything... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 17, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 17, 2008 Then that is a BIOS issue and you would need to talk to the MB maker, but I suspect they will tell you to just remove the HUB when running http://www.memtest.org. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koert Posted October 18, 2008 Author Share Posted October 18, 2008 MSI never heard of the problem as well :): I tried every BIOS from 1.0 to 1.4 and some betas in between. All have the same issue. The issue is not only while running memtest. The system is also unstable in Windows and does not even POST with the two sticks at 4-4-4-12 and USB hub. Removing the USB hub is not an option. Tried multiple USB hubs and all have the issue, so swapping out the USB hub is not an option as well. Also, my TV card (old bt848 chip based thing from Miro) seemed to cause a lot of instability. Everything went much better after I removed it. However, with the other sticks I have system is perfectly stable, even with the TV card installed. Unfortunately, these other sticks are not mine. Think I just managed to get some parts that don't match well... Thanks for the help in debugging the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 20, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 20, 2008 I dont see how the memory modules could cause that symptom, will the system post and boot to windows with out the USB Hub attached? If yes then the memory would have little to do with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koert Posted November 3, 2008 Author Share Posted November 3, 2008 Strange indeed, and yet swapping the modules for same-spec but different branded modules solves the problem, while swapping to a different set of the same modules or swapping the motherboard or usb hub does not. Indeed, without a USB hub, system boots to windows and memtest runs fine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted November 3, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted November 3, 2008 That would suggest a BIOS problem with that MB and I would suggest contacting the MB maker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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