DRAM voltage chances on cold boot

[mattbatt]

GA-X58A-UD5 Rev 2.0, Fe5

Intel 980x

Corsair CMZ24GX3M6A1600C9 Vengeance 1600mhz 24GB RAM, 1.5v 9-9-9-24 CAS

 

I've had issues with RAM b4 so I replaced OCZ with Corsair after talking with Intel regarding what occurs when the 980x is loaded to the max with memory, enabling triple channel mode. I was told by an Intel engineer on the phone that nothing past 1.5v DRAM is acceptable for this processor. Your ram is 1.5 volts and 1.5 volts is selected in memory DRAM voltage settings in BIOS.

 

Whenever I change any other setting regarding performance, say setting the multiplier of my CPU up slightly (which requires NO VOLTAGE CHANGE at all, so instead of 3.33ghz to 3.46ghz) everything is fine and stable until I shut down and let the computer sit a few minutes. On boot, it then reboots itself before starting and I see it puts CPU back to normal in my OS. If I go into BIOS, it tells me boot errors occurred from voltage errors and I see my CPU settings are back at normal.

 

HOWEVER- I also observe my DRAM voltage is now 1.648 V even though I always specify 1.5v! This is the voltage error, not the CPU error that I believe is occurring. From here, with the BIOS back to normal CPU settings, if I save by F10 and do a cold boot, the problem now remains FOREVER even though there is NO OVERCLOCK applied. In other words, now even the settings the BIOS set are not reading!

 

I have to then enable "optimized defaults" then start from scratch, then things work though sometimes my 1600mhz ram will show up as 1333 in OS, not always. I've actually lived with this for 2 years but now IM MAD! I even have created a normal profile and OC'd profile in my BIOS thinking maybe the CMOS was not saving properly.

 

NOTE: I do not change BCLK settings, I even have set my RAM to 1333 or less. I have XMP1 profile.

 

What I think is that CMOS is messed up and keeps resorting to a setting after cold boot for some reason. My RAM should not be run at 1.65 volts but 1.5 volts. Why would this change? Thank you for your help.

[peanutz94]

I have to then enable "optimized defaults" then start from scratch, then things work though sometimes my 1600mhz ram will show up as 1333 in OS, not always. I've actually lived with this for 2 years but now IM MAD! I even have created a normal profile and OC'd profile in my BIOS thinking maybe the CMOS was not saving properly.

Since this has been two years and two differnt memory kits i would have to say either there is something wrong with the board.

 

Do you have the latest BIOS for your MB?

 

You might want to remove your CPU cooler and remount. Uneven pressure on the CPU socket will also cause these weird types of errors. And while you hve the cooler off, it might even be a good idea to take it one step further and remove the CPU and inspect the socket for bent pins.

[mattbatt]

Look, my first errors w OCZ memory made me:

1. get new OCZ Ram

2. Get another Motherboard from Gigabyte

3. Check for bent pins

 

Nothing was wrong there. When I went to Corsair low v memory, my DRAM Post boot errors were relieved.

 

BUT, I would have cold boots into 1333mhz instead of the rated 1600mhz at times in the OS.

 

So today I've done testing and recommendations from other sites. People said w 24GB ram, having a manual 1.5v set for DRAM is too low, however my BIOS and XMP Ram profiles that Corsair offers does not give a 1.65 v setting (my BIOS auto sets it to 1.648v.)

 

My solution thus far for cold boots has been to set ram to 1333mhz and all voltage settings to AUTO and disable XMP while setting RAM performance to "Standard."

 

However, as soon as I try and OC the CPU multiplier, things are fine until a cold boot restart. It then resets CPU to 3.33ghz (I'm only trying to push it to x28 or 3.75ghz) :(

[peanutz94]

Enable the XMP profile, but manually set the DIMM voltage to 1.65v and QPI voltage to 1.35v as a starting point.

 

See how tha goes and we can go from there.