Enabling Dual Channel Memory

[teknology9]

Hello All,

I have got a GA-790FXTA-UD5 board and have, every now and again, encountered Windows 7 64 bit freezing. In my attempt to find a solution I read on one forum that enabling the dual channel mode may rectify the issue. The memory I have got is as follows:

Corsair XMS CMX8GX3M4B1333C9

If this is not the case can anyone suggest any solutions, I have the lastest driver, 11.6, for the Sapphire 6870 Vapor X and power scheme is balanced.


Thanks,

Teknology9

[Aussie Allan]

 Latest BIOS....Latest Drivers all round.........set to performance........and try again..........no change..........try with one DIMM and post your findings.

 Aussie Allan

[teknology9]

Thanks for the reply Aussie Alan.

The BIOS I have for my board is F3J, could you recommend any software to identify the missing drivers or those that need updating?


Thanks,

Teknology9

[absic]

Latest motherboard drivers can be downloaded from here: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3258&dl=1#driver

if you have any other devices attached you would need ot go to their respective websites to see if there are new drivers.

I am a little confused over the comment about enabling Dual Channel mode for the memory.
How many RAM Modules are you running?
What RAM Slots are the in on the motherboard?

If you are running4 sticks then the system will be running in Dual channel mode. If you have only 2 sticks then you need to configure them according to the user's manual for Dual Channel mode. The modules should be in either slots DDR3_1 & DDR3_2 (recommended position) or in DDR3_3 & DDR3_4. If you only have 1 stick of RAM you can not run in Dual Channel Mode.

Have you made any changes to the BIOS settings for RAM or CPU (O/C'ing) or altered any of the voltage settings?
What are your full system spec's especially which HDD's are you running? If you are running any "Green" HDD's this can cause some freezing issues as the drives take time to spin up when being accessed.
Have you checked the Power Settings in either Windows or any other software such as Catalyst Control Centre? If you check here you may find that certain items are being powered down after a period of 20 minutes, this can introduce freezing when you then try to do something as the components need to re-start.

[teknology9]

Hello Absic,

I have got four sticks of RAM in the 4 slots on my motherboard, I read the mobo book and it mentioned enabling dual channel but now I know I have. I have not made any changes to the BIOS settings, knowingly that is, and I have not done any CPU O/Cing nor altered the voltage settings. Full system spec is as follows:

CPU - AMD 1090T BE
M/B - GA-790FXTA-UD5
Graphics - Sapphire 6870 Vapor - X
HDD - 2 * Seagate Barracuda 500Gb (ST3500418AS ATA Device)
RAM - 4 sticks of Corsair XMS CMX8GX3M4B1333C9
PSU - Corsair HX 750
CPU cooler - Noctua NH 12P SE
O/S - Windows 7 64 bit
Keyboard & Mouse - Dell, from my old PC, and has a windows driver.
CD-ROM
Samsung Blu-Ray player

The power settings on Windows 7 is balanced and what should the setting be in the Catalyst Control Centre?

Thanks,

Teknology9

[absic]

Hello Absic,

I have got four sticks of RAM in the 4 slots on my motherboard, I read the mobo book and it mentioned enabling dual channel but now I know I have. I have not made any changes to the BIOS settings, knowingly that is, and I have not done any CPU O/Cing nor altered the voltage settings. Full system spec is as follows:

CPU - AMD 1090T BE
M/B - GA-790FXTA-UD5
Graphics - Sapphire 6870 Vapor - X
HDD - 2 * Seagate Barracuda 500Gb (ST3500418AS ATA Device)
RAM - 4 sticks of Corsair XMS CMX8GX3M4B1333C9
PSU - Corsair HX 750
CPU cooler - Noctua NH 12P SE
O/S - Windows 7 64 bit
Keyboard & Mouse - Dell, from my old PC, and has a windows driver.
CD-ROM
Samsung Blu-Ray player

The power settings on Windows 7 is balanced and what should the setting be in the Catalyst Control Centre?

Thanks,

Teknology9

I'm afraid I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to being "green" and I actually disable anything that could have any impact on PC performance.
The best advice I can offer is to go through the relevant settings under the Power Management of Windows 7and set things such has "Turn of Hard Disks" to never along with "Turn off monitor" to never.
Also double check power settings for PCI Express -  Link Power Management to Off
Then double check under Catalyst Control Centre to make sure none of the settings you have made under Windows are not being over ridden.

[teknology9]

Thanks again Absic, my keyboard and mouse may not be Windows 7 compatible is that likely to be a factor also?

Cheers,

Teknology9

[absic]

Things like keyboard and mouse can cause problems but I wouldn't think they are the cause of your freezing.

Windows 7 and a lot of other programmes have built in energy saving features that can cause some real issues unless they are disabled and this is the probable cause with your system. If Windows 7 freezes for a short time ( a few seconds up to about 2 minutes) and then resumes, it is doubtful that it is down to the hardware.

If Windows 7 is freezing and the only way you can get things going again is to reboot the PC, or if it is freezing and you are getting BSOD's then it is more likely to be hardware and, if this is the case, then the first place to look would be the RAM and running MemTest 86+ properly should throw up any issues if that is the case.

[teknology9]

Thanks for the reply. How do I go about obtaining the memtest software, is it possible to download it on to a memory stick or does it go on to a cd? I read that it comes as an ISO file, but being a newbie I don't know how to do this.


Thanks for you help,

Teknology9

[absic]

You can download MemTest from here: http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

It does come as an ISO and you can burn this to a CD or you can download a USB Installer and use the same ISO for creating a USB Version.

It is usually easier to burn the ISO to a CD and run it from the DVD/CD drive as this seems to cause less issues, especially if you are not familiar with running or installing software from a USB Pendrive.

[teknology9]

Thanks for that Absic, I know I've asked a few questions so thanks for your patience and it is much appreciated.


Thanks again,

Tek9

[absic]

No problem always pleased to help and if you run into any difficulties burning the MemTest ISO to CD or to USB or when running it, post back and I'll try to explain the process for you.

[teknology9]

Hello,

PC or internet froze again. I ran the driver agent utility and it still shows my old Phenom II 945 cpu and not the 1090T for some reason, I have attached a screenshot there are some drivers stating that they need to be preinstalled will that mean a complete reinstallation? I think I have done all of the power options and cannot think of any others. Is it likely that some malware is causing this, my Kaspersky identified PDM.keylogger.

Thanks,

Teknology9

[absic]

Hi again,

Not sure about the driver agent utility as I do not use that software. The only thing I can think of is that it is holding a record of your previous set-up as it shows the 945 processor under disconnected device. If you just swapped your CPU's over and continued to run your existing Windows installation that is probably why you are seeing it in these images.

Whenever you make any hardware changes, such as swapping the CPU or adding RAM it is a good idea to clear CMOS, have you tried doing this?

Having to re-install the OS is never a task that you look forward to but I have learnt that it is often the best way to resolve issues and to give a clean starting point when facing random issues and it may be the best way forward for you.

[Dark Mantis]

You could always use this opportunity to clear the CMOS and if necessary update the BIOS too. Do an extended CMOS clear by removing the battery for at least an hour.