GA-870A-UD3 MB..Advice needed please

[jolphil]

Hello all,
My previous post dealt with an overheated North Bridge Chip which was helped by a dedicated fan to keep temperatures in
the mid 40'sC..  I can live with that..
First let me list what is on the computer so far..See Below

IBM  PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse Microsoft USB
Coolmaster case CAC-TO5-UB   
Corsair PSU  CMPSU-750HX
Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3 motherboard  (rev 2.0)   Bios from F1 to F4
Scythe SCMG-2100 CPU cooler (rev. B)
Gigabyte GV-N240D3-1GI video card 
4x2G Mushkin 996770 DDR3 13333 @1.5V
AMD X6 1090T Hex Core processor
1TB 32MB 7200rpm ST31005N1A1AS-RK
    Seagate Hard Drive

The memory listed above is 1333 @1.5Volts Cl 9 9 9 24 timing.
Each module is 4GB and both sticks in DIMM_1 and DIMM_2 dual channel totals approx,8GB
At this time the system has NO Operating system although I did try a live CD with Puppy Linux and it seems to work .
I do not want to commit to any OS until I get things settled,by that I mean getting the best tweaking for memory and all BIOS settings..
I have a bootable memtest86+ v4.10 CD (which by the way is on an  external USB port..

The memory seems to be the apparent problem as with SPD settings and Un-ganged mode the memory fails around test 5..
I tried increasing the DIMM voltage 60 Millivolts but that did not really help..Memtest shows the 667/1333 clock and the correct 999/24 timings.The thing I noted is in the Un-ganged mode the memory clock is at 4168MB/s and it shows errors mostly around test 5
Let me see if I can add this picture..

     http://img831.imageshack.us/i/newcomputer006.jpg/   


Now the thing is if I set the Bios to Ganged Mode the memory clock is lower at 4130MB/s but passes all the tests so far..I have run up to 4 passes..See picture below.

  http://img155.imageshack.us/i/newcomputer012.jpg/ 

It looks like the un-ganged mode is more aggressive  but  it just will not work with my components..
I know from reading this forum that the AMD Mem controllers are fussy.."Charitable description"
What I need is some advice from the experts here to help with the this decision..
Should the memory sticks be RMA'd or does this not amount to anything worth worrying about?
This computer is new and not needed immediately so can anyone shed some light?

I will show the picture of the MB/HS before installed in the case..
http://img23.imageshack.us/i/newcomputer003.jpg/


Happy Holidays
Jolphil

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

After looking at your photo the modules are normally in DDR3_1 and DDR3_3  slots first.
This is also correct acccording to the manual on page 16.

http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-870a-ud3_v2.2_e.pdf

If you can't get memtest to run at least ten loops without a problem then the memory is faulty. However before you decide that try making the settings 9-9-9-27.

[jolphil]

Hi DM,
According to my  understanding  page 16 the chart shows for two modules use slots DIMMI_1 and DIMM_2  or DIMM_3 and DIMM_4
Then they show Channel 0 are  Slots 1 & 3
                              Channel 1 are  slots 2 & 4
Thus as I see it if you want dual channels you need a module in each controller:1&2 or 3&4
Am I wrong?
jolphil

[Dark Mantis]

Yes I know what you are saying and I must agree with your thinking but if you go by what the manual actually states for Dual Channel in the little box it definitely shows DDR3_1 and DDR3_3 for Dual Channel Mode. Page 16. 

[evilferret]

Sorry to bother you but can you check if you get the correct tmpin2? Somebody suggested an older BIOS may send the current temps but I'm stuck on the newest revision since thats the only that seems to work. My tmpin2 stays stuck at 80 and it made troubleshooting hell.

Guess I'm not the only one with NB heat issues.

Have you tried turning the AMD cool and quiet down? For some reason that seems to mess around with my comp stability. I was getting faulty ram when testing with that setting on.

[absic]

Yes I know what you are saying and I must agree with your thinking but if you go by what the manual actually states for Dual Channel in the little box it definitely shows DDR3_1 and DDR3_3 for Dual Channel Mode. Page 16. 

Hi DM, sorry but you have made a mistake here and I think you may have been looking at the manual for the wrong revision number. This board is Rev 2.0 and the manual clearly shows that the RAM should be placed as Jolphil has stated:



However, I do agree with trying to loosen the timings to 9,9,9,27 as this may be enough to bring system stability.

Have you tried turning the AMD cool and quiet down? For some reason that seems to mess around with my comp stability. I was getting faulty ram when testing with that setting on.

This is also good advice and worth trying as it may solve the problem.

Another thing to look at is if your BIOS supports the Turbo Core Boost function. This can sometimes cause issues and I have disabled this on my own system. I am currently running a 1090T at 3.8GHz at 1.3V with my Corsair Dominator RAM at 1333MHz 1.5V and timings of 9,9,9,27

[Dark Mantis]

Hi Absic

Yes you are quite right I was looking at another revision, my bad. Anyway never hurts to check.

That's the trouble nowadays.....just can't get the staff 

[jolphil]

Have you tried turning the AMD cool and quiet down? For some reason that seems to mess around with my comp stability. I was getting faulty ram when testing with that setting on.

I did not realise that so I will try that as well as the 27 timing issue..
I will report back with the results and Keep those suggestions and tips coming..
Jolphil

[jolphil]

OK Results in and not good...
I repeated Memtest with cool&quiet disabled as well as 999 27t  instead of 24t in the un-ganged mode with 1.5 volts on the Dimms
Failed same as B4 at test 5..It is beginning to look like this memory or controllers do not like the un-ganged mode..
BTW any time I go to unganged mode the Memory MB/s =4618 and in the ganged mode memory =4132MB/s  Thus my conclusion is the Un mode is more agressive than the ganged mode and something can not stand up to it..My first thought are memory..
Any comments?
Jolphil

[evilferret]

Try reseating the NB heatsink with better TIM?

I was getting crashes/mem issues with my NB. I had to reseat and reapply TIM and I got my stability back. When you added your fan did you reapply TIM and reseat the heatsink?

I know you added the fan to the heatsink but its possible (since the heatsink is on a pivot) you pivoted the heatsink TIM off the NB. I kept doing that without realizing. If that heatsink wobbles reseat and reapply TIM.

Most of my problems with this board turned out to be the NB. Drove me crazy troubleshooting everything.

I believe the NB does have the mem controller so you could double check your NB. I really wish I knew where the temp sensor on this thing was.

Also try updating Bios? I had to go to F5a to get stability. What version of the bios are you running? You seem to have a normal NB temp sensor (unlike me) and wondering if its Bios rev related.

Thanks and good luck.

[jolphil]

Hi again,
Well no success here..I even tried a single module in DIMM_1 slot and still got errors..I have requested an RMA from Mushkin..
I will get back with any results as they happen..
jolphil

[Dark Mantis]

Either the memory or the memory controller on the CPU.

[jolphil]

Hi again and Merry Christmas to all,
Not good news here on the computer front,but what the heck it's Christmas..
Anyway, By raising the Dimm voltage to 1.580 volts I got through the Un-ganged first pass of Memtest OK only to
fail at test 5 on the second pass..Thus,I strongly suspect the memory itsef as the weak link..I have decided to RMA the two sticks to Mushkin..
That would be the most painless first step..This means that this computer will be down for a couple of weeks so I decided to do some mechanical work on it..I will remove the Mother board and remove the North Bridge Heat sink(as suggested) and see if the TIM is adequate..
I will also fashion a dedicated fan that will blow on the memory as well as the North Bride area..
Sooo Have a great Holiday season..
jolphil

Edit: I forgot to mention I took out one stick and left just one in slot one and it still failed memtest.It's then I decided to RMA

[Dark Mantis]

And a Merry Christmas to you too.

I think that is probably the most sensible course of action.

[Al_the_Tooth]

Can I get a clarifiiation on this subject of channels and slots?
My rev 2.1 board and manual define t he channels and use of dual channel differently.  Ch 0 is DDR3_1 and DDR3_2 with Ch 1 is DDR3_3 and DDR3_4.  Then the table of where to load the DIMMs is DDR3_1 and DDR3_3 or DDR3_2 and DDR3_4.  Is this exactly the same but looks funny due ot the change in the definition of Channels 0 and 1?  I believe that one DIMM in each of the color coded sockets works.  Funny that they would change tne trinted and pdf manual on this subject.

Yes I know what you are saying and I must agree with your thinking but if you go by what the manual actually states for Dual Channel in the little box it definitely shows DDR3_1 and DDR3_3 for Dual Channel Mode. Page 16. 

Hi DM, sorry but you have made a mistake here and I think you may have been looking at the manual for the wrong revision number. This board is Rev 2.0 and the manual clearly shows that the RAM should be placed as Jolphil has stated:



However, I do agree with trying to loosen the timings to 9,9,9,27 as this may be enough to bring system stability.

Have you tried turning the AMD cool and quiet down? For some reason that seems to mess around with my comp stability. I was getting faulty ram when testing with that setting on.

This is also good advice and worth trying as it may solve the problem.

Another thing to look at is if your BIOS supports the Turbo Core Boost function. This can sometimes cause issues and I have disabled this on my own system. I am currently running a 1090T at 3.8GHz at 1.3V with my Corsair Dominator RAM at 1333MHz 1.5V and timings of 9,9,9,27