Doubled the RAM and an old problem returns!

[Searcher1]

Hi All

Late last year I posted about how this PC repeatedly froze ~ Please see here http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,5073.30.html

Well as indicated in that thread the advice from DM and others especially lsdmeasap I got it under control........................yes it still happened but vary rarely by comparison.

Well I recently doubled the RAM from 8GB to 16GB with an exact repeat of the G-Skill RAM to avoid mixed compatibility issues, however I have now seen a return of the freeze events!!!!  They are not as frequent as at the beginning mentioned in the earlier thread linked above but are annoying

So rather than post to the old thread I thought it best to start afresh with the question:-

When doubling the RAM and getting the freeze event described on the face of it I clearly need to increase some voltage settings but which ones for appropriate effect and by how much?

Last time I made the vCore a fixed number  @ 1.22v and the DRAM voltage to 1.52v, so as the DRAM setting range is 1.50 to 1.55v   what voltage changes after doubling the RAM should I use now???  And should the vCore be altered in relationship to any further changes to the DRAM changes???

Many thanks in advance the feedback & insight

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome back.

Probably the only thing you need to do is increase the memory voltage a touch. I am not sure what you have it set to at the moment but it needs to be increased by about 0.05v So if the default is 1.5v you will have to up it to 1.55v

If you still have a problem please post your hardware setup so we have a better idea of your system.

[Searcher1]

Hi and welcome back.

Probably the only thing you need to do is increase the memory voltage a touch. I am not sure what you have it set to at the moment but it needs to be increased by about 0.05v So if the default is 1.5v you will have to up it to 1.55v

If you still have a problem please post your hardware setup so we have a better idea of your system.

Hi DM

As mentioned above the DRAM voltage is currently 1.52 so based on what you say I need to increase to the max of 1.55v, the range being 1.50 to 1.55v

I will do that later and report back on the behaviour for further feedback and sicussion as appropriate?

[Searcher1]

Update

I think I had the DRAM voltage set to Auto because when I looked at the manual setting the next choice above 1.50v was 1.56v i.e. the 1.52 the CPUID Hardware Monitor was showing was the auto selected voltage. Note - I think originally Lsdmeasap advised the DRAM voltage 1.50 to 1.55 and look at my old notes I did see that the next step was 1.56v so may have shied away from making the change??? Working mainly on the vCore and other advised settings..........................too long ago now to recall exactly what I made of it at the time   Edit ~ just relooked at the BIOS and I must have manually set it to 1.50v i.e. not Auto and the Monitor was reporting that as 1.52v

I have now set it to 1.56v and the Hardware Monitor is reporting the measured voltage Max 1.55v so hopefully all will be well and that overvolting the RAM will be OK in the lifespan of the RAM

For the record before I set the voltage in the BIOS the PC froze with the mouse led's going dark whilst I was browsing on my multi-tab opened IE9. Made my mind up to go and have a look at it!

I will keep an eye on it for any further repeats of this annoying event

[Searcher1]

Oh well, after something like 12 hours running with just a multi tabbed IE9 and Outlook open it froze again.

It does seem that upping the DRAM voltage to 1.56v with the added 8GB of RAM lengthened the period between lockups so if this is RAM voltage related just how far can I push it before risking damage to the RAM and other components???  Not sure but I think the figures above 1.56v were shwon in Purple in the BIOS settings screen.

TIA for the added feedback

[Ben]

G'Day.
Read below to see what my bios is set at, as for the colours they are there as a warning, so just ignore it, but seriously its just in case you have memory installed that is limited to a certain voltage 1.5 in most cases, but if you are filling up all the slots on the board, you normally have to ramp up the voltage, or in my case my memory chips are set at 1.65, so I had to up the voltage to stabilize the system.

CPU Vcore = 1.340v (auto).
QPI/VTT = 1.050 set at 1.2v (Man).
Sys Agent .920v  (auto).
CPU PLL 1.800v. set at 1.830v. (Man).
Dram Volt 1.5. Set at 1.700v.
All else auto.
BCLK 99.80MHz.
Mem Freq, =1596.70.
Timings = Channel's A+B = 8.8.8.22.5.24.98.1

Hope this helps.

Ben.

[Searcher1]

Hi Ben

Thanks for the insight

For the record my figures are:-
vCore 1.22v
QPI/VTT 1.21v
DRAM voltage 1.56v (as noted already)
Note the RAM is rated at 1.5v

Manually set:-
SPD multiplier to 10
Performance Enhance (SPD) to Extreme (was Turbo)

All the RAM timings are the default for the model at 9-9-9-24

Now I read somewhere that when increasing the voltage of the DRAM you need to be careful of the voltage setting in the Memory Controller (module) ~ I cannot readily identify a setting in the BIOS that matches that description.

So if I am to increase the DRAM volateg to say 1.6v (or more???) do I have to manually adjust the timings settings???  Indeed should I consider extra cooling bearing in mind the G-Skill Ripjaws have heatspreaders mounted to them.

TIA again for any added feedback & advice 

[Ben]

HI again,

I have mine set to standard & xms is off, as I had some problems when set to turbo & xms.

So try running it in standard mode & see how you go.

I am actually planning on updating my ram to either 24 or 32 later on.

All my slots are filled up with 4, 2GB ram chips.

Let me know how you get on.

Ben

[Searcher1]

Have not had time to try any futher increasesd to the DRAM voltage???

But this morning had a spontaneous reboot, nothing obvious in the Event Viewer that I can identify?  Cannot recall the last time I had this happen but is was a very long time ago :scratches head:

[Searcher1]

Update???!!!

Had another random reboot but now noticed in the Event Viewer this:- (incidently whilst I was Googling etc within minutes of rebooting I had the system lockup with the mouse and keyboard inoperative and the leds in the Trackball dead ~ this was reported previously as well )

-   System
      -   Provider
         [ Name]    Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
         [ Guid]    {331C3B3A-2005-44C2-AC5E-77220C37D6B4}

         EventID   41

         Version   2

         Level   1

         Task   63

         Opcode   0

         Keywords   0x8000000000000002

      -   TimeCreated
         [ SystemTime]    2012-05-11T09:06:17.217218800Z

         EventRecordID   100148

         Correlation

      -   Execution
         [ ProcessID]    4
         [ ThreadID]    8

         Channel   System

         Computer   Build64x7

      -   Security
         [ UserID]    S-1-5-18

-   EventData
      BugcheckCode   36
      BugcheckParameter1   0x1904fb
      BugcheckParameter2   0xfffff8800a4885b8
      BugcheckParameter3   0xfffff8800a487e10
      BugcheckParameter4   0xfffff880012f6a17
      SleepInProgress   false
      PowerButtonTimestamp   0



I have looked up the BugCheckCode 36 and as far as I can tell this mainly relates to power managment issues???  So I am currently running the DDR voltage @ 1.55v

Now because I had issues originally of a similar nature with 8GB RAM, could there be a PSU issue that is not obvious such as a sudden very brief drop in one of the PSU rails..........................but this is as mentioned so darned random!

TIA for further insight

[Ben]

I had this similar problem regards keyboard/mouse lock up when I was running ram on all 4 sockets, with turbo/xms on.

With my new setup as per last couple of pages I have had no problems.

Update;

I have just upgraded my ram to 16Gb using 2 8Gb chips. was hoping for more memory but I have win 7 home installed which only allows a max of 20GB, would have to get pro or ultimate if I want go higher. (bummer).

Extreme is pretty Extreme?.

Have you tried standard first, as if Turbo gave you problems then extreme will give you more.

With my new setup using the 2 ram chips I have everything on auto plus turbo engaged & no problems so far.

I actually have 20 GB installed, as I left my 2, 2Gb ram chips in place mainly because my CPU cooler fan is blocking the sockets, so even though my system says 20GB I can only use the 16GB, I will later remove the other 2 chips & flog the lot off, or throw all 4, 2Gb chips in the bin.

I think I might have the same ram as you (Ripjaws X, 2 @ 8Gb 1.5v).

Ben.

[Searcher1]

Hi Ben

Thanks for the feedback

In respect of the SPD setting to Extreme, this was recommended a goodly while back so my grey cells are little vague but I think it was to do with the setting complimenting changes to vCore and DDR voltage settings at that time with 8GB of RAM.


But if that is considered to be too aggressive..............................then I wonder if reducing the level would do the job???

[Searcher1]

Hi All

What with the hot weather here in the SE UK I have been getting the "freeze up" a few more times than I would like

I have now reduced the SPD setting to 'standard' and will now keep an eye on it for any further repeats and the frequency of it happening?

The DDR voltage is still @ 1.56, not sure about raising it to the next level at 1.58v if needed???

Any more insight always welcome 

[Searcher1]

Well it froze again this afternoon

Using my CPUID Hardware Monitor, I note that the DDR voltage says 1.54v not as before the 1.55v with the BIOS set to 1.56v    so would setting it BIOS to 1.58v (the next step up)  And is it safe???

FWIW the i5 760 is peaking out on core #0 at 60 degrees and #3 at 62 degrees with cores #1 & #2 59 & 58 respectively!

[Ben]

That's pretty warm do you run a stock cooler?
Also recheck all your voltage settings.

Ben.