EP45-DS3L: Mushkin 996612 works fine in single slot but not paired in channel 0 and 2

[Amina]

Hi,

My machine has been experiencing some significant instability (BSOD and freezes).

Machine Specs

Mobo = MB GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L 775

Graphics card = VGA EVGA 512-P3-N801-RX 8800GT

CPU = INTEL|C2D E7300 2.66G 775

Memory = 1Gx4|MUSHKIN 996612
That's 4G of
<TABLE class=specification cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 itxtvisited="1"><TBODY itxtvisited="1"><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=name itxtvisited="1">Brand</TD><TD class=desc itxtvisited="1"><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>document.write(neg_specification_newlin e('mushkin' ));</SCRIPT>mushkin</TD></TR><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=name itxtvisited="1">Model</TD><TD class=desc itxtvisited="1"><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>document.write(neg_specification_newlin e('996612') );</SCRIPT>996612</TD></TR><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=name itxtvisited="1">Type</TD><TD class=desc itxtvisited="1"><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>document.write(neg_specification_newlin e('240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM'));</SCRIPT>240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM</TD></TR><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=title colSpan=2 itxtvisited="1">Tech Spec</TD></TR><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=name itxtvisited="1">Capacity</TD><TD class=desc itxtvisited="1"><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>document.write(neg_specification_newlin e('2GB (2 x 1GB)'));</SCRIPT>2GB (2 x 1GB)</TD></TR><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=name itxtvisited="1">Speed</TD><TD class=desc itxtvisited="1"><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>document.write(neg_specification_newlin e('DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)'));</SCRIPT>DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)</TD></TR><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=name itxtvisited="1">Cas Latency</TD><TD class=desc itxtvisited="1"><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>document.write(neg_specification_newlin e('5'));</SCRIPT>5</TD></TR><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=name itxtvisited="1">Timing</TD><TD class=desc itxtvisited="1"><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>document.write(neg_specification_newlin e('5-5-5-15'));</SCRIPT>5-5-5-15</TD></TR><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=name itxtvisited="1">Voltage</TD><TD class=desc itxtvisited="1"><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>document.write(neg_specification_newlin e('2.1V'));</SCRIPT>2.1V</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Power supply = 500W

OS = Vista enterprise 64-bit

BIOS ver = f9

When I run Memtest86 on my individual memory modules in slot 0, I get no errors over 12 hours.

When I run Memtest86 on two memory modules paired in slots 0 and 2, I get many errors on both slots within three minutes.

I got a little better results when I bumped my CHM core voltage up from 1.05 to 1.3 (it lasted 4 minutes instead of three), but I don't want to mindlessly crank up the CHM voltage.

Bios Settings

<DIR>Robust Graphics Booster Auto
CPU Clock Ratio 10x
CPU Frequency 2.66 GHz
Clock Chip Control
CPU Host Clock Control Disabled
PCI Express Freq Auto
C.I.A.2 Disabled
Advanced Clock Control
CPU Clock Drive 800mV
PCI Express Clock Drive 800mV
CPU Clock Skew 0ps
MCH 0ps
Performance Enhance Standard
Extreme Memory Profile Disabled (Auto by default)
MCH Frequency Latch Auto
System Memory Multiplier Auto
Memory Frequency 1066
DRAM Timing selectable Auto
Standard Timing Control 5-7-7-24 (5-5-5-15 by default and spec)
Advanced Timing control
tRRD 4
tWTR 4
tWR 8
tRFC 56
tRTP 4
Command Rate 0
Motherboard Voltage Control
CPU Vcore 1.1625V
CPU Termination 1.2V
CPU PLL 1.55V
CPU Reference .805V
MCH Core 1.05V (1.1 by default)
MCH Reference .76
ICH I/O 1.55V

</DIR>DRAM Voltage 2.1 (1.8 by default)

Is there anything else I should change, or is my motherboard just busted?

[randers4]

Re: EP45-DS3L: Mushkin 996612 works fine in single slot but not paired in channel 0 a

If you don't get an answer here you might want to post the question in the Muskin Forum. Greg (muskin tech) is very fast at answering posts there. (Redirecting to forums)

[Amina]

Re: EP45-DS3L: Mushkin 996612 works fine in single slot but not paired in channel 0 a

I've made some progress.

I've tuned to MCH voltage back down to 1.1v from 1.3v since I was having issues starting. I also turned down the DRAM voltage to 1.9v and managed to get memtest86 to pass for almost 6 hours (then it failed).

[Amina]

Re: EP45-DS3L: Mushkin 996612 works fine in single slot but not paired in channel 0 a

So, I've gotten my memory to last 7.5 hours of memtest86 by returning to the default timings 5-5-5-15 and setting DRAM to 1.9V and MCH to 1.14V, but I'm running out of ideas.

I'm pretty sure 1.9 is the optimum for my machine + RAM (1.84V and 1.92V see much worse performance). And I know I hit startup issues when the MCH core voltage is 1.3.

What else can I tweek here?

[randers4]

Re: EP45-DS3L: Mushkin 996612 works fine in single slot but not paired in channel 0 a

Have you tried switching the DIMMs to slots 1 & 4 instead? Probably won't change anything but at least something to try...

[Amina]

Re: EP45-DS3L: Mushkin 996612 works fine in single slot but not paired in channel 0 a

I figured it out. (It was really stupid actually.)

So, I just assumed because the main timings were correct 5-5-5-15 that the advanced timings would be too, but when I looked they were way off. I set the values to what mushkin recommended and it worked great!

I sure do feel silly^^