Memory Issues?

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  1. Posts : 8,870
    Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
       #11

    Depending on which version of the E6600 you are running, 45nm or the 65nm version, you appear to be running your CPU overclocked at 3.4 GHz which can easily cause the problems you are having.

    The 45nm version runs 1066FSB at 3.06GHz while the 65nm version runs at 1066FSB using a different multi to run at 2.40GHz. I'm not sure what the default multi is for your CPU or even which version you are running but this info would be helpful. Either way you need to return your CPU to default 1066 FSB using the default CPU multi before you attempt to fix this problem.

    You might want to also take great care in setting up your memory per manufacture specs, including memory voltage, timings and memory speed. Your pc2 6400 memory is only made to run at 800Mhz using 5 5 5 15 with 2T command rate with your CPU at default settings if you want stablity.

    This part of the forum isn't really about helping people overclock. We have another section for that if you need help in that area.

    CPU E6600 @ 3.4Ghz <<<<< problem.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 9
    Win 7 pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #12

    Its the 65nm one, and its been running at 3.4Ghz for around 3 years now. As for the memory, it is set to the 'configure DRAM timing by SPD', meaning that the 4-4-4 timings are set by the ram itself, though I tried setting them to 5-5-5-18 with no change to them failing memtest. Voltage wise, they are set to 2.1V which is the maximum the manufacturers state, anything lower and they weren't getting enough power to boot properly, the problem with having 4 sticks.

    Yesterday, I gave the CPU and ram a good workout using OCCT:


    It managed 4 hours of 100% cpu use and lots of files passing to and from the ram with no issues, temps didn't even hit 60C, though it was a cooler day.

    My current thought is that the Northbridge is overheating, causing the issues? As it deals with the RAM, and is fairly close to my graphics card. The overclock has been stable the past 2 summers, but now I have a newer, more powerful graphics card (5770 up from 4850), which is kicking out a little more heat. Indeed, I believe the Northbridge overheating was the reason I couldn't overclock the CPU higher, as it was running around 10C lower at full usage than its max recommended temps, I think it was the northbridge that couldn't deal with the clocks, so the fact that I'm getting instability could be the northbridge getting too hot?

    Would that cause issues like the random memory failures that I've seen? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

    Also, Dave76, I did try running the single stick of ram which appeared to throw up errors (The one with the 4263Mb address that memtest was finding the errors from) and it came out clean after 9 passes. Then again, I ran all four sticks together through memtest for 24 hours after that, and it all came out clean as well. So I'm thinking its deffinately a heat issue, but given that its not the CPU overheating, and I doubt its the ram, this leads me to the Northbridge conclusion again?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 8,870
    Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
       #13

    iviv said:
    Its the 65nm one, and its been running at 3.4Ghz for around 3 years now. As for the memory, it is set to the 'configure DRAM timing by SPD', meaning that the 4-4-4 timings are set by the ram itself, though I tried setting them to 5-5-5-18 with no change to them failing memtest. Voltage wise, they are set to 2.1V which is the maximum the manufacturers state, anything lower and they weren't getting enough power to boot properly, the problem with having 4 sticks.

    Yesterday, I gave the CPU and ram a good workout using OCCT:


    It managed 4 hours of 100% cpu use and lots of files passing to and from the ram with no issues, temps didn't even hit 60C, though it was a cooler day.

    My current thought is that the Northbridge is overheating, causing the issues? As it deals with the RAM, and is fairly close to my graphics card. The overclock has been stable the past 2 summers, but now I have a newer, more powerful graphics card (5770 up from 4850), which is kicking out a little more heat. Indeed, I believe the Northbridge overheating was the reason I couldn't overclock the CPU higher, as it was running around 10C lower at full usage than its max recommended temps, I think it was the northbridge that couldn't deal with the clocks, so the fact that I'm getting instability could be the northbridge getting too hot?

    Would that cause issues like the random memory failures that I've seen? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

    Also, Dave76, I did try running the single stick of ram which appeared to throw up errors (The one with the 4263Mb address that memtest was finding the errors from) and it came out clean after 9 passes. Then again, I ran all four sticks together through memtest for 24 hours after that, and it all came out clean as well. So I'm thinking its deffinately a heat issue, but given that its not the CPU overheating, and I doubt its the ram, this leads me to the Northbridge conclusion again?
    I'm not sure how hot the NB was running or what the limits are for your particular board but that is a definate possiblity. If the NB is too hot it can produce errors when testing the memory. That can also lead to stablity problems, this is especially true when overclocking. Replacing the TIM on the NB and SB heatsinks can also help cool things down.

    I put a small after market fan on my NB which made a difference as far as temps go. I also added a couple of sidecase fans which pushed cool air directly at the NB and SB which helps keep everything cool including the GPU. My NB SB runs at around 45-60C which is well with in the safe range. With better cooling I'm convinced that you can get more from your E6600 because of the unlocked multi it has.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 9
    Win 7 pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Mmm, I think I may need some more cooling in my case then. It explains all the issues,, and the inconsistency of them as well. Cable management's probably a bit of an issue too, its a total mess, even with a modular PSU. 4 case fans and 5 hard drives creates an awful lot of cable and nowhere to put them.

    And unfortunately, my CPU's locked at x9 as the highest multiplier, I didn't realise that an unlocked E6600 was ever released, I thought only the high end X series chips got the unlocked multipliers?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 8,870
    Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
       #15

    iviv said:
    Mmm, I think I may need some more cooling in my case then. It explains all the issues,, and the inconsistency of them as well. Cable management's probably a bit of an issue too, its a total mess, even with a modular PSU. 4 case fans and 5 hard drives creates an awful lot of cable and nowhere to put them.

    And unfortunately, my CPU's locked at x9 as the highest multiplier, I didn't realise that an unlocked E6600 was ever released, I thought only the high end X series chips got the unlocked multipliers?
    Thats right you have the 65nm version. The 45nm version of the E6600 has the unlocked multi which goes all the way to 11.5 multi.
    IntelĀ® PentiumĀ® Processor for Desktop E6600 - SLGUG

    You can still do plenty of overclocking with a 9X multi which is the same as I use for my Q9650. I can only hope your using an after market heatsink-fan on your E6600 for overclocking.

    Yes the bad wiring and harddrives will kill your airflow in a big way. There are probably lots of things you can do to fix that sort of problem. Wire management, more fans, add fans and replace TIM on the NB-SB heat sinks, all that stuff can make a big difference.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 9
    Win 7 pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #16

    Yeah, got a huge, meaty heatsink (Thermalright's IFX 14), and 4 case fans (Antec 900). Only problem is that the two intake fans on the front are drawing in air over 5, soon to be 6 hard drives, which will be limiting it a bit. I should probably upgrade to a better case at some point, one with a decent cable management system as well. I've seen a couple of mods to this case which involve dremeling through the rear plate to route cables behind, but my PSU's main power cable is too thick to fit between the mobo wall and the rear of the case, so its not really going to work.

    Oh well, down go the clocks a little, at least until summer passes :x
      My Computer


 
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