Stability Question

Rhammstein · 10 Sep 2010

Dave76 said:

Mellon Head said:

With the AM3 memory controller, you need to be very aware of the RAM and Northbridge voltage, and you need to run your RAM at their specified voltage to get them to work properly. Overvolting DDR3 RAM can kill the CPU quite fast, because the memory controller is on the CPU's die along with the core and just adds to the excess heat.

And you should never run your AMD board's RAM voltage at the motherboard's "Auto" setting, other than when the sticks are first installed. Set the speed, voltage, and timings manually for the best results.

jalebi said:

So I should change the timings to the manufacturer-specificed ones (it was set to AUTO and the timings ended up different)? Earlier on in the thread, someone said I shouldnt mess with the timings....

Good advice from both the above posts.

What were the timings set to, when on Auto?

If you don't have CPUZ, you should D/L it and post the memory and SPD tabs.

Sometimes AMD boards will lower settings in order to have better stability.
They sometimes don't run well at 1600MHz, it will be more stable at 1333MHz.
They will have a JEDEC setting for 1333MHZ on the CPUZ SPD tab.

If that is what your referring to, you should leave it at 1333MHz.

From the previously posted link.

Some of the Athlon CPU's have a memory speed rating of 1066 Mhz and will pull back RAM above this speed to the default setting. This is again to protect the CPU's Memory Controller and is not a fault with the Motherboard, BIOS or RAM.

So it may need to be at 1066 MHz.

Did you check if it is in unganged mode?

I can verify two AM3 systems (Phenom II 925 2.8 and Phenom II 965 3.4) running 8GB DDR3 1333, however: By default, with the 925 the memory runs at 1066 unless changed, the 965, the memory by default go's straight to 1333 where it should. Both always "unganged".

Edit: I should have noticed your post Dave76, having read that, it's now clear to me the reason is the 965 is Stepping 3, newer, and the bug is no longer there.

Dave76 · 10 Sep 2010

Let us know if you have any info on this issue.

Edit:

Rhammstein, thanks for the clarification.

The above post is good info, thanks for the help.

I've been seeing several similar issues lately.

Rhammstein · 10 Sep 2010

Do you have another power supply around, or any other memory?

jalebi · 10 Sep 2010

Here are the Memory and SPD data

The memory has been tested and its fine. I do have other memory though, in case I really do need to try it out.

The power supply has been tested with another PC and it is fine.

DeaconFrost · 10 Sep 2010

jalebi said:

The power supply has been tested with another PC and it is fine.

That may not be an accurate test of the PSU. That other computer may have a lower total power draw than your current system, even under a load, so it may not be stressing the PSU to the point of failure.

Keiichi25 · 10 Sep 2010

Deacon is right... Unless you are testing that PSU under the same conditions, its like testing a 4 cylinder engine in a 1960s VW Bug and thinking it is good enough to work in a 2010 Ford Mustang.

jalebi · 10 Sep 2010

Keiichi25 said:

Deacon is right... Unless you are testing that PSU under the same conditions, its like testing a 4 cylinder engine in a 1960s VW Bug and thinking it is good enough to work in a 2010 Ford Mustang.

It's an identical computer so I think it's a fair test.

Things have been working well recently, no BSODs in the last couple of days. Should I still go ahead and change the CAS timings or leave them be until I have a problem?

Keiichi25 · 10 Sep 2010

jalebi said:

Keiichi25 said:

Deacon is right... Unless you are testing that PSU under the same conditions, its like testing a 4 cylinder engine in a 1960s VW Bug and thinking it is good enough to work in a 2010 Ford Mustang.

It's an identical computer so I think it's a fair test.

Things have been working well recently, no BSODs in the last couple of days. Should I still go ahead and change the CAS timings or leave them be until I have a problem?

Leave them alone for now. Unless you REALLY need them to be tweaked for a reason or want to spend time fooling around trying to get more out of it, stability generally works better at the norm.

jalebi · 10 Sep 2010

There is one problem that persists. The audio drivers do not install without causing a BSOD ("this driver is mismanaging PTEs"). The odd thing is that they worked on my previous Windows 7 Ultimate install and work on the identical computer I mentioned earlier. The hardware is the same so I wonder what could cause this...

spyknee · 10 Sep 2010

jalebi said:

There is one problem that persists. The audio drivers do not install without causing a BSOD ("this driver is mismanaging PTEs"). The odd thing is that they worked on my previous Windows 7 Ultimate install and work on the identical computer I mentioned earlier. The hardware is the same so I wonder what could cause this...

What sound card are you using? Try uninstalling sound card drivers, use
Driver Cleaner, then allow system to load windows stock drivers. See what happens? Your current download could be corrupted, download it again??

I once had a corrupted sound driver, I chased the video card and its drivers to hell and back. OOPs

Put your ram settings, in bios, too manufacturers specs if you know them. Both voltage and timings.! Auto good if your playing too see what your mobo will do, your not, so set them to specs. Use only one stick in the lead slot to enter bios and set specs, then after it takes you can put the rest in.

I only know Intel mobos, and I'm just relating what worked for me.