Lanparty NFII Ultra B mempry problem

[BackSlash2k5]

Problem:

 

A few weeks ago, I started getting errors in windows XP whilst using my machine. Then, the problems went, and I started getting more serious 'freezes'.

 

One of the 'freezes', is when I right click, the properties menu only half apears, untill I mouse-over it. I cant left click, but I can right click to open whatever I chose (lets say I chose properties of a file for example). The properties will open, but I cant left click anything. I have to hit esc or alt-f4 to close it. Now if I hit the windows key. Windows just freezes completly, and I have to reboot. It also totaly freezes if I alt-tab between three or more programs (although two is fine for a while).

 

Second problem, is just a hard BSOD, and I have to reboot. Usualy its win2k.sys, but othertimes it can be usb.sys and other such things.

 

The last of the problems is windows just not booting atall, it will freeze at the loading screen, and I have to reboot and do "Last known configuration" although I think this is something to do with me having to reboot so often.

 

 

I decided to do a memory86 test with my old kingston sticks, and voila, low and behold, they had errors. So I baught some new OCZ ram, tried that, and the problems got worse. I ran memory86 again, and got more or less the same errors. I then tried the kingston sticks in my brothers machine, and its now been up and running for 2 weeks, no memory errors.

 

I've tried formatting and reinstalling windows today, but I cant actualy reinstall anymore, since it just BSOD's when I try to format. And I've tried a different hard drive, and that freezes up too.

 

So im wondering if this is a memory problem, and if so, is it a known thing with the Ultra B board? Since my friend has had 3 replacements of his, all with memory problems.

 

I just want your views on if its deffinatly the motherboard, so I know what to replace.

 

System specs are in my signature..

[Shinobi]

First things first you must Read The Rules now BackSlash, and create a signature with your full system specs, including the exact type of OCZ ram, bios version etc.

 

It is sounding possibly like a board issue but if your ram turns out to be UTT BH-5 then that could explain the errors too, its not recommended for these boards. OCZ themselves don't recommend UTT BH-5 for these boards and for good reason.

[BackSlash2k5]

I know, I added them to my signature, and thought about reposting, but instead just copy+pasted them into the bottom of my last post.

 

As for the ram.

 

2 x OCZ Platinum EL Dual Channel Kit 2x512MB DDR400 PC3200 CL 2-2-2-5 Revision 2 (LIFETIME

WARRANTY) (OCZ 400mhz 1024mb ELDCPER2-K)

 

The bios version I have is from 11/27/2003.

[Shinobi]

Pretty sure thats Samsung TCCD, or if its Rev2(1.1) then its TCC5 so i don't think its the ram thats the issue.

 

What tests do you get the errors in and roughly how many?

 

Have you tried upping the chipset voltage then seeing how you go then?

 

I notice you've got a 3200, they are well known to be problematic on these boards so it could be that. Try dropping your FSB to 166mhz then see if you still get errors.

[BackSlash2k5]

Im not sure what upping the voltage does.

 

Is there any chance I could damage anything by upping the voltage?

 

And test wise, im not sure, I left it on overnight, came back, and it had highlighted in red a few errors on the screen, and errors reported : 146

 

And I dont really want to lose the performance of my 200mhz fsb chip...dropping it to 166mhz will drop my performance by quite a bit...

 

Oh and thanks for the help, you've been 100 times more helpfull than the repair shop that just said "Its a software problem".

[Shinobi]

Just added to my post ^

 

No, raising the chipset voltage to 1.7v won't do any harm. But now i've just noticed you have a 3200 i'm thinking its related to that... Your not the first 3200 user to have these issues.

 

Go into the bios and under Genie Bios Settings set AGP to 66mhz, set the ram to 1:1(it will probably be running default of "By SPD") and lower the FSB from 200mhz to 166mhz. Save the settings then run memtest and see if you still get any errors. This is just for testing, hopefully you'll be able to get it running at 200mhz

 

Btw, your bios version would help if you know it.

[BackSlash2k5]

I'll most probably just use the machine. I tend to run into errors a lot quicker when im just using it. And I have a game which is very memory intense, so if it crashes, i'll know its not fixed.

 

Thanks for the help though

 

But will the above mentioned slow down my system performance. As you can see its a system designed to game. And I dont really want ot have to put up with a half legged gaming system ..

 

I havnt flashed the bios atall, all I know is that CPUZ is showing its from 11/27/03.

 

And do you recommend running the voltage at 1.7v with those suggestions?

[Shinobi]

There are also a couple of bioses you could try which might help with your problem.

[BackSlash2k5]

Im not too confident about flashing my bios. As I dont have the money to replace the board if it goes wrong.

 

[edit]

 

Upped the voltage to 1.7v on the chipset.

 

*note* system seems to be a bit more responsive...

[Shinobi]

You won't have to replace the board if anything goes wrong, DFI will flash the chip for you for free. Nothing will go wrong anyway, unless your very unlucky.

 

Your actually already using one of the better bioses for the 3200, but its not the best for all 3200 users. A couple of others some ppl have had luck with are the latest one from DFI and one of the modded bioses by TicTac which is made for extra stability(thats what i'm currently using myself).

 

To start with you can just try raising your chipset voltage to 1.7v and raising the ram voltage(vdimm) to 2.7v(OCZ rate that ram upto 2.9v so don't be worried about using 2.7v), set the ram to 1:1 from "By SPD" and see if that helps any, leave the other settings for now.

[BackSlash2k5]

Rebooting now to do that, thanks.

[Shinobi]

Just see how you go for now and if you still end up having issues post back.

 

You can try running memtest86 overnight again too.

 

Flashing the bios is a very simple process. You can use a Diamond Flash Image which does it automatically for you. I'd stick with that bios for now though and only flash to another if you really need to.