memtest86 errors in Dual Channel only

[plantj]

I have been using a DFI Lanpart NF4 Ultra-D for a few months now. I have really enjoyed the features of this motherboard but recently have been having crashing problems with Windows XP. It has gotten to the point where windows will not even boot 1 out of 5 times.

 

I found that my RAM was giving thousands of errors when running memtest86 test 5. I decided to test the RAM one stick at a time to try to isolate the problem. When running the RAM in single channel mode I get no errors at all in memtest86. Once I run the sticks together in dual channel mode the errors come back. I've tried several different BIOS versions and RAM placements orange and yellow slots. This began on the stock BIOS which was 310 i think, then i tried the 623 BIOS, and currently running the 704-2bta BIOS.

 

Thinking I possibly had a problem with RAM I swapped it out with some older Mushkin Value RAM 2x512MB. I found the same problems with memtest when using this ram in dual channel mode.

 

One other thing that recently started happening is that when using nvidia Ntune to review system information (I don't use ntune to make any changes), I found that it is showing a 3rd stick of ram when i'm only running two sticks. It has the module name as a row of gargbage characters. This "ghost" RAM module now shows up even if I have only one stick of RAM in the machine, with both the OCZ and Mushkin RAM. This garbage module problem has shown up in two completely clean installs of Windows XP.

 

I really have been happy with the DFI motherboard up to this point, I'm hoping that I won't have to buy another board. I use this motherboard for work as well as gaming, stability is pretty important. I sent an email to DFI support but wanted to also see what you guys thought.

 

Thanks,

Jd

[Sharp]

Hello,

 

The other 3rd memory might be the boards 640KB memory, ignore this error.

 

After any BIOS flash you should clear the CMOS for a few minutes, 10 is a good amount of time.

 

# Use 1 stick and flash to bios 623-3

# Use the orange slots

# Clear the CMOS again for 10mins

# Power the PC

# Set the memory voltage to 2.7v

# Disable CPC

# Save and exit

 

What happens?

 

Make sure that all 4 power connectors are plugged into the board

# 24pin ATX connector.

# 4pin +12v P4 connector, near the ATX connector.

# Floppy power connector, under the CPU socket.

# Hard drive power connector, on top the chipset fan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plug your GFX card in the PCIe slot

# Make sure it is inserted correctly into the slot.

# Connect any power cables to it if one is required.

 

Clear your CMOS for 10 minutes

# Remove the power cord from the back of the power supply.

# Move the CMOS jumper to the clear position and leave it there for 10mins.

# Make sure you move it back to the save position after.

 

 

Insert the memory into the Orange slots

 

 

Power your PC and enter the BIOS

# Change the following,

GENIE BIOS Setting

>DRAM Configuration..................Press Enter = New Menu

FSB BUS Frequency....................200

LDT/FSB Frequency Ratio..............X 5.0

LDT BUS Transfer Width...............16 16

CPU/FSB Frequency Ratio..............AUTO

PCI eXpress Frequency................100Mhz

K8 Cool 'n' Quiet Support............Disable

Cool 'n' Quiet MAX FID...............AUTO

CPU VID StartUp Value................StartUp

 

CPU VID Control......................1.4v

CPU VID Special Control..............104%

LDT Voltage Control..................1.20 V

Chip Set Voltage Control.............1.50 V

DRAM Voltage Control.................2.70 V

 

Run MemTest86+.......................Enabled, disable later

GENIE BIOS Setting >DRAM Configuration

DRAM Frequency Set (MHZ).............200 (DRAM/FSB:1/01)

Command per clock (CPC)..............Disabled

Cas latency (tCL)....................2

RAS to CAS delay (tRCD)..............3

Min RAS active time (tRAS)...........5

Row precharge time (tRP).............2

Row cycle time (tRC).................AUTO

Row refresh cycle time(tRFC).........AUTO

Row to Row delay (tRRD)..............AUTO

Write recovery time (tWR)............AUTO

Write to read delay (tWTR)...........AUTO

Read to write delay (tRWT)...........AUTO

Refresh period (tREF)................AUTO

Write CAS latency (tWCL).............AUTO

DRAM Bank Interleave.................Enabled

 

DQS Skew Control.....................AUTO

DQS Skew Value.......................0

DRAM Drive Strength..................AUTO

DRAM Data Drive Strength.............AUTO

Max Async Latency....................6ns

Dram Response........................AUTO/Normal

Read Preamble Time...................5ns

Idle Cycle Limit.....................AUTO

Dynamic Counter......................AUTO

R/W Queue Bypass.....................AUTO

Bypass Max...........................AUTO

32 Byte Granularity..................AUTO

 

# Change your boot order

- 1st = Floppy (if you have one)

- 2nd = CD rom

- 3rd = HDD

# Save & Exit

[plantj]

I am at the office at the moment. I can try that when I get to the house, but the problem is that I don't see any errors when running one stick. Its only in dual channel. So I'm not sure that would really help?

 

Thanks for the suggestion by the way:)

 

Oh yeah, and I have all power connectors hooked up.

[Guest Redemption]

Yea, are you having random restart problems too? Im running OCZ sticks similar to yours sept' they are 512 mg x2. instead of the gig sticks. Changing the voltage makes these errors and restarts less frequent. Highly suggest switching to those bios settings, flashing the CMOS, and if that doesnt work, try RGONE's optimized bios settings ;-) good luck.

[Sharp]

Maybe my post wasn't clear,

 

I want you to flash the BIOS to 623-3 using 1 stick. (to avoid a bad flash)

Then turn the PC off.

Clear CMOS

Use both sticks, place them in the orange slots

And try everything I said

[plantj]

Ah ok I see. I'll try that and see what happens.

 

Thanks again.

 

-jd

[plantj]

I do have to say though...

 

Without trying to complain or anything because I really don't mind tweaking things and spending lots of time getting things to work..

 

But I really don't like the idea that to get any RAM to work without errors I would have to spend so much time just to run at stock speeds?

 

I am fully aware I bought a tweaker's board and all, but man! I feel like i've been spending so much time trying so man different things that i haven't taken the time to use the machine for what I bought it for.

 

-jd

[adamb2k5]

I do have to say though...

 

Without trying to complain or anything because I really don't mind tweaking things and spending lots of time getting things to work..

 

But I really don't like the idea that to get any RAM to work without errors I would have to spend so much time just to run at stock speeds?

 

I am fully aware I bought a tweaker's board and all, but man! I feel like i've been spending so much time trying so man different things that i haven't taken the time to use the machine for what I bought it for.

 

-jd

 

Cheers to that man. I feel the same way.

[yurixewx]

yeah seriously, funny thing is my machine works pretty goood. no crashing really... however when I run memtest I get floooded with errors. sigh

[rldolph79]

But I really don't like the idea that to get any RAM to work without errors I would have to spend so much time just to run at stock speeds?

Your problems aren't typical...most people do just plug in everything and it works. This includes myself, and I'm going on six months without a single crash of any sort. The reason you see so many people on this site having trouble is because it's a support forum...not too many people show up to say that everything's working perfect. Hope everything works out for you...good luck.

[M_M]

I do have to say though...

 

Without trying to complain or anything because I really don't mind tweaking things and spending lots of time getting things to work..

 

But I really don't like the idea that to get any RAM to work without errors I would have to spend so much time just to run at stock speeds?

 

I am fully aware I bought a tweaker's board and all, but man! I feel like i've been spending so much time trying so man different things that i haven't taken the time to use the machine for what I bought it for.

 

-jd

 

I am affraid that it could be that your CPU (its memory controller) is faulty, and not the motherboard. If you have the chance, try your CPU elsewhere, just to be sure...

 

LOL.

[Chowley]

Has there been any more progress on this issue ?

 

I'm in the exact same position as you, I will try a different bios later if i ever actually get windows to install successfully .

 

I really dont want to have to RMA yet another part of this pc.