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First DFI board and I need help getting stable


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Like the title says, this is my first DFI board and all I am trying to do right now is to get my system running stable at stock speeds. I'm not looking to overclock...right now.

 

I just recently aquired the board and processor, and ever since I built this system, I have been having random crashes in Windows. Sometimes it happens while I'm playing games, other times while I'm just looking at webpages, and also when the computer is idle.

 

Sometimes the screen completely freezes and the computer doesn't respond at all, I have to hit the reset button to restart my computer. Other times, it just reboots itself.

 

I followed this procedure to install Windows:

http://forums.amd.com/index.php?showtopic=64936

After the last step I installed the AMD dual-core optimizer.

For the mainboard drivers, I installed the 5.10 version and did not install the SW-IDE or the NVIDIA Audio drivers.

 

I'm pretty sure the memory is good, because I've been using it for over a year in another system. But I'm going to run Memtest right after this. I've run it once before and I remember it taking a long time, and still not being done. How long should I let it go for?

Also, my RAM is in slot #1.

 

In BIOS, I loaded the Optimal Defaults and set my RAM timing to 2T (I read somewhere that this gives better stability, is this true?). The only other thing I touched was the boot order. When starting up the board reports my RAM running at:

 

Tcl 2 Trcd 2 Tras 8 Trp 2 2T Timing

 

(when just listing the numbers, what is the correct order, 2-2-8-2 or 2-2-2-8?)

 

Here's what the PC health section of the BIOS states:

VCC3 Voltage - 3.28V

+5V - 5.19V

+12V - 11.84V

5V Standby - 5.11V

Voltage Battery - 3.01V

CPU Temp - 33C

System Inside Temp - 40C

System Outside Temp - 28C

Chipset Fan - 0 RPM (I've never seen this spin, can I replace it with an Evercool VC-RE?)

 

I'll let you know the results of the Memtest.

 

Can you please advise me some settings to help make my system stable?

 

Thanks in advance.

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Well, just got done with two passes in Memtest. I had 7 errors.

 

I'm not sure if you need this, but here are the details of the Memtest errors:


Tst   Pass   Failing Address		 Good	   Bad		Err-Bits   Count

5	 0	  0000eefe5b0 - 238.8MB   00100000   00101000   00001000   1

5	 0	  0000fefe590 - 254.4MB   00100000   00101000   00001000   1

6	 0	  000048573d4 -  72.4MB   ffbfffff   ffffffff   00400000   2

6	 0	  0000fae148c - 250.0MB   00080000   00000000   00080000   1

6	 1	  000048573d4 -  72.4MB   ffbfffff   ffffffff   00400000   2

6	 1	  0000fae148c - 250.0MB   00080000   00000000   00080000   1

6	 1	  00008ea45c4 - 142.2MB   fffeffff   ffffffff   00010000   2

 

Does this mean I have bad RAM? Or is this caused by my timings?

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Leave memory timing Auto and run Memtest. CPU frequency at stock. and all memory timings at Auto.

After results, do another test this time settings memory timing at SPD timing (Note: If you download CPU-Z here: http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php ) it will tell you what the SPD spec. of your memory is, and what timings the memory is running on. Also you will find lots of other useful stuff.

 

Seems to me you're having memory issue.

 

It doesnt only mean that you have bad RAMS it could also mean something else like simple timing issue.

Good Luck.

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Left all the memory settings at Auto, the only thing it changed was the command rate, it changed it to 1T. Now I was able to POST and run Memtest and got a total of 5 errors (do you need the details of the errors?).

 

However, after running Memtest, I could not POST, the motherboard is just silent when I try to turn it on. The fans start, but the motherboard doesn't make a beep or anything. So I cleared the CMOS and set the command rate to 2T, now I can POST and boot into Windows.

 

As far as the SPD timing, CPU-Z reports it as 2-2-2-8, so my current settings are the same.

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Guest morbeious
Left all the memory settings at Auto, the only thing it changed was the command rate, it changed it to 1T. Now I was able to POST and run Memtest and got a total of 5 errors (do you need the details of the errors?).

 

However, after running Memtest, I could not POST, the motherboard is just silent when I try to turn it on. The fans start, but the motherboard doesn't make a beep or anything. So I cleared the CMOS and set the command rate to 2T, now I can POST and boot into Windows.

 

As far as the SPD timing, CPU-Z reports it as 2-2-2-8, so my current settings are the same.

 

 

This happen to me just last week, use a PCI Video card to boot, and get back into bios, and reset to defaults. If that doesnt work, I recommend holding and waiting for Barney Fife to come back. If your able to get back into bios, I would also try going through the clear bios steps. by removing the battery, and moving the jumper, with all power diconnected from the board for atleast 1 min. Then try settings on auto, and try moving memery to different slot, then memtest.

 

Heres the link everyone helped me in, I'm currently still having a few issues with stabliity but i'm working through those.

 

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60040

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First, clear cmos by either removing Battery or moving jumper.

I'm not familiar with NF3 Ultra-D BIOS but check an compare.

Get into your BIOS and set Cmos Time and Date.

 

In the advance BIOS feature:

Look for:

Virus Warning = Disabled

CPU Internal cache = Enabled

CPU external cache = Enabled

OS Select for DRAM > 64MB = OS2

HDD S.M.A.R.T Capability = Disabled

Delay for HDD (Secs) = 0

----------------------------------------------

 

Advanced Chipset Feature:

 

AGP Aperture size = (You don't have too much memory (Only 512MB) so select whatever you can afford)

AGP 3.0 Speed = 8X

AGP Fast write = Disabled

AGP Sideband Address = Auto

CPU Thermal Throttling = Disabled

-----------------------------------------------------

Integrated Peripherals:

 

unit Display First = Onboard/AGP

USB KB/Storage support = Disabled (Unless you use USB Keyboard)

USB Mouse support = disabled (Unless you use USB mouse)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

PC Health Status

 

Shutdown temperature = 60-70c (Whichever you feel)

Set your fans on and off temp.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Genie BIOS setup:

 

Enter DRAM Configuration:

 

DRAM Frequency set (MHz) = 200 (Dram/FSB: 1:1)

Command Per Clock = Disabled

Cas# latency (TCL) = 2.0

Ras# To Cas# (TRCD) = 02

Min. Ras# Active Time (TRAS) = 08

Row Precharge Time (TRP) = 02

Everything below that should be left to Auto.

 

Hit Scape

 

=--------------------------------------------

 

Leave your FSB at default

AGP Bus frequency = 66

LTD downstream width = Auto

LTD upstream width = Auto

LTD/FSB frequency ratio = Auto

CPU/FSB frequency ratio = Auto

K8 Cool 'N' Quiet = disabled

Memtest86 = enabled

CPU Video control = Auto

CPU Video special control = Auto

Chipset Voltage control = 1.60v

AGP Voltage = 1.50v

Dram voltage control = find it or leave it to auto

Machine Mac (NV) Address = disabled.

 

Hit F10 and Enter.

 

Do the memtest for at least 4 passes and post the results.

 

Good Luck.

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Barney, I really appreciate your help, however, using the above settings I was not able to POST. I had to clear the CMOS, set the command rate to 2T, then I was able to POST and boot to Windows. For the AGP Aperture Size, you told me to select whatever I can afford, but I don't know how much I can, what would you recommend setting it at? Also, some of the options you listed are not available in my BIOS, they are listed below:

 

Under PC Health Status, you said to "Set your fans on and off temp", the only setting I have at that screen is the Shutdown Temperature

 

Under Genie Bios -> DRAM Config

DRAM Frequency Set (MHz) - I have Max Memclock (MHz), is it the same?

Command Per Clock - I have 1T/2T Memory Timing, is it the same?

 

Under Genie Bios

"Leave your FSB at default" - I have a setting for CPU Overclock that seems to be the FSB/HTT speed (I left it at 200MHz)

LTD downstream width - not listed

LTD upstream width - not listed

CPU/FSB frequency ratio - not listed

Memtest86 - not listed

CPU Video control - not listed

CPU Video special control - not listed

Chipset Voltage Control - you said to set at 1.6V, the lowest I can go is 1.65V (can go up in 0.1 increments)

DRAM Voltage Control - not listed

Machine Mac (NV) Address - not listed

 

Seeing as though I could not run with these settings, I did not do another Memtest.

 

 

morbeious: Yeah I saw your post, I read it completely and made some changes to my system to see if it helped before creating this post. Unfortunately, as you can tell, it didn't help that much. Thanks for the input though.

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Genie BIOS Settings:

I don't use that board but these setting work well on nf4 may try these. Some settings you will not have so don't worry about them.

FSB Bus Frequency - 200

LDT/FSB Frequency Ratio - autO

CPU/FSB Frequency Ratio - AUTO

PCI eXpress Frequency - 100Mhz

 

CPU VID StartUp Value - 1.425v

 

CPU VID Control - 1.425v

CPU VID Special Control - Above VID * 110%

LDT Voltage Control - 1.20v

Chip Set Voltage Control - 1.60v

DRAM Voltage Control - 2.7V

 

DRAM Configuration Settings:

DRAM Frequency Set - 200=RAM/FSB:1/1

Command Per Clock (CPC) - Enable

CAS Latency Control (Tcl) - 2

RAS# to CAS# delay (Trcd) - 02 Bus Clocks

Min RAS# active time (Tras) - 06 Bus Clocks

Row precharge time (Trp) - 03 Bus Clocks

Row Cycle time (Trc) - 09 Bus Clocks

Row refresh cyc time (Trfc) - 12 Bus Clocks

Row to Row delay (Trrd) - 02 Bus Clocks

Write recovery time (Twr) - 02 Bus Clocks

Write to Read delay (Twtr) - 01 Bus Clocks

Read to Write delay (Trwt) - 02 Bus Clocks

Refresh Period (Tref) - 3120 Cycles

Write CAS Latency (Twcl) - 01

DRAM Bank Interleave - Enabled

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Anyone? Help please?

 

Also, some questions in my earlier posts that have gone unanswered:

 

Here's what the PC health section of the BIOS states:

Chipset Fan - 0 RPM (I've never seen this spin, can I replace it with an Evercool VC-RE?)

 

When I run Memtest, do you need details of the failures?

 

I have 512MB RAM, what should I set my AGP aperture size at?

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