Strange issues with H55-G43 BIOS 1.3:

[Superunknown]

Hi MSI groupies!
First of all I'd like to say that it's nice to see that MSI HAS this kind of forum.
Now, here's what brought me here:

I have this new system, a i3 550, 2* 1 GB RAM and a MSI H55 Board (BIOS 1.3).

1. Question:
The system is auto-determined to work without VT-d. I'm working in this machine, it has to be 100% reliable, I don't need any special features... Is disabling this OK?!?

2. The Problem:
I had some struggle with installing the OS (Ubuntu & XP 32bit). Finally, it worked (by change?!?). These problems were strange ones, like hang-ups, false .zip file extraction etc.
I checked the most important components (HDD, RAM, CPU). The strange thing is that when I DIsable Spread Spectrum, Memtest (newest version) does NOT start at all, it freezes right at the beginning. MS Office has some kind of system check tool, this one also says that there's some bad news from the RAM. If I Enable Spread Spectrum, everything works fine. The same for prime95: Without SS, it runs bad.
So what is this? It should be the other way round?!?!?

The RAM Settings are "Auto" set to (1066, but it's spec'd to 1333):
7-7-7-16 - 59 - 1
CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS - tRFC - CR

Could it be possible, that there happened some typo? I couldn't explain it otherwise, it would be interesting to hear from other H55 users!

The "RealTemp 3.4" Tool also shows that no matter of SS, the clock varies around +-0.5 GHz (idle). If SS is disabled, the clock "BIAS" is round higher (~2.5 GHz). If SS is enabled, it's ~1.7GHz.

Right at the beginning, I flashed the BIOS to the 1.3 version (newest) with the BIOS-own tool. Right after flashing, I got this "Checksum Error" message and it told me to go into the BIOS. Then, I changed the settings to my needs. After exiting, everything worked. I also downloaded the BIOS again and flashed it a 2nd time, the same message.

I don't know... May be the mainboard is somehow damaged?

 

[Jack the Newbie]

1. Question:
The system is auto-determined to work without VT-d. I'm working in this machine, it has to be 100% reliable, I don't need any special features... Is disabling this OK?!?

Does the feature cause any problems?  In case the answer is "no", there is no real reason to disable it.  On the other hand, there would be no problems when you shut that function off either (unless, of course, you want to take advantage of VT-d some day).

So what is this? It should be the other way round?!?!?

Well, if you have problems related to electro-magnatic interferences, Spread Spectrum is your magic trick to compensate them.

The RAM Settings are "Auto" set to (1066, but it's spec'd to 1333):
7-7-7-16 - 59 - 1
CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS - tRFC - CR

It looks like DDR3-1333 is actually just an overclocked rating and your memory modules actually are DDR3-1066 modules, sold to you as DDR3-1333 memory.  When you have stability problems, leave the memory speed @DDR3-1066 and manually set the command rate to 2T.  Also, raise the memory voltage to 1.575V.

The "RealTemp 3.4" Tool also shows that no matter of SS, the clock varies around +-0.5 GHz (idle). If SS is disabled, the clock "BIAS" is round higher (~2.5 GHz). If SS is enabled, it's ~1.7GHz.

That is normal as Spread Spectrum manipulates the shape of the clock curves "on the fly" to work against EMI problems.   The immens reduction of clock speeds on the other hand, can be attributed to the CPU's power saving features (EIST, C1E-Support and C-States) that will cause Ratio/Frequency and VCore reduction when the system is IDLE.

Right after flashing, I got this "Checksum Error" message and it told me to go into the BIOS. Then, I changed the settings to my needs. After exiting, everything worked. I also downloaded the BIOS again and flashed it a 2nd time, the same message.

That message is absolutely normal and is nothing to worry about.  It will occur whenever you flash your BIOS and/or clear CMOS.  It just concerns the BIOS Settings, not the BIOS itself.

Please remove your PSU from A/C power and >>Clear CMOS<<.  Before you apply your custom settings, please ALWAYS load "Optimized Defaults" in BIOS Setup before that. 

I don't know... May be the mainboard is somehow damaged?

I doubt that.

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

If you keep having problems, please provide full system specs:  >>Posting Guide<< ... and post screenshots of the CPU-Z "SPD" and "Memory" view.

 

[Superunknown]

Thanks for you reply!

Does the feature cause any problems?  In case the answer is "no", there is no real reason to disable it.  On the other hand, there would be no problems when you shut that function off either (unless, of course, you want to take advantage of VT-d some day).

I didn't switch it off by hand, it was switched off right from the start.

Well, if you have problems related to electro-magnatic interferences, Spread Spectrum is your magic trick to compensate them.

I know what's SS - that's why I switched it off. As I stated it, with SS switched OFF, I ran into lots of trouble (Memtest freezes, Prime95 is erroneous etc.). That's the strange thing about it!!!

It looks like DDR3-1333 is actually just an overclocked rating and your memory modules actually are DDR3-1066 modules, sold to you as DDR3-1333 memory.  When you have stability problems, leave the memory speed @DDR3-1066 and manually set the command rate to 2T.  Also, raise the memory voltage to 1.575V.

If SS is on, Memtest runs with exactly these settings without problems.

That is normal as Spread Spectrum manipulates the shape of the clock curves "on the fly" to work against EMI problems.   The immens reduction of clock speeds on the other hand, can be attributed to the CPU's power saving features (EIST, C1E-Support and C-States) that will cause Ratio/Frequency and VCore reduction when the system is IDLE.

OK, so SS won't affect the multiplier, right? That's what I observed, the multiplier X (133*X) varies from 12 - 15, no matter of the SS.

That message is absolutely normal and is nothing to worry about.  It will occur whenever you flash your BIOS and/or clear CMOS.  It just concerns the BIOS Settings, not the BIOS itself.

Yeah, I've just tested it, thanks.

I doubt that.

So what do you think causes my system to behave bad when SS is off?

 

[Superunknown]

Could it be possible, that there happened some typo?

I mean if the SS enable / disable function has changed it's meaning!

 

[Jack the Newbie]

That's the strange thing about it!!!

I don't see what is so strange about it.  Whatever problems you have seems to be amplified by EMI-Problems.  But that is not strange, but simply an observation at this point.

OK, so SS won't affect the multiplier, right? That's what I observed, the multiplier X (133*X) varies from 12 - 15, no matter of the SS.

As I said, most likely CPU power saving features enabled in BIOS. Nothing to worry about.  Another explanation would be temperature problems (multiplier drops under high loads when the Core Temperatures reach a critical point).

So what do you think causes my system to behave bad when SS is off?

EMI Problems?

I mean if the SS enable / disable function has changed it's meaning!

That is very, very unlikely.

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

If you keep having problems, please provide full system specs:  >>Posting Guide<< ... and post screenshots of the CPU-Z "SPD" and "Memory" view.

 

[Henry]

As far as I know so far there have been no problems to speak of with any of the MSI H55 chipset motherboards.

 

[Superunknown]

Mmmh... So maybe it's the RAM?!? I tried some different settings, (slower ones), but nothing succeeded in making the system more stable. Here are my tests (Spread Spectrum enabled):

-Memtest runs without errors.
-Self-written 4-threaded DFT (mathematician) runs as expected. This stresses the 4 threads of the CPU to 100% (for about 10mins), but the RAM is tested only little.
-Prime95 ("Blend" test) fails after <1h.
-Sometimes programs fail to install or Antivir fails to update.

 

[Jack the Newbie]

I don't know how many more times this has to be asked, but we still don't know anything really about your system configuration:

If you keep having problems, please provide full system specs:  >>>>Posting Guide<<<< ... and post screenshots of the CPU-Z "SPD" and "Memory" view.

 

[Superunknown]

Thanks for your commitment. Here're my specs:

H55-G43 BIOS 1.3, i3 550, XP Pro/SP3 32bit and Ubuntu 10.04 32bit
OCZ 3P13332GK Platinum DDR3 PC3-10666 2GB Kit (2x 1GB, 1333MHz, 7-7-7-20, 1,8 Volt - "R")
Corsair VX450W +12V~33A, +5V~20A, +3.3V~20A
Sappire HD5750
Western Digital WD3200AAKS 320 GB S-ATA 2
Pioneer DVD/CD R-W drive

The actual RAM settings are "Auto": 1066
7-7-7-16 - 59 - 1
CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS - tRFC - CR
I manually raised the voltage to 1.75.

 

[Jack the Newbie]

Manually set the Command Rate to 2T in BIOS Setup (it is currently set to 1T and that is often a major cause of stability problems (Command Rate problems are not always detected by Memtest 86+).

OCZ 3P13332GK Platinum DDR3 PC3-10666 2GB Kit (2x 1GB, 1333MHz, 7-7-7-20, 1,8 Volt - "R")

1.8V is crazy for DDR3 modules, especially on an Intel Core i3/5/7 system.  The maximum memory voltage specified by Intel is 1.65V.  Never that it higher than that.  The industry standard voltage for DDR3 memory is 1.5V +/-0.075V.  The only explanation for recommending a memory voltage of 1.8V for DDR3 sticks is that the frequency & timing ratings advertised by the manufacturer exceed the specifications of the memory chips used on the modules.  I believe that there are DDR3-1066 / CL7 Chips on those sticks.

I manually raised the voltage to 1.75.

Unless you want to kill your processor, you should keep it below 1.65V.

 

[Superunknown]

Manually set the Command Rate to 2T in BIOS Setup (it is currently set to 1T and that is often a major cause of stability problems (Command Rate problems are not always detected by Memtest 86+).

Already checked before, as well as other slower settings: no success.

1.8V is crazy for DDR3 modules, especially on an Intel Core i3/5/7 system.

The 1.8V is printed on the RAM sticks  That's why I raised (only for testing) the voltage.
I've also tested only one stick at a time: no success. MSI provided a Beta BIOS: dito.
I'm going to swap the mainboard and will report that here.

 

[Jack the Newbie]

Already checked before, as well as other slower settings: no success.

The command rate should ALWAYS be set to 2T, not just for a check.  It is not set to 2T on your screenshot.  Keep it set to 2T at all times.

The 1.8V is printed on the RAM sticks

Yeah, but that does not make it less excessive for DDR3 memory.  The frequency and timing values associated with that voltage are non-standard. They are overclocking ratings that exceed the specifications of the memory chips that are actually used on those modules.

That's why I raised (only for testing) the voltage.

Again, if you do not want to kill or damage your processor (and hopefully that hasn't happened already), you should keep the DRAM Voltage below 1.65V.

I'm going to swap the mainboard and will report that here.

You should probably try different memory sticks -> memory stick that do not have "advertised" ratings exceeding all known industry specifications.

 

[Superunknown]

The command rate should ALWAYS be set to 2T, not just for a check.  It is not set to 2T on your screenshot.  Keep it set to 2T at all times.

Yeah, but that does not make it less excessive for DDR3 memory.  The frequency and timing values associated with that voltage are non-standard. They are overclocking ratings that exceed the specifications of the memory chips that are actually used on those modules.

Again, if you do not want to kill or damage your processor (and hopefully that hasn't happened already), you should keep the DRAM Voltage below 1.65V.

You should probably try different memory sticks -> memory stick that do not have "advertised" ratings exceeding all known industry specifications.

I checked CR = 2T with the tests my system has to pass. And nothing has met my requirements.

Now I'm running on another mainboard and the system is perfectly stable. Only the floppy port is missing