X58 Pro-E i7 920 Computer constantly freezing

S

Schwipe

New member
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
10
Hey Guys,

First time to this forum.
I've been racking my brain for months now trying to figure out what is wrong with my PC.
What happens is the computer freezes randomly between 20mins and 2hours. (and occasionally nothing for a whole day - very strange).
I then have to force shutdown and when I restart it freezes during the windows logo. I then repeat the shutdown process 2-3 times and then it successfully logs in - only to freeze again in 20mins-2Hours.
My usual fix is to reinstall Windows 7, which for some reason stops the freezing for about 2 weeks, but the very last time I did it, it froze within an hour of a fresh install - so I don't think it's the OS.

It usually happens while playing games or loading up multiple programs - So I think it's the ram. I've tried changing the timings and voltage on the ram to 1.65V 8-8-8-24 from the default 1.5V 7-7-7-20 but it still does it.

The specifications on the ram say that it is specifically built for a X58 Intel Chipset so I thought it was compatible.
I'm ready to buy new ram because it's quite annoying.

Everything is now set to defaults in the bios and I can post a CPU-Z screenshot when I get home.

Motherboard: MSI X58 Pro-E LGA1366 http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=proddesc&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=170&prod_no=1804
Processor: Intel i7 920 LGA1366 http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=37147
RAM: OCZ Intel XMP 1600 http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr3_pc3_12800_intel-i7_triple_channel_rev_2
Graphics: MSI N295GTX http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=proddesc&maincat_no=130&prod_no=1723
Power: Antec 1000W TruePower Quattro ATX http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=NTk=
Case: Antec Nine Hundred Two
OS: Windows 7 64-Bit

Is anything incompatible in my current setup? If not, do you think it's the ram that is causing the issue.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
do you think it's the ram that is causing the issue
Click to expand...
Yes. Try with just one stick (each individually) in the black primary A0 DIMM slot & test. The CPU-Z Memory & SPD Tab shots will be of help. Those pesky CPU IMC's can be finicky with RAM speeds. What is it currently set at? Please test at 1066 speed, 9 9 9 24 2N(T) @ 1.50v's for now. 3X2G kit?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HU16E said:
Yes. Try with just one stick (each individually) in the black primary A0 DIMM slot & test. The CPU-Z Memory & SPD Tab shots will be of help. Those pesky CPU IMC's can be finicky with RAM speeds. What is it currently set at? Please test at 1066 speed, 9 9 9 24 2N(T) @ 1.50v's for now. 3X2G kit?
Click to expand...

Yeah it is a 3x2G kit. i tried running memtest86 but it got stuck on 7% for about 2 Hours during the 4k-6k memory test so I repositioned all the ram so they sat in different spots but it when I ran it again it froze in the same place.

I'll try each one individually when I get home. The problem is the freezing is so random it's hard to narrow it down to a single change.

Also,
"OCZ?s Triple Channel kits are 100% hand-tested for quality assurance and compatibility ... each OCZ memory module is backed by the industry leading OCZ Lifetime Warranty and technical support for unparalleled peace of mind."
I guess that doesn't mean there's no possible way I could get a bad stick.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The problem is the freezing is so random it's hard to narrow it down to a single change.
Click to expand...
Hopefully we can narrow it down. Any BSOD's at all?

I guess that doesn't mean there's no possible way I could get a bad stick.
Click to expand...
:lol_anim:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HU16E said:
Hopefully we can narrow it down. Any BSOD's at all?
:lol_anim:
Click to expand...
Nope just screen freezes. It's very strange how after it freezes and I force restart, it continues to freeze on the windows logo for 2 or 3 times. It even froze once in safe mode :shocked:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
it continues to freeze on the windows logo for 2 or 3 times. It even froze once in safe mode
Click to expand...
Are you OC'ing the CPU at all? Sometimes this is a sign of CPU voltage needing a bit of a boost. Still thinking along the lines of memory though.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HU16E said:
Are you OC'ing the CPU at all? Sometimes this is a sign of CPU voltage needing a bit of a boost. Still thinking along the lines of memory though.
Click to expand...
I was slightly (base clock of 160) and I put the voltage up +0.250 but it still froze. It's currently all set at optimized defaults (base clock at 133, voltage at auto) in BIOS.
I also disabled a bunch of CPU functions, after doing some research, like halt states and overspeed protection but it still froze.

Sorry I can't post a CPU-Z screenshot and it's hard to do anything while I'm at work and not at home. I'll be sure to test each memory stick individually. Should I run memtest 3 times and see if I get any errors/freezes?

My overclocked specs were

Intel EIST                                                  [Disabled]
Intel C-STATE tech                                      [Disabled]
Base Clock (MHz)                                        [160]
Adjust CPU Ratio                                          [21]
Adjusted Core Frequency (MHZ)                      3150
>QPI Configuration                                      [Press Enter]
_______________________________________ __________
>MEMORY-Z                                              [Press Enter]
>Advance DRAM Configuration                        [Press Enter]
Extreme Memory Profile                                [Enabled]
Extreme Memory Profiles Mode                        [Advance]
Memory Ratio                                              [4]
Adjusted DRM Frequency (MHz)                      1600
Uncore Ratio                                              [8]
_______________________________________ __________
>ClockGen Tuner                                        [Press Enter]
Adjust PCI Frequency (MHz)                          [Auto]
Adjust PCI-E Frequency (MHz)                      [100]
Auto Disable DRM/PCI Frequency                    [Enabled]
_______________________________________ __________
CPU Voltage (V)                                          [+0.250]
CPU Vcore                                                  1.376 V
CPU PLL Voltage (V)                                    [Auto]
QPI Voltage (V)                                          [Auto]
DRAM Voltage (V)                                        [1.65]
DDR_VREF_CA_A (V)                                    [Auto]
DDR_VREF_CA_B (V)                                    [Auto]
DDR_VREF_CA_C (V)                                    [Auto]
DDR_VREF_CQ_A (V)                                    [Auto]
DDR_VREF_CQ_B (V)                                    [Auto]
DDR_VREF_CQ_C (V)                                    [Auto]
NB Voltage (V)                                            [Auto]
ICH Voltage (V)                                          [Auto]
_______________________________________ __________
Spread Spectrum                                        [Disabled]
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Should I run memtest 3 times and see if I get any errors/freezes?
Click to expand...
It certainly won't hurt. I'm a little surprised it wouldn't run on default CPU V. at a 160 bclk. Do you have the earlier C0 stepping CPU?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HU16E said:
No. It will tell you in CPU-Z CPU Tab 'Stepping' & just under that, 'Revision' should show it. :-))
Click to expand...
Oh ok cool. I'll look when I get home and do those single stick tests. Thanks for your help. I'll post back in a few hours
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Okay so here's what I've done. I certainly think there's something fishy about the triple channel ram.
I've tested each memory stick individually and they all passed memtest86.
I then tested each black dimm slot and all passed individually as well.
NOW, when I try to test with all 3 (triple channel) it stops at 7% in the first phase during the 4064-6096 address check. It doesn't freeze, it just stops - the timer stops (at 0:08) and nothing happens.
I tried a few bios things like setting it to fail-safe defaults, increasing the QPI link voltage and turning on/off XMP on the RAM. Still no change.

Then I took out 5th slot (3rd black one) so I just had two and it would begin the memtest86, get to about 10% in the first phase, then continuously restarts the computer in a never-ending cycle. (I assume this is because it looks for the 3rd ram in the triple channel, doesn't find it and then spazzes out).

I've now flashed the bios so it's at the most current version according to this page
http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=bios&maincat_no=1&prod_no=1804
Still same results with default settings and overclocked settings.

Here's my CPU-Z screenshots with my overclocked settings on.
4947740355_0b0838f74b_b.jpg
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
First of all, please always make sure that the Command Rate is manually set to 2T in BIOS Setup (at all times during testing).  It is currently set to 1T and that may be a major factor in the stability game.

Then:  Please note that the memory controller is part of the CPU and that according to Intel it is specified for DDR3-1066 operation only.  Everything beyond that has to be considered overclocking which always comes with potential stability problems.

Please test your memory @DDR3-1066 and DDR3-1333, Command Rate set to 2T in BIOS Setup and see if the freezes still occur.  Only when the problems dissappear does it make sense to worry about stably overclocking the memory to DDR3-1600.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Jack t.N. said:
First of all, please always make sure that the Command Rate is manually set to 2T in BIOS Setup (at all times during testing). 
Click to expand...

Ohhh ok. I've got everything on default.

4948092073_814667521f_b.jpg


I'll let you know if it freezes but so far it's been good.
If it seems ok, what would be some safe steps into overclocking it a bit in terms of timings because I've been going off the XMP timings.
Also a quick voltage question. It says 1.5V (~1066mhz) is the standard and the XMP (~1600mhz) is set at 1.65V. If i wanted 1333 what would i set the voltage as? something in the middle?

Sorry if these are dumb questions I'm obviously new to overclocking
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The memory clock speed is currently not @DDR3-1066 (533 MHz) but slightly lower.  You have either selected a wrong Memory Ratio or the Base Clock Frequency is not set to 133 MHz.  Please check.

If i wanted 1333 what would i set the voltage as?
Click to expand...

You always want the lowest possible voltage that still yields absolute stability.  So, just test @1.5V and in case of stability problems, work your way upward until the system is stable.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Jack t.N. said:
The memory clock speed is currently not @DDR3-1066 (533 MHz) but slightly lower.  You have either selected a wrong Memory Ratio or the Base Clock Frequency is not set to 133 MHz.  Please check.

You always want the lowest possible voltage that still yields absolute stability.  So, just test @1.5V and in case of stability problems, work your way upward until the system is stable.
Click to expand...

Yep base clock was on 130. Here's the updated CPU-Z.
4948774464_ef1e6befb9.jpg


Thanks for the help. I'll let you know if any more problems
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Back
Top