x58 Pro freezes machine

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csk8tr

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I recently bought an X58 Pro mb on newegg, along with a i7 920 CPU, Corsair 3x2gb kit (recommended for this mb from Corsair's website), and a Sapphire Radeon 4870 HD (1gb model). After putting everything together, it booted up fine and installed Windows just fine. However, the entire system seems to freeze randomly anywhere from 5min to 3 days after it's turned on. By freezing, I mean that the mouse/keyboard freezes and even the clock; the only way around it is to hard boot. I'm not seeing anything in event viewer other than the last restart was unexpected. Other weird things that have happened although not as frequently: machine freezes and the image on the screen gets distorted, system reboots on its own.

Here is what I've tried so far:

1. Called up Corsair to see what they recommend as far as settings. They told me that all I needed to do was Load Fail-safe Defaults, and then make sure that XMP was enabled (keep everything as default/auto). That fixed the issue for about 2 days, until it froze again.

2. Ran Microsoft Memory Diagnostics and it's showing that all RAM is good. The tests took about 3 hours to complete and the machine never froze/locked up during that time.

3. Contacted MSI and they suggested to replace the power supply. I had a 550watt PS and replaced it with a 585watt PS that I knew was good (SLI supported). Still had instability issues.

My next step is to RMA the mb and video card with Newegg, but thought I'd post this to see if there is anything else I can try before doing that.
 
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Hi,

please provide a link to the Corsair Datasheet for your memory modules.  We need to know the precise model name/number and the specifications of your modules. "3x2gb kit" does not really tell us anything.

 
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The model number of the Corsair RAM I'm using is: TR3X6G1600C8D. I'm not able to find a datasheet on Corsair's website that shows what it needs to be set at, hence why I contacted them directly. If you go to Corsair's website and search for TR3X6G1600C8D, you will see the website that I am seeing.
 
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What is the difference between XMP and JEDEC? If I manually set the RAM to 9-9-9-24 at 1333MHz and 1.6V, should I then set XMP to disable in the BIOS?
 
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XMP Profiles are Overclocking Profiles and JEDEC Specifications refer to the Industry Standards for memory chips/modules.  DDR3-1600 @8-8-8-24 are not the native specs of your memory modules.  Read what it says at the bottom of the datasheet:

Every part is tested in Corsair's factory at 1600MHz, but your actual results may vary depending on the overclocking margin of your CPU and motherboard.
Click to expand...

Please also keep in mind, that the memory controller is part of the processor and that according to Intel Specifications, your CPU natively only supports memory modules up to DDR3-1066.
 
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Bios Cell Menu - 'Spread Spectrum' - Disabled, 'Mem. Ratio' - 5 (133X5X2=1330), 'XMP' - Disabled, 'Adjust PCI-E Freq.' - 101, 'Auto Disable DRAM/PCI Freq.' - Enabled, 'Advance DRAM Config.' (Enter), set '1N/2N' - 1N, 'CAS Latency (CL)' - 9, 'tRCD' - 9, 'tRP' - 9, 'tRAS' - 24, then proceed to 'DRAM Voltage' - 1.600.

:rtfm: Use your keyboard arrow keys & +/- keys on the num. pad to change the values.
 
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So I called both MSI and Corsair last night. MSI told me that I had to contact Corsair to find out the exact settings in the BIOS. Corsair said that setting the Failsafe Defaults and setting XMP to enabled should work. When I said that it didn't, they said to put only one memory stick in at a time. If each stick causes the machine to freeze, then it's not the memory. Well, each stick caused the machine to freeze. I tried each one in each of the memory slots, and no luck. I think I know what the cause is. Later today I'm going to call Corsair again and see if they'll give me the settings for the memory chips to run at 1.5v instead of 1.6v or 1.65v. If they won't give it to me, then I'll see if Newegg will be kind enough to take back the RAM so I can get different ones that run at 1.5v. It seems like the BIOS settings for their RAM is a trade secret and heavily guarded  ;D

Does anyone know what settings in the BIOS I have to set so the RAM runs at 1.5v? I'm assuming that the settings posted by HU16E will be different, aside from "DRAM Voltage". Also I've noticed that the IOH temperature has been running around 60 - 70 degrees C. Is this normal or could this be another contributing factor to my system freezing up?
 
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Corsair said that setting the Failsafe Defaults and setting XMP to enabled should work.
Click to expand...

As I said before, XMP Settings (DDR3-1600/CL8) are overclocking settings, not default settings.  Corsair does not (actually cannot) reallly guarantee that these settings are stable.  To point that out, I quoted the standard note that Corsair has put into the datasheet for your modules.

The native settings (industry standard settings) for your modules are DDR3-1333 @9-9-9-24 @1.5 +/- 0.075V.  I already provided you with a link to the datasheet which lists these parameters. That is why I suggested to use these.  Have you tried these settings yet?

It seems like the BIOS settings for their RAM is a trade secret and heavily guarded
Click to expand...

Not really.  They are in the datasheet.

If the DDR3-1333 settings do not change anything, reduce the memory clock speed to DDR3-1066.  That is the maximum clock speed the memory controller of your processor natively supports (according to Intel Specifications).

Please keep Spread Spectrum disabled at all times.

Does anyone know what settings in the BIOS I have to set so the RAM runs at 1.5v?
Click to expand...

The JEDEC Standard SPD Settings for your memory modules are in the Corsair Datasheet. I have already pointed them out twice.


Also I've noticed that the IOH temperature has been running around 60 - 70 degrees C.
Click to expand...

The maximum allowable temperature for the IOH is around 100?C (according to Intel Specs).  As long as the temperature stays below that value, there should be no functional issues.  To double check:  Point an extra fan to the IOH heatsink to provide additional cooling and see if that changes anything.

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

One more thing:

What is your current BIOS Version?





 
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Thanks, I understand the information is in the datasheet, but that's not what I'm asking for. I need to know which specific BIOS settings do I need to change? Thanks to HU16E for providing this information, but I'm not able to change certain items because they're grayed out. From what I've ready, if you enable XMP, it sets it to 8-8-8-24 @1600MHz & 1.6v/1.65v and if you disable XMP, it sets it to 9-9-9-24 @ 1333MHz & 1.5v. Since both seem to cause stability issues, I want to underclock the RAM down to 1066MHz. From what I can tell, I'm not able to do this. Also, not sure if this makes a difference, but if I have XMP enabled or disabled, my system still recognized the RAM as running at 1333. It has never recognized it as running at 1600MHz with XMP enabled.

I'm running BIOS version 7.1, which is the latest on MSI's website. That was the version that came with my motherboard, so I didn't do an upgrade from a previous version.
 
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XMP 'Disabled'. With 1 RAM stick in the first black DIMM slot (A0), test for boot with bios Cell Menu settings as in my Reply #7 with the following changes; 'Mem. Ratio' - 4. 'DRAM Voltage' & 'Advance DRAM Config.' - leave all at 'Auto'. This should set your RAM to run at 1066. Again, to change setting values, highlight the item you want to change with the keyboard arrow keys, hit the + or - keys to change the setting. If this is successful, add the other 2 sticks in black slots B0 & C0.

Here is a handy utility, CPU-Z 1.50, that will show JEDEC & (EPP) XMP for your memory modules. This info shows on the SPD tab. The memory tab will show what the RAM is running at. Keep in mind it will show (if at 1066) 533 (X2, DDR=1066). http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php
 
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One thing I forgot to post yesterday: noticed that spread spectrum was set to enabled, so I disabled it as well as cleared the CMOS. That didn't fix the issue. Than last night, I was poking around in the BIOS and found the Mem. Ratio setting that HU16E pointed out. Changed this to 4, which set the RAM to 1066. Hasn't froze up, knock on wood. Here is what CPU-Z is showing for my RAM:

NB Frequency - 2405.9MHz
DRAM Frequency - 534.xMHz
FSB:DRAM - 2:8
CL - 8
tRCD - 8
tRP - 8
tRAS - 19
Command Rate - 1T

When I looked at the JEDEC columns on the SPD tab, my settings don't match any of the 3, but it's closest to #2. Would it be best to leave my RAM and it's current setting and see what happens, or should I try to set it to something that will match one of the JEDEC columns?
 
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Those are decent timings & command rate. Since you know what settings do work, if you want to 'fine tune' the settings to the JEDEC for 1066 (533), it shouldn't hurt anything. You can always return the settings back to those you have posted.
 
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I think it's safe to say that the change I made fixed my problem. My machine hasn't rebooted or froze up since I made the change last Thursday. Thanks everyone for your help.
 
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