I need help stabilizing my system. Ever since I put it together about 5 years ago, it's been running smoothly. That has changed with a few component upgrades/changes.
The first major change was upgrading to 8GB of G.Skill F2-8500CL5D-4GBPI-B DDR2 1066 RAM @ my GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L Rev2.0 motherboard about 9 months ago. After doing a lot of online research & setting the correct timings, it had been running pretty smoothly during that time. Last month, I upgraded my mechanical HDD to an SSD. Everything was fine for the 1st few weeks, now though, I'm getting consistant BSODs. My system turns on fine, I can use it for just about anything, but it'll crash if I try to game [Crysis & similar games @ Steam] or stream video = when it's stressed.
As soon as I suspected it could be the memory, I ran multiple tests. Ran a host of Anti-Virus, Malware & Spyware programs both in normal & Safe Mode. Then came Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool, Memtest86 & Memtest86+ on all 4 sticks, 1 stick @ a time & with 2, 4, 6 & 8GB. It turns out now that when all 4 sticks are in, all 3 memory tests show errors. They didn't before when I 1st bought the RAM & set things up. Maybe memory corruption?? So as I have it now, 3 sticks/6GB pass all 3 tests. I also inspected & tested the 4 available memory slots on my mobo. No problems there. Also stress tested the system with the latest versions of Sandra Lite & EVEREST Home Edition. Sandra Lite failed the 1st time with my GPU slightly overclocked & 8GB of RAM. Once I brought the overclocked GPU back to it's default settings & 6GB of RAM, it passed. EVEREST Home Edition passed both times. The Virtual Memory/Paging File was changed, too. I've tried every setting, from Automatic to System Managed to None. The BSOD's keep coming when the system is under stress.
What's complicating it is that the BSOD's could be caused by a variety of different factors:
- Not the correct RAM settings/timings?
- Is my overclocked CPU [Q6600 2.4GHz to 3.0GHz] settings [vCore, etc.] to blame?
- Is it my new SDD?
- Is my GPU underpowered, even with a modest overclock [using "EVGA Precision"]?
- Another setting @ my BIOS, etc.?
- A combination of a few components?
My goal here is to, at least, get the correct RAM/Mobo settings & through the process of elimination, not to have to worry about that area of my setup.
System Specs:
- Cooler Master Stacker 830 Case
- Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1000 Watt PSU
- GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L Rev.2.0 Motherboard
- Intel Q6600 2.4GHz CPU OC'ed to 3.0GHz [air cooled]
- 8GB G.SKILL DDR2 1066MHz RAM
- Plextor PX-128M3 128GB SSD [OS]
- EVGA GeForce 9800GT 512MB GPU
- Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit + SP1
I would really like to keep the settings @ 1066, but I've read that 800 is just as fast with lower timings [4-4-4-12 vs. 5-5-5-15 I have now] & voltage required. So, if push comes to shove & this 8GB kit won't run @ 1066 or is just not achievable/stable with my mobo, I'm ok with it @ 800.
Also, all my components are up to date as far as software, BIOS, firmware, etc., is concerned.
BIOS settings:
GPU settings, slightly overclocked:
GPU settings, back to default:
Any & all help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
MZ?dotcom
The first major change was upgrading to 8GB of G.Skill F2-8500CL5D-4GBPI-B DDR2 1066 RAM @ my GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L Rev2.0 motherboard about 9 months ago. After doing a lot of online research & setting the correct timings, it had been running pretty smoothly during that time. Last month, I upgraded my mechanical HDD to an SSD. Everything was fine for the 1st few weeks, now though, I'm getting consistant BSODs. My system turns on fine, I can use it for just about anything, but it'll crash if I try to game [Crysis & similar games @ Steam] or stream video = when it's stressed.
As soon as I suspected it could be the memory, I ran multiple tests. Ran a host of Anti-Virus, Malware & Spyware programs both in normal & Safe Mode. Then came Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool, Memtest86 & Memtest86+ on all 4 sticks, 1 stick @ a time & with 2, 4, 6 & 8GB. It turns out now that when all 4 sticks are in, all 3 memory tests show errors. They didn't before when I 1st bought the RAM & set things up. Maybe memory corruption?? So as I have it now, 3 sticks/6GB pass all 3 tests. I also inspected & tested the 4 available memory slots on my mobo. No problems there. Also stress tested the system with the latest versions of Sandra Lite & EVEREST Home Edition. Sandra Lite failed the 1st time with my GPU slightly overclocked & 8GB of RAM. Once I brought the overclocked GPU back to it's default settings & 6GB of RAM, it passed. EVEREST Home Edition passed both times. The Virtual Memory/Paging File was changed, too. I've tried every setting, from Automatic to System Managed to None. The BSOD's keep coming when the system is under stress.
What's complicating it is that the BSOD's could be caused by a variety of different factors:
- Not the correct RAM settings/timings?
- Is my overclocked CPU [Q6600 2.4GHz to 3.0GHz] settings [vCore, etc.] to blame?
- Is it my new SDD?
- Is my GPU underpowered, even with a modest overclock [using "EVGA Precision"]?
- Another setting @ my BIOS, etc.?
- A combination of a few components?
My goal here is to, at least, get the correct RAM/Mobo settings & through the process of elimination, not to have to worry about that area of my setup.
System Specs:
- Cooler Master Stacker 830 Case
- Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1000 Watt PSU
- GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L Rev.2.0 Motherboard
- Intel Q6600 2.4GHz CPU OC'ed to 3.0GHz [air cooled]
- 8GB G.SKILL DDR2 1066MHz RAM
- Plextor PX-128M3 128GB SSD [OS]
- EVGA GeForce 9800GT 512MB GPU
- Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit + SP1
I would really like to keep the settings @ 1066, but I've read that 800 is just as fast with lower timings [4-4-4-12 vs. 5-5-5-15 I have now] & voltage required. So, if push comes to shove & this 8GB kit won't run @ 1066 or is just not achievable/stable with my mobo, I'm ok with it @ 800.
Also, all my components are up to date as far as software, BIOS, firmware, etc., is concerned.
BIOS settings:
GPU settings, slightly overclocked:
GPU settings, back to default:
Any & all help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
MZ?dotcom
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