Instability issues with 8GB of F2-8800CL5-2GBPI and Q9450/Asus P5E WS

[brisen]

Hi,


I bought 2 kits of 2 x F2-8800CL5-2GBPI (two different kits, so the four sticks are probably not matched), in the late summer of 2010. However, since I installed these modules I keep getting BSODs once in a while (Windows 7, x64) - I assumed it was mainly due to an old installation of Windows. Hence I re-installed Windows this week (I know it is late, but I didn't not prioritize it before). But I keep getting these BSODs.

Before the G. Skills, I've used some Crucial Ballistix (PC2-8500, 4 x 1GB), and these didn't give me BSODs. But two of these sticks died, so during the following replacement I wanted more and faster RAM. And that's why I choose the G. Skill.

My specs are listed below:

CPU: Intel Q9450 @ stock speed (2.66 Hz), WC
MB: Asus P5E WS Pro, bios 1203 (the newest)
RAM: 4 modules of F2-8800CL5-2GBPI
GFX: Radeon HD3870
OS SSD: Intel X25-M -G2, 80GB
SAS RAID card: LSI Logic MegaRAID 9260-8i
Storage HDDs: 4 x WD RE3 1TB in RAID-5

More information regarding DDR2:

FSB/DRAM ratio: 5:8
Memory Speed: 534,3 MHz
Size: 4 x 2048 MB
Dual Channel Mode

Timings:
CAS# Latency (CL): 5
RAS# to CAS# Read Delay (tRCD): 5
RAS# to CAS# Write Delay: 5
RAS# Precharge (tRP): 5
Precharge Delay (tRAS): 15

Other Timings:
All Precharge to Activate: 6 (greyed out in MemSet 4.1)
Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC): 68
Performance Level: 8
Write to Precharge Delayed: 21
Write to Read Delay (tWTR): 12
Act. to Act. Delayed (tRRD): 4
Read to Write Delay (tRD_WR): 8
Read to Precharge (tRTP): 6
All Precharge to Refresh Delay: 6 (greyed out in MemSet 4.1)
Refresh Period (tREF): 3120T
Command Rate (CR): 2T

All timings are read by MemSet 4.1, and left at auto in the bios. Tried to configure it manually (5-5-5-15 @ 1066 MHz), but the instability increased. Yesterday, I ran MemTest86+ (v. 4.10) for 1 pass (~58 min), where 1837 errors were encountered! The program halted at 58 min, and did not continue (computer was then shutdown).

Can someone help me to get these modules stable, preferably at 1100 MHz (using another FSB/DRAM ratio - would be great if I could OC the CPU some as well)?

If You need more information and/or I should do additional testing, please don't hesitate to ask.

[GSKILL TECH]

What are the voltages? Should be fine with those settings above..

Did you test one at a time to make sure both are good? Do you have the latest BIOS?

Thank you
GSKILL TECH

[brisen]

The voltage is set to Auto in the Bios, but I can't read the actual voltage in either bios or windows (have tried CPU-Z, HW Monitor, MemSet and SpeedFan). Have I missed it? Can someone guide me to the right location? Or should I use another program?

I have just defined the voltage manually in bios, and set it to 1.900 V. The PC seems a bit more stable (not BSODs every 10 min.!) - I'll try a MemTest at these settings.

The MB has the latest bios version - and have had that for a long time.

Haven't tested the modules individually yet. I'll await the above mentioned test.

[brisen]

Memory timings (@1066) set to auto and DRAM voltage set manually to 1.900 V did not give better results....

I'll stress, that I have 4 sticks of 2 GB F2-8800CL5D, i.e. a total of 8GB. The four sticks are bought as two kits; 2 x F2-8800CL5d-4GPI. So all four sticks are not matched - if that should do any difference

Have tried to run all four @ DDR2-800 MHz and 5-5-5-15, all other settings at auto (including DRAM voltage). No errors in MemTest.

Have tried to run the sticks pair-wise in DIMM_A1/B1 and DIMM_A2/B2, respectively. I have paired them according to their individual serial number on the stick itself, so the ones bought as a kit were tested together. Settings were 5-5-5-15, DRAM voltage 1.900V, DDR2-1066 - all other settings were left at auto. Ran MemTest for at least 1 hour one each combination, and saw no errors. Hence I think the sticks are all right.

I'll list the options I have in bios, and what they are set at at the moment (this setup gives MemTest errors):

Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
CPU Ratio Setting : Auto
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 333Mhz
FSB Frequency : 333
PCIE Frequency : 100
DRAM Frequency : DDR2-1066Mhz
DRAM Command Rate: 2T
DRAM CMD Skew on Channel A : Auto
DRAM CMD Skew on Channel B : Auto
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A : Auto
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel B : Auto
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency: 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5
RAS# Precharge: 5
RAS# Active Time: 15
RAS# to RAS# Delay: Auto
Row Refresh Cycle Time: 60
Write Recovery Time: Auto
Read to Write Delay: Auto
Read to Precharge Time: Auto
DRAM Static Read Control: Auto

Ai Clock Twister: Auto
Transaction Booster: Auto

CPU Voltage: Auto
CPU PLL Voltage: Auto
FSB Termination Voltage: Auto
DRAM Voltage: 1.900 V
North Bridge Voltage: Auto
South Bridge Voltage: Auto
Clock Over-Charging Voltage: Auto

CPU Voltage Damper: Auto
CPU Voltage Reference: Auto
North Bridge Voltage Reference: Auto
CPU Spread Spectrum: Auto
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Auto

I probably need to raise the NB (and perhaps also SB) voltage a bit - but to what level? Other settings I should configure manually?

[GSKILL TECH]

1.20-1.30V for NB.. You could even try 1.95V-2.0V for DRAM Voltage.

Thank you
GSKILL TECH