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If you manually set the speed OR the voltage for the memory... so they are on any setting OTHER than "AUTO" then the EPP settings/voltage will not be available.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phenomenalspeed
OR you don't have 1066 ram so it doesn't have an EPP setting.
G0ldbr1ck could I get your settings details for the Dominators on your DS5 board? Any settings that are different from optimized defaults would be good enough I think. Like for one are you using the Auto Xpress > EPP Mode or just setting the memory speed to 1066 and leaving auto timings? My dominators seem to like around 1.95v also how about yours?
Thanks
I have Auto Xpress > EPP mode enabled and EPP voltage enabled (For this to be available you must have all other ram settings to auto then reboot back to bios then will be available to enable). Changing anything manualy just dose not work. What that gives me is:Quote:
Originally Posted by Fulgore0rb
unganged (have tryed and benched both ways and not realy any diff. in performance but in ganged would get errors once in a wile)
DDR 1066
5
5
5
15
22
2T
@2.1v (There have been allot of revisions on the dominator ram and they have changed voltages, one of my sets is 2.2v and the other is 2.1 but both seem fine at 2.0 but I have read that the newer revisions use a lower voltage yet so not sure what yours is able to do.)
Sorry for the late reply, been out of town all weakend. Hope this info helps but feel free to ask if you need more.
Thanks G0ldbr1ck. I am narrowing the problem down it seems. I currently seem to be stuck at the increased DIMM voltage delimma of causing problems. I cannot get up passed 1.95v without many issues. I know some other voltage increases should resolve this problem. Goldbr1ck have you increased any other voltages and to what value? Northbridge and CPU voltages seem to be the most commonly increased to help this issue- and sometimes HT Recieve/Transmit voltages. FYI my Dominator version is rated at 2.1v.
I fear I may need to change my BIOS revision to get the NB overvoltage to work correctly. (still using F5- since the F6 seems to have a problem with phenom 9600's)
Im a bit confused to your problems, Things are simpler for my setup I guess. Maybe a diff between your B2 phenom and my B3 not sure, someone else might be able to answer that.
The bios is just so buggy that all my overclocking is done by software. My ram when set by EPP is 2.1v, Is your ram not setting itself to that voltage? I have no other voltage increases on anything other than a very small increase on the cpu vcore. As far as CPU overclock, your much better off using just the multiplier and no more than 210 on the base HTbus as its just to unstable to go higher.
If you can clarify your 1.95v problem a little better maybe I can help you better, but im just not sure why its that low to begin with.
@Phenomenalspeed: Have you got everything worked out with you DQ6? If your still having problems give us an update and Ill try to help you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by keithlm
Thanks. My RAM is 800Mhz and it does have an EPP profile. When I changed it back to auto they became selectable. I took RAM from another PC without a profile and the options weren't even there at all.
Even when I choose EPP mode and Voltage by EPP save the changes and reboot there is no increase in DDR2 voltage registered in the BIOS PC health screen or Windows. The only thing that does change is auto timings in DDR2 configuration screen. When EPP mode is off the auto timings are 5-5-5-18. With EPP mode and voltage on they change to 4-4-4-12. This is useless though as when I run CPU-Z , Everest, AMDOverdrive, and Central brain idenitifier the timings are still 5-5-5-18.
may be a long shot, but is it possable that you have software set to change your RAM settings on windows load up and forgot to turn it off? Your problem is one I havent seen yet with these boards.
also, are you sure that the EPP voltage is higher than SPD voltage, Most likely the SPD volts are fine for EPP at 800mhz.
Thank you for your reply.Quote:
Originally Posted by G0ldBr1ck
No I have not solved the problems with my motherboard yet. It is still doing weird things.
I have attached BIOS photos http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/9269/pict0511eb6.jpg
http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/9...8177fb97ea.jpg
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/107/pict0512tt8.jpg
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2733/pict0513el5.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/574...ilitiesbv8.jpg
You can see that despite changing the multiplier of the memory controller in the BIOS there is no increase in frequency. The same is true when you increase the DDR2 voltage. Even after you save to CMOS and reboot the PC health screen still shows no increase. It always remains at 1.856v which is rounded up to 2 decimal places and shows 1.86 in windows utilities.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/669/pict0510xm0.jpg
However when I change the CPU voltage the increase is registered in both the BIOS and Windows. http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/5311/pict0515yp8.jpg
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/6668/pict0516jw1.jpg
I have tried each of the 4 DIMMS invidually in each and every slot as you asked me to do. There was no change whatsoever. I also tried 2 DIMMS of Hynix RAM that I took from another computer. Again it made no difference. If I leave the DDR2 voltage control as normal and go to Auto Xpress and enable EPP mode and set voltage to as EPP profile. When you save this and reboot the timings in the DDR2 configuration change from the auto of 5-5-5-18 to 4-4-4-12. No change is registered in Windows though. I am not sure if this is connected to the problem but I noticed in AMD Overdrive 2.1.0 that the slider for Mem VTT is greyed out and not selectable.
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/4823/memvttcf9.jpg
I have noticed other peculiarities and instabilities with this motherboard. Any changes made to BIOS and then saved to CMOS even the most minor of changes like enabling (S.M.A.RT or fan warnings) can cause the motherboard to fail to POST. This has happened several times. Sometimes it will beep and POST successfully and then freeze at the screen where it shows memory size, CPU motherboard model and BIOS and hard drives. Clearing the CMOS and starting again and then booting to windows before restarting sometimes helps. Also sometimes after making changes the motherboard POST successfully but fails when it tries to boot windows. It gives the error message "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
C:\windows\system32\config\system" I believe means that it cannot find a Windows installation on the drive. Even though the drive is recognised in POST and BIOS screens it is not reading it properly. I took the drive out and tried it in another computer and there is no problem with the drive. It's a Maxtor 120GB IDE drive that I am using. This problem is sometimes fixed by resetting the CMOS.
At the moment the motherboard/PC is stable and working but there are definite problems with it. These are just the ones that I have found so far.
Originally I requested an RMA because the motherboard would not POST at all. No beep code it was just a permanent black screen. The originally problem was fixed by Gigabyte but it seems as though the initial problem was fixed and it was sent back to me without examination of everything else. Originally I was very happy to have received it back so quickly (It arrived at Gigabyte on a Thursday and I received it back 4 days later on the Monday) but now there are more issues.
Please advise me of what I should do next.
Thanks.
1st question: Very unlikely. I do not believe that I have downloaded anything that does that. Do you know any software in particular that does that?Quote:
Originally Posted by G0ldBr1ck
Even if that was the case the BIOS should still show an increase as the the sofware would only be able overide the BIOS settings upon Windows startup.
2nd question: Yes definitely. EPP volatge is 2.1v. You can see for yourself in the screenshot of CPU-Z in my previous post.
Thanks.
#1 Mem Controller cannot be higher than HT link. If you try it will always set itself back to default of x10. <----Edit: I have this backwards
#2 The grayed out Mem voltage in AOD is normal.
#3 If you have tryed each stick one at a time and tryed another set of ram and still dont get a voltage increase when set. That realy leaves nothing but a problem with a PWM/VRM on the motherboard a physicaly defective part on the board unable to change voltage when requested. Before confirming this I would see if you can get a change of any kind ie...higher/lower switching from epp to spd and if still no changes in voltage of any kind it would have to be the board.
That may be what they replaced last time. I would research and see what the part was they replaced
oh ya, one more thing the PSU you ended up using, did you use a 24pin main and a 8 pin at cpu? if not this may lock out any voltage increases wich in turn the bios may be switching back to spd after seeing incorect epp volts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by G0ldBr1ck
Sorry I couldn't reply earlier. The site was down.
Did you mean memory controller frequency cannot be higher than Hypertransport frequency with this motherboard??
I think that I read somewhere that some AM2+ motherboards prevent you setting them at different frequencies. I did not realise that this was one of them.
If that is not what you meant then you have it the wrong way around. The Hypertransport frequency/multiplier cannot be higher than the CPU Northbridge(memory controller) frequency/multiplier.
Good news about about Mem VTT in AMD Overdrive. At least I am not the only one :)
About the PSU yes I used the main one with 8pin CPU plug. They both have 24pin power plug. The other has only a 4 pin powerplug. The motherboard didn't like it at all. I'm not sure why.
Everthing that I have tried the voltage has always been the same. It is not possible to decrease DDR2 voltage in BIOS. You can only increase it.
I tried decreasing the memory controller multiplier and the Hypertransport frequency to see if there would be any change but there was none.
I probably should have mentioned it before but increasing the HTT reference clock does increase the CPU Northbridge(memory controller)frequency.
The frequency is always 10x the HTT reference clock regardless of what I change its multiplier to in BIOS.
As for the defective component I think this is definitely the most likely scenario.
When I received it back there was a sheet enclosed with it. It think its more for their own internal use rather than anything else. Its location is given as U185. Being an inquisitve soul I searched the motherboard for it. It is underneath and in-between the two orange x8 PCI-express slots.
According to the sheet the part is called 10HL6-180477-20R CLK GEN ICS9LPRS477BKLFICS. It means nothing to me apart from CLK GEN which I'm guessing is clock generator. Long shot but perhaps that part number means something to someone. I also phoned Gigabyte the same day to ask them about it. The bloke on the phone had no idea what it was.
Sorry about that, you are correct. I rattled that off with it reversed in my head:shrug:Quote:
Originally Posted by Phenomenalspeed
Im guessing that the part replaced must be a PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) a clock generator as you suspected wich may have somthing to do with your Mem controller problem.
The Ram voltage is realy sounding like another faulty component like i mention above.
It seems like you have covered all the bases as far as I can think of. There just realy isnt anything else it can be but a faulty board.
Don't worry about it.
Yeah I think I have covered all the bases. I have been exchanging messages with Gigabyte for the past 4/5 days. They have no idea about the RAM voltage problem and dragging it out and making me jump through hoops and now starting to go round in circles.:shrug:
What's bugging me about the RAM is that I specifically chose this RAM as it is rated for 4-4-4-12 timings. Corsair have other PC2-6400 RAM at CL5 and PC2-8500 at CL5. I can't run it at EPP timings without an increase in voltage.
About the memory controller mutiplier. Gigabyte tried to increase theirs and they encountered the same problem. It stays at 2000Mhz regardless. They said they would get back to me after further testing. They got back to me today got and have given me beta Bios F6b which fixes this. I am very surprised nobody on here noticed this problem on their motherboard. I don't know if this BIOS has other changes.
The beta BIOS does seem to work.I was able to get the memory controller/CPU northbridge to 2200Mhz. :up: I tried changing the multiplier to 12 for 2400Mhz and I could not get to Windows. Maybe the memory controller needs more voltage. It's a shame we can only decrease its voltage.
If anyone wants the F6b for the DQ6 BIOS just say so.
Basically with EPP timings and EPP voltage (or manual 2.1v setting) I get quite a bit of Memtest86+ errors. The errors I get are significantly reduced after going below 2.0v. I have heard that especially the B2's CAN be very flaky with higher memory voltages- I guess my B2 is especially flaky. In fact this probably made even more complications with the G.Skill memory.Quote:
Originally Posted by G0ldBr1ck
I'll probably keep the Dominators and get a B3 (or B4) in the future- if every attempt fails to get a higher voltage. But I haven't completely given up yet.
Speaking of B4 is there a release date?
After my last message to Gigabyte they said I should ask for another RMA number.
I have sent my motherboard in again.
They said I didn't have to pay to have it sent back to me this time.
They also said they will give it priority.
I hope all goes well this time.
Hey!Quote:
Originally Posted by Phenomenalspeed
I've noticed it today :p:
The thing is, NB multi was working perfectly fine till I've put my new 2x2GB OCZ Reaper 1066 set. Then it stuck at 10x! (looks like 2x2GB is triggering this behavior, could also be related to 1066 mode - need more time to investigate, but today is F1 quali at the top priority:))
I'm glad you have beta BIOS. Can you share it with me? My NB is happy at 2.4GHz and 1.25V but I need 11x NB multi for that :D
Thanks!
BTW so far quick testing took me up to 1180MHz 5-5-5-15 2T at default settings (Auto timings, EPP voltage=2.1V)
PS. Regarding your memory voltage problem, I can only say it is working for me fine....
Yes it could be that 4GB RAM was causing the problem. I didn't think of that I was using 4x1GB.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lightman
So you undervolted your northbridge and you were still able to get it stable at 2.4Ghz? Interesting. Maybe overclocking northbridge is more stable by raising HTT reference clock rather than multiplier. I will try it when I get my motherboard back.
I have sent you the BIOS. Check your private messages.
I would appreciate some feedback. Please try Northbridge @ 2400Mhz (200 X 12) Also try and change the Hypertranport frequency in BIOS. I discovered another bug when I raised Northbridge multiplier to 11 and set Hypertransport frequency at 2.2Ghz to match it. I saved it to CMOS but when I went to Windows Hypertransport remained at 2Ghz.:confused::shrug:
As for my motherboard I don't know what's going on. I got a phone call Gigabyte on Wednesday. The man said it must be my RAM or CPU memory controller causing the voltage problem even though I have already ruled both of them out.:rolleyes: When he called back later he seemed to have backtracked from this.:rolleyes: He said he would talk to the technicians who are investigating.
Hopefully all will be resolved soon.:)
:up:Many thanks for a BIOS Phenomenalspeed:up:
It works perfectly for me! Memory controller x11 and 220HTT = 2.42GHz NB :) (and 1172MHz RAM :p:)
Quick Everest test.
Attachment 82401
PS. I had 12240MB/s in L3 cache test on lower HTT and higher (13x) CPU multi.:D
You're welcome.:)Quote:
Many thanks for a BIOS Phenomenalspeed
What about 200x12?? I couldn't get to windows at all when I tried it. I am wondering whether it's my CPU's northbridge or the BIOS/motherboard itself.Quote:
It works perfectly for me! Memory controller x11 and 220HTT = 2.42GHz NB
I never doubted that higher northbridge frequencies would be possible when you raise the HTT reference clock. F6b seemed to fix the multiplier but it's no bloody good if all it did was fix x11 and not all of them.
How about Hypertransport? I couldn't get it higher. It stayed at 2000Mhz regardless of what I set in the BIOS.
Interesting and strange. So you lowered HTT reference clock and by extension the northbridge and the level 3 cache increased?Quote:
PS. I had 12240MB/s in L3 cache test on lower HTT and higher (13x) CPU multi
I would have thought that the opposite would have happened. What did you lower HTT reference clock to?
Oh and your screenshot was that just to show the settings? Were you altering voltages/multipliers/frequencies using AMD Overdrive or BIOS?
:up:Quote:
Originally Posted by Phenomenalspeed
Here it is:Quote:
What about 200x12?? I couldn't get to windows at all when I tried it. I am wondering whether it's my CPU's northbridge or the BIOS/motherboard itself.
I never doubted that higher northbridge frequencies would be possible when you raise the HTT reference clock. F6b seemed to fix the multiplier but it's no bloody good if all it did was fix x11 and not all of them.
How about Hypertransport? I couldn't get it higher. It stayed at 2000Mhz regardless of what I set in the BIOS.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8...ram1070wo8.jpg
All setup from BIOS and booted to Vista x64.
Regarding Hypertransport - it did not work for me either. 2000MHz or less regardless of BIOS multi.
PS. Look at the L3 cache copy test. Wired!!:confused:
NB 11x, HTT 212MHz but CPU multi 13x which resulted in 2.76GHz/2.33GHzNBQuote:
Interesting and strange. So you lowered HTT reference clock and by extension the northbridge and the level 3 cache increased?
I would have thought that the opposite would have happened. What did you lower HTT reference clock to?
Both :)Quote:
Oh and your screenshot was that just to show the settings? Were you altering voltages/multipliers/frequencies using AMD Overdrive or BIOS?
I've booted with HTT212 CPU multi 12.5x and then after quick check if NB multi works I've upped HTT to 220MHz. No voltages adjustment...
I will tweak this system tonight a bit more ;)
Thanks for checking that out for me. I did not realise you had updated your last post until just now.
As I suspected the Hypertransport issue is not unique to me but a BIOS problem. This isn't as urgent a problem as you can still use the multiplier slider in AMD Overdrive. I hope that they fix this soon. In fact I wish they would change it to a straight multiplier option instead of frequency selection.
Useful to know that 200X12 Northbridge worked for you. Especially considering you lowered your NB VID. That could mean it's my CPU's northbridge with the problem. I will have to try that again once the motherboard is returned.
Yes your level 3 cache copy test is definitely weird. Strangely high. Better unusually high as opposed to low I suppose.:)
I just thought of something the other day. Has anyone had any success with increasing SBcore voltage (either in BIOS or AMD Overdrive)?? Many say that SB600 limits overclocking potential. I just wondered if increasing its voltage would mitigate that somewhat.
well im on a TA770/SB600 chipset . I must say i was very suprized with my 9950 coupled with SB600.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phenomenalspeed
I Run NB/SB chipset Volts @ 1.31v in the BIOS(stock is 1.15v) TA770 Mobo.It may very well be the same for RD780/RX780/790/790FX with Sb600 chipsets. I stay away from AOD for now..
I may have had a bit of luck,but soon enuff i might have to byte on a 750chipset. My Mobo is Now maxed i think in the power department:D
Do you mean you had better overclocking results with increased voltages to northbridge and southbridge?Quote:
Originally Posted by gOtVoltage
If you look at Lightman's last post you can see in the AMD overdrive screen shot the defaults for this motherboard.
Yes (NB CORE) is the Mobo chipset which i set @1.31v.. Also my NB/SB is combined in my Bios and i have a seprate HTvolt setting which i raise to 1.3v when going above 250fsb.. Raising the NBcore(Mobo)helps with keeping the Ram stable while the Chipset Nb talks to the CPUNB...
The Higher You Oc the Phenon the more MoboNB chipset volts you may or may not need..
If i keep my NBchipset(Mobo) @1.15v i can only achieve a 3.3ghzmax and it also limits my Rams top Freqency..
I have tried numerouse setting with Ganged and unganged @ stock to 3553mhz now. Any more and My Mobo will go to the moon :ROTF: