Gigabyte EX58-UD5/Extreme Discussion Thread

[Sparda]

I don't have a Vcore 1.37 so will the nearest of 1.36875V be ok?
its pretty close ain't it? Other wise its 1.375V
For QPI/VTT I don't have a 1.42 I have a 1.415V and a 1.435V

But I don't want to go and blow up this ... lol.... so I wanted to be sure what to go with here so I can start the testing.

Thanks

You are fine because there a chip using odd number like 1.315v and others using even number 1.32v. Nothing special.
Have you tried test your qpi/vtt using prime95(blend) like I said before. >1.4v is too much for 3200 uncore.
I assume your vdimm & vcore is enough and RAM timing is correct ; lower the qpi/vtt down until it will fail in the first bunch 1024k of the prime95(blend) and increase it step by step until it will pass the first bunch 1024k of the prime95(blend).
Then increase it a notch or two for the final qpi/vtt. After that you can start meddle with other settings like vcore , etc.

[rge]

>1.4v is too much for 3200 uncore.

qpi/vtt is not just for uncore. Higher bclk independent of vcore will scale with qpi/vtt on some. I agree >1.4 for bclk of 200 with 16x uncore is not winning the cpu lottery...but it happens, just like needing 1.4 vcore for 4 mhz happens...although they both suck. Although I do agree with your method for finding qpi/vtt, but since he has been trying for few days and getting frustrated, i was just trying to see if possible to get stable then work down.

I can pop in my i940 and do 21x202 with 18x uncore (3636 uncore) and run prime 15+hrs with 1.34 qpi/vtt.

My i950 is prime stable 12+hrs, 4.4ghz, 23x192, 17x (3264 uncore) with 1.34 vcore and 1.34 qpi/vtt, 1.62 dram. But running 21x202 or 4.24 with 1.4qpi/vtt and near same uncore 16x (3232 uncore) fails in 2 minutes prime blend every time. Raising qpi/vtt to 1.44 and it will run prime for hours, no other voltage has any effect. My i950 did well in vcore lottery, but sucks in qpi/vtt one. I know you have had a few cpus...just wait til you get one with crappy mem controller then you will be a believer

see pic failing prime with 1.4qpi/vtt in 1-2mins. Raise qpi/vtt to 1.44-1.46, runs all day. For bclk 196 need 1.4-1.42 (for prime). For bclk 192 need 1.34 qpi, 190 need 1.32. Above 194 bclk mine eats qpi/vtt, just like my i940 ate vcore above 4.7 to 4.9 ghz.

[Sparda]

I just assume he got a normal D0 that why I said it too much. But I did outline how to find his qpi/vtt for him so that he can start meddle with other settings I did got one before that arent good with IMC but it C0. It need 1.38v qpi/vtt for 3600 uncore and cant even touch 4000 uncore stable.
On both of my D0 qpi/vtt voltages increase exponentially with the uncore ; 1.315v for 3600 uncore and 1.475v for 4000 uncore.

[rge]

Yep, not disagreeing with uncore scaling with qpi/vtt, my i950 does as well at some point, just adding that bclk can also scale with qpi/vtt independent of uncore. My i950 will prime uncore of 3610 with 1.34 qpi/vtt if done by uncore 19x190 bclk, but needs 1.44 qpi/vtt for uncore only 3232 if done by uncore 16x202. Even tried slow mode to rule out qpi...but it is just bclk that is sucking up qpi/vtt on mine. And actually I like your way of finding qpi/vtt, it is more efficient that way for most.

[sunn]

Update on my D0

With the below I'm prime stable for 12hrs, I've only ran 10 passes of LinX but so far better than before and 3-4 degs less

Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio ................................ [ 20x]
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech ...................... [Enabled]
CPU Cores Enabled .............................. [All]
CPU Multi Threading .............................[Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ........................ [Enabled]
C3/C6/C7 State Support ......................... [Enabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor ............................ [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function .............................. [Enabled]
Virtualization Technology ...................... [Enabled]
Bi-Directional PROCHOT ......................... [Enabled]

Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed .............................. ( x36) [6876MHz]
Uncore Frequency ............................( x16) [3056MHz]
Isonchronous Frequency ......................[Enabled]

Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control .......................... [Enabled]
BCLK Frequency (MHz) ................................[191]
PCI Express Frequency (MHz) ........................ [100]
C.I.A.2........................................... .. [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ..............................[800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive ................... [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]
IOH Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]

Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance ...................... [TURBO]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) ........... [Profile1]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........... [AUTO]
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) ............. [MANUAL]

Channel A + B + C

Channel A Timing Settings:
##Channel A Standard Timing Control##
CAS Latency Time ......................8
tRCD ..................................8
tRP ...................................8
tRAS ..................................24
CR.....................................1

Advanced Voltage Control:
CPU Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping
Load Line Calibration ................. [DISABLED]
CPU Vcore ..............................[1.4] (1.312v under load)
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v .................[1.335]
CPU PLL 1.800v .........................[1.3]

MCH/ICH
PCIE 1.500v ........................... [1.5]
QPI PLL 1.100v ........................ [1.3]
IOH Core 1.100v ....................... [1.16]
ICH I/O 1.500v ........................ [1.5]
ICH Core 1.1v ......................... [1.1]

DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v ..............[ 1.66]
DRAM Termination 0.750v.......... [AUTO]
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]

[MonsterDK]

General Questions about Voltages and more.

Q1: When giving voltage to a chip. Is there a stage where you can give the chip just enough in one area, be it VCORE or vtt or other, where the chip will work JUST within its limits also won't fail but also will not give the best results?
What I am asking is, if the voltage means there are no reboots under intense load through out the chip will the voltage be perfect as in its just within the scales or can you still hold the chip back by it performing on limited power?
Is it a perfect working chip situation or a problematic one at some stage? no in between?

Hope that comes across how I intended it.

Q2: Prime95 Testing: If all 1024K threads pass at different times (not all within 5 secs of each other) does this mean the chip is suffering on some cores? Or is that normal?

Thanks...

[Jonny Manc]

Update on my D0

With the below I'm prime stable for 12hrs, I've only ran 10 passes of LinX but so far better than before and 3-4 degs less

Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio ................................ [ 20x]
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech ...................... [Enabled]
CPU Cores Enabled .............................. [All]
CPU Multi Threading .............................[Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ........................ [Enabled]
C3/C6/C7 State Support ......................... [Enabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor ............................ [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function .............................. [Enabled]
Virtualization Technology ...................... [Enabled]
Bi-Directional PROCHOT ......................... [Enabled]

Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed .............................. ( x36) [6876MHz]
Uncore Frequency ............................( x16) [3056MHz]
Isonchronous Frequency ......................[Enabled]

Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control .......................... [Enabled]
BCLK Frequency (MHz) ................................[191]
PCI Express Frequency (MHz) ........................ [100]
C.I.A.2........................................... .. [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ..............................[800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive ................... [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]
IOH Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]

Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance ...................... [TURBO]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) ........... [Profile1]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........... [AUTO]
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) ............. [MANUAL]

Channel A + B + C

Channel A Timing Settings:
##Channel A Standard Timing Control##
CAS Latency Time ......................8
tRCD ..................................8
tRP ...................................8
tRAS ..................................24
CR.....................................1

Advanced Voltage Control:
CPU Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping
Load Line Calibration ................. [DISABLED]
CPU Vcore ..............................[1.4] (1.312v under load)
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.150v .................[1.335]
CPU PLL 1.800v .........................[1.3]

MCH/ICH
PCIE 1.500v ........................... [1.5]
QPI PLL 1.100v ........................ [1.3]
IOH Core 1.100v ....................... [1.16]
ICH I/O 1.500v ........................ [1.5]
ICH Core 1.1v ......................... [1.1]

DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v ..............[ 1.66]
DRAM Termination 0.750v.......... [AUTO]
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]

Seems a lot of vcore!? How are the temps??

Q2: Prime95 Testing: If all 1024K threads pass at different times (not all within 5 secs of each other) does this mean the chip is suffering on some cores? Or is that normal?

Thanks...

My Theory:
I believe the bigger differences are caused by open programs that require processing in one form or another thus slowing down cores ability to pass tests at the same speed as others.

Can anyone verify / shoot me down on this??

[rge]

My Theory:
I believe the bigger differences are caused by open programs that require processing in one form or another thus slowing down cores ability to pass tests at the same speed as others.

Can anyone verify / shoot me down on this??

Yep. Varying background tasks running on cores occupy cpu cycles temporarily so slows prime to different degrees on cores. I found old post of mine that had quote from prime site regarding priority and sharing of cpu cycles of prime and other tasks.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/Forums/...8&postcount=25

[Xello]

Yep, not disagreeing with uncore scaling with qpi/vtt

Is this a new thing for D0? On my 940 the only thing that would scale my uclk up was vdimm.

[Sparda]

QPI/VTT is set manually to 1.335v

I check with ET6 and IOH Voltage reads 1.100

I look again at this matter and the ioh core just simply scale up with qpi/vtt at certain point if I put the ioh core on AUTO.





Advanced CPU Features:
CPU Clock Ratio ................................ [20x]
Intel(R) Turbo Boost Tech ...................... [Disable]
CPU Cores Enabled .............................. [All]
CPU Multi Threading .............................[Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ........................ [Disable]
C3/C6/C7 State Support ......................... [Disable]
CPU Thermal Monitor ............................ [Disable]
CPU EIST Function .............................. [Disable]
Virtualization Technology ...................... [Disable]
Bi-Directional PROCHOT ......................... [Disable]

Uncore & QPI Features:
QPI Link Speed .............................. [AUTO]
Uncore Frequency ............................(x19)
Isonchronous Frequency ......................[Enabled]

Standard Clock Control:
Base Clock (BCLK) Control .......................... [Enabled]
BCLK Frequency (MHz) ................................[200]
PCI Express Frequency (MHz) ........................ [100]
C.I.A.2........................................... .. [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control:
CPU Clock Drive ..............................[800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive ................... [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]
IOH Clock Skew ............................. [0ps]

Advanced DRAM Features:
Performance Enhance ...................... [TURBO]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) ........... [Disable]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) ........... [AUTO]
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) ............. [QUICK]

Channel A + B + C

Channel A Timing Settings:
##Channel A Standard Timing Control##
CAS Latency Time ......................7
tRCD ..................................7
tRP ...................................7
tRAS ..................................20
CR.....................................1

Advanced Voltage Control:
CPU Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping
Load Line Calibration ................. [ENABLE]
CPU Vcore ..............................[1.175]
QPI/VTT Voltage 1.2v .................>>>>>>>>test 1.3v / 1.34v / 1.38v
CPU PLL 1.800v .........................[AUTO]

MCH/ICH
PCIE 1.500v ........................... [AUTO]
QPI PLL 1.100v ........................ [AUTO]
IOH Core 1.100v .......................>>>>>>>>>test AUTO
ICH I/O 1.500v ........................ [AUTO]
ICH Core 1.1v ......................... [AUTO]

DRAM
DRAM Voltage 1.500v ..............[ 1.66]
DRAM Termination 0.750v.......... [AUTO]
Ch-A Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-B Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-C Data VRef. 0.750v ...........[AUTO]
Ch-A Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]
Ch-B Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]
Ch-C Address VRef. 0.750v ........[AUTO]

[rge]

Is this a new thing for D0? On my 940 the only thing that would scale my uclk up was vdimm.

My i940 which was not very qpi/vtt sensitive, scaled uncore primarily with dram v, though to some degree with qpi/vtt.

but my i950, holding bclk constant at 190, boots up fine at 19x uncore (3600 uncore) with 1.34 qpi/vtt. But change to 21x uncore (near 4000 uncore) will not boot. increase dram to 1.8, will not boot. Increase qpi/vtt to 1.44 and return dram to 1.64, will boot and prime for short time.

Probably just typical chip to chip variability, not sure if its chips in general that need more qpi/vtt that scale uncore more with qpi/vtt or not...need test many to make any generalizations.

[JKDC]

Yep. Varying background tasks running on cores occupy cpu cycles temporarily so slows prime to different degrees on cores. I found old post of mine that had quote from prime site regarding priority and sharing of cpu cycles of prime and other tasks.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/Forums/...8&postcount=25

How about with LinX? Sometimes I get a run that is 10% slower than the rest and other times it runs slower from the start at the same frequency.

[rge]

How about with LinX? Sometimes I get a run that is 10% slower than the rest and other times it runs slower from the start at the same frequency.

If you run linx and prime at same time, linx will run nearly 2x slower, more apps running, less cpu time for linx.

[JKDC]

I mean running LinX by itself I will get variation. I assume it must be background programs running though as I test it on a fully loaded OS. I tried to stabilize it for several hours the other night, but it won't happen with any setttings. I guess I have to live with it. lol

[Dahmer]

MonsterDK what batch of D0 do you have? I got 3851A that needs 1.4 set in bios to be stable :s

[DavyBoy]

Hi,

First time poster on here, and I am wondering whether anyone can give me some help with the problems I am experiencing with my new i7 build using the UD5 mobo...

I put the system together about 3 weeks ago, and everything went perfect with the build, I then installed Vista x64 and then started testing for stability using Prime95, IntelBurnTest, OCCT, and 3d Mark Vantage...

But everytime I would run any of these apps, at stock CPU frequency and my RAM running @ 1600MHz, the system would crash after a short while, either a BSOD, completely lock up, or reset itself...

At first I had suspected that it was my old PSU, so I went and purchased a Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 850w PSU, and also a new set of 3GB Corsair XMS3 1333Mhz RAM for testing purposes..

But the problems were still present after installing the new PSU and the new RAM, so I then shipped the CPU off on RMA for testing, and the company found no faults with the processor..

So I got it back and began more testing again using various different hardware configurations with all the stuff I have around the house, and each configuration produced the exact same results...

These problems seem to be extremely intermittent though, because one day I could run Prime95 Blend test for 14 hours without any issues, then the next day with the EXACT same BIOS settings and hardware config, it would crash after 10 minutes!!!

Also, at the start of last week just before I took my build apart so that I could RMA the motherboard, the first DIMM channel appeared to die on me, as the system would only pickup 2 out of the 3 RAM modules that I had installed, at first I thought one of my modules had died, so I tried out my 3GB set and it would only pickup 2GB of RAM.. so I tried just running the system with 1 stick in the first white slot, and another in the 2nd white slot, and it would only see 1 stick, so I shutdown again, and moved the stick from the 1st white slot into the 3rd white slot and started the PC up and this time it picked up both sticks of RAM...

I then tried booting the system with just one module installed in the first white slot but it wouldn't even POST...

I then tried running my 6GB set with 1 module in the 2nd blue slot, 1 in the 2nd white slot, and the other 1 in the 3rd white slot, and booted up, this time it recognized all 6GB but it was only running in dual channel obviously...

So I figured the first DIMM channel had died, so I got an RMA number and shipped the board off.. but when they tested out the mobo to see if the DIMM channel was bricked, they said that it picked up all of their 6GB of RAM without any issues!!!

Is it possible for a DIMM channel to stop working and then startup again all by itself???

They then tried to tell me that there is nothing wrong with the mobo because they managed to get it to run Prime blend for 1 hour!!

I spent 3 weeks with this system, and I couldn't get it stable @ stock speeds, and as I said, I tried loads of different hardware configs, I tested 3 different GFX cards, 3 different HDD's, 2 sets of RAM, 2 PSU's, built outside the case, inside the case, and I also sent the CPU off for testing...

Everything that I done here at home seems to point at the motherboard as the culprit for all these issues I have experiencing with this rig, but the people that I purchase it from are trying to say that it isn't the mobo because they spent 1 hour testing it, and it didn't crash!!!

How can they test for any flaws in just one hour!?!?

I really don't know what else I can do with this system, I have spent over £1800 in total on this rig, and it is pretty much useless, it wont even run stable at stock frequency, and the main reason I bought it in the first place so was that I could have loads of fun overclocking it, but instead I have had nothing but problems!!!

Could a RAM channel die intermittently like this??

Why would it stop working, then start up again all on its own?!?!

I hope someone here can help push me in the right direction as to what I can do next, as I am at a loss here, I really don't know what I can do regarding this matter...

Thanks in advance people...

[JKDC]

Have you tried flashing the BIOS? It's possible it could be corrupted. If that doesn't work I would buy a replacement motherboard from somewhere that you could return the old one if it turns out that it is the problem. If the manufacturers won't help I don't see any other way. You'll have to pay restock fees and shipping to find the cause. You can't be stuck with what you have that's for sure.

[stasio]

Have you tried flashing the BIOS? It's possible it could be corrupted. If that doesn't work I would buy a replacement motherboard from somewhere that you could return the old one if it turns out that it is the problem. If the manufacturers won't help I don't see any other way. You'll have to pay restock fees and shipping to find the cause. You can't be stuck with what you have that's for sure.

Use a bootable usb key/floppy and spiflash.exe

[Sparda]

I then tried booting the system with just one module installed in the first white slot but it wouldn't even POST...

This is not looking good at all if it on stock.. Probably the board.
Since you have done lots of troubleshooting I assume you already flash to latest f8b bios , set the ram voltage and timing properly and test the sticks with memtest86+ right ?

Is it possible for a DIMM channel to stop working and then startup again all by itself???

Could a RAM channel die intermittently like this??

Why would it stop working, then start up again all on its own?!?!

View Single Post

Also, at the start of last week just before I took my build apart so that I could RMA the motherboard, the first DIMM channel appeared to die on me, as the system would only pickup 2 out of the 3 RAM modules that I had installed, at first I thought one of my modules had died, so I tried out my 3GB set and it would only pickup 2GB of RAM.. so I tried just running the system with 1 stick in the first white slot, and another in the 2nd white slot, and it would only see 1 stick, so I shutdown again, and moved the stick from the 1st white slot into the 3rd white slot and started the PC up and this time it picked up both sticks of RAM...

I then tried booting the system with just one module installed in the first white slot but it wouldn't even POST...

I then tried running my 6GB set with 1 module in the 2nd blue slot, 1 in the 2nd white slot, and the other 1 in the 3rd white slot, and booted up, this time it recognized all 6GB but it was only running in dual channel obviously...

[jar600]

Hello everyone, i`m very new at this, i have been reading and tried some templates but no lucky at all something must be missing here >( i would like to know if anyone could help me out i just want to get my memories at their speed because atm they are at 1066.

GIGABYTE EX58-EXTREME INTEL X58 SK1366

INTEL CORE I7 920 2.66GHZ 8MB Stepping D0

OCZ REAPER DDR3 3X2GB 2000MHZ TRIPLE CHANNEL CL 9-9-9-30 (CAS-TRCD-TRP-TRAS)


thanks in advance.

[DavyBoy]

Hi guys, and thanks so much for the replies..

I have already flashed the BIOS, the mobo came with F4 BIOS installed, so at first I flashed to F6, and now I am on F7...

I also tried F8b, but it caused my system to BSOD as soon as Prime95 started working, so I reverted back to F7 again...

Also, I checked the CPU socket for bent pins, I have done this several times, and there are none whatsoever... As for voltages, I have messed around with the main voltages in the BIOS, increasing them slightly higher than the stock settings to see if it is due to there not being enough voltage being supplied, but I still experienced the exact same problems...

I also set all RAM timings manually, acording to my RAM's spec, and I have tried loosening timings up to no avail... nothing I have tried seems to work at all for me, and it is really starting to drive me up the wall...

The mobo is with the people I bought it from as we speak, but their testing methods are poor, so the instabilities I have been experiencing wont show up with them, and also the board is now recognizing all memory installed once again, which also puzzles me, because it definitely stopped working for me, that was the reason that I decided to return the board!!!

They ran Prime95 for 1 hour, and because it never crashed for them, they are telling me the mobo is fine, but it can't be fine if it isn't stable at stock frequency!!!!

I had to ask them to tell their technicians to try running Prime Blend overnight to see if it does the same thing that it does for me, so now I am just waiting the results of this overnight test to find out whether the board is the cause...

What else could it be if it isn't my mobo, that is what I want to know... I am starting to regret building this system tbh... this is my first Intel system I have build myself, and the experience has been a real nasty one to say the least!!!

It is really frustrating when you read posts about other people with very similar systems to mine running them @ 4+GHz and theirs being completely stable... while I am sitting here struggling like crazy to have a stable system @ stock frequency!!!!

:edit:

@jar600, you need to raise your memory multiplier in your BIOS to increase your RAM frequency, and also change those timings that you posted to their correct values to...

@ Sparda, why have you posted me a page out of the mobo manual about RAM configuration??

I have already seen that page, and I tried installing one stick of RAM in DDR3 1 for single channel, and it refused to POST completely, with error "b9" on the LED debug thing on the board... this is why I figured the first DIMM channel was dead...

And I only tried installing all 3 modules in the order mentioned above so that I could see if the board would pickup all three modules, which it did, but it was only running in dual channel...

When I tried running 3 modules in the correct order (all sticks installed in the white slots!) the mobo only seen 2 out of 3 sticks... this was the same with both sets of RAM...

Which slot do you class as DDR3 1??

I class the first white slot as DDR3 1, or at least thats what the mobo manual says...

::edit::

Also, yes all modules have been tested with memtest+86 boot disc, 1 set at a time, and also tested each stick indivdually and they are all fine...

[jar600]

hey BLunTSmoKeR . i just did that and finally i can start working with it, i add 9 9 9 30 1 and changed from 1.50 to 1.66 v cause this was the main problem because i couldnt pass 133 on cpu frequency, thanks again, its a start .

[rge]

@ BLunTSmoKeR, I would ask them to take the mobo back and pay a restocking fee if necessary, and send you a new one. That is why I will only buy some things like motherboads from places like newegg. If it does not work, you rma it, none of this in house "testing". Only one I trust testing would be manufacturer.

I would have 1st tried different RAM and slots (which you did). Second tried different cpu, though that would be very low yield and only since easy and if I had one and then I would have rma'ed the mobo, you have to try another mobo, that is next logical troubleshooting option. Anything else in inefficient. I would just not take no for an answer.

One other thing, I assume you have tried using load optimal defaults, and then ran that using prime WITHOUT changing your memory to 1600, ie leave it at what boots up. Changing RAM means OCing uncore and OCing ram (not according to your ram specs but Ocing according to cpu/mobo) because if works at true stock, ie optimal defaults then might be a setting. Though the passing sometimes failing others...again I would try another mobo.

[Sparda]

@ Sparda, why have you posted me a page out of the mobo manual about RAM configuration??

I have already seen that page, and I tried installing one stick of RAM in DDR3 1 for single channel, and it refused to POST completely, with error "b9" on the LED debug thing on the board... this is why I figured the first DIMM channel was dead...

And I only tried installing all 3 modules in the order mentioned above so that I could see if the board would pickup all three modules, which it did, but it was only running in dual channel...

When I tried running 3 modules in the correct order (all sticks installed in the white slots!) the mobo only seen 2 out of 3 sticks... this was the same with both sets of RAM...

Which slot do you class as DDR3 1??

I class the first white slot as DDR3 1, or at least thats what the mobo manual says...

::edit::

Also, yes all modules have been tested with memtest+86 boot disc, 1 set at a time, and also tested each stick indivdually and they are all fine...

I just post it since you seems struggle putting the ram in the slot. Nothing special.
Like I said maybe the board is no good because you got no post when you put single stick in the white slot near the cpu socket.
When I first got my board I only use single stick for some time at the same 1st white slot and it works fine. So it probably the board since you already know you got a working cpu and ram.
Ask them to put/test only one stick on the first white ram slot like you did. If they said it post ; something might be fishy or wrong since you already tried it with 2 different set of RAM.

[DavyBoy]

Hi again Sparda, I didn't mean to sound nasty in my last post, but I thought that by you posting the mem config page from the manual that you thought that I hadn't bothered to read it myself, or that I was installing the mem in the incorrect slots!!!

My mistake!

I really dont know what to do anymore with regards to this system, I still haven't heard anything back from the people that are testing it neither, so I am going to take it that they are still currently testing the mobo for me...

I really dont know what else it could be if they test the mobo over the course of a few days and it doesn't crash with them..

About flashing the BIOS, can you use any USB flash drive, or do they have to be a special type of flash drive?

I used the @BIOS software to flash via Vista, but I have just read on here that using this software is a bad idea... I dont have any floppy discs, or a floppy drive for that matter, and I no longer have a USB flash drive, but I can easily go buy one...