Asus Striker II Extreme: Corruption/Freezes Troubleshooting Thread

[hitrateOC]

Hey,

So I checked the ground and it was not making great contact, i moved it to the plate, played some CSS and alot of the background hum and pop was gone, but not perfect... I then went to play some WoW, got in our 25 man ulduar raid and with in 3 minutes when the action started, bam.. Major crash. I wanted to break the thing.

I went back into the bios and made some changes:

Vdimm=1.54 volts (1.6 measured, this was my orignal setting, memtest pass, but still had crashes)
Vcore=1.35 volts (1.36 measured, intel says this is max for this chip?)
Vtt=1.30 volts (1.32 measured, was auto at 1.12v)
NB=1.40
SB=1.50

disabled the spread spectrum. One thing to note, is before i changed the ground, Vcore at 1.24 volts (bois setting) actually measured 1.32Volts actual. This time the bios setting actually measured super close. I ran prime95 11+ hours not a single crash.. Ran a 25 man raid last night and not a single crash..

I suspect like many others have noted ,is that Vtt is extremly important on this board, especially for quad cores and the auto setting is just not right at all, at least for my board. My guess at this point is that I could drop the Vcore a bit lower to get the temps down, so going to test that. At 1.36Volts, the temps never got above 55c and pretty much just hovered around 50c on all 4 cores, MCP at around 58c average.

[Cibic]

Try following my previous posts, I only mention changing vCore because this board overvolts the cpu even on stock (follow VID hint). You can leave vtt on auto if you pass small fft's for at least 4h.
If you are having trouble with vcore just leave it to auto for the time being. Remember to increase your NB votlage to 1.48 (1.5v actual) for now then try prime95 blend, if it crashes then increase vdimm until you pass 8h.

[Meezus]

Hello Guys,

I've had this board and my machinef or 7 months so far, you can imagine how frustrated I am to get it stable. I have been looking online non stop and finally found this forum - I hope not too late though.

My specs:

Required System Specifications
PSU ( Power Supply Unit ) =  Epsilon 1010W
CPU = Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 2,83 GHZ (Stepping A rev E0)
RAM = 4 x 1GB TWINMOS DDR3 1333 PC10600
HDD ( the one where you have your windows installation on ) = Maxtor 500GB 7200 RPM (x 2 on a RAID configuration)
VGA1 = MSO GeForce 280 GTX 1GB
VGA2 ( if you have ) = n/a
VGA3 ( if you have ) =n/a
SPU ( Sound Card ) = Built in
NorthBridge Cooling = stock
SouthBridge Cooling = stock
CPU Cooling = stock
RAM Cooling = stock
nFORCE Chipset Drivers Version = 15.25
ForceWare/GeForce Drivers Version = 185.85
BIOS version 0801 REQUIRED = (I have 1104)

BIOS Settings
Extreme Tweaker
CPU Level Up = Auto
Memory Level Up = Auto
AI Overclock Tuner = Manual
CPU Multiplier = 8.5
FSB - Memory Clock Mode = auto
FSB - Memory Ratio = auto
FSB (QDR) MHz = 1333
MEM (DDR) MHz = auto
LDT Frequency = 5x
PCIE Bus Slot 1 & 2 MHz = 100
PCIE Bus Slot 3 MHz = 100
SPP<->MCP Ref Clock, MHz = auto 
SLI-Ready Memory = Disabled

Memory Timing Setting
P1 = Auto
P2 = Auto
tCL ( CAS Latency ) = 8
tRCD = 9
tRP = 9
tRAS = 25
Command Per Clock (CMD) = 2T
tRRD = 4
tRC = 33
tWR = 12
tWTR = 16
tFAW = 21
tRD = 10
tRTP = 5
tRFC = 60
tREF = 7.8us

Over Voltage
CPU Voltage = auto
Loadline Calibration = Enabled
CPU PLL Voltage = auto
CPU VTT Voltage = auto
Memory Voltage = 1.5v
NB Core Voltage = 1.5v
SB Core Voltage = 1.6v
CPU GTL REF0 Ratio = auto
CPU GTL REF1 Ratio = auto
CPU GTL REF2 Ratio = auto
CPU GTL REF3 Ratio = auto
NB GTL REF Ratio = auto
DDR3 CHA1 Ref Volt = auto
DDR3 CHB1 Ref Volt = auto
DDR3 CHA2 Ref Volt = auto
DDR3 CHB2 Ref Volt = auto

CPU Configuration
CPU Internal Thermal Control = Disabled
Limit CPUID MaxVal = Disabled
Enhanced C1 (C1E) = Disabled
Execute Disable Bit = Enabled
Virtualization Technology = Disabled
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep(tm) Tech. = Disabled
CPU Core 2 = Enabled
CPU Core 3 ( Ignore this setting, unless you have a Quad-Core CPU ) = Enabled
CPU Core 4 ( Ignore this setting, unless you have a Quad-Core CPU ) = Enabled

Spread Spectrum Control
CPU Spread Spectrum = Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum = Disabled
MCP PCIE Spread Spectrum = Disabled
SATA Spread Spectrum = Disabled
LDT Spread Spectrum = Disabled

Problem Description

The usual lockups and freezes. It does not happen at a consistent rate, someties I run the machine for days with no trouble, other times it freezes / autoreboots 5 times a day. I browse the web most of the time and thats when it hits me. For games they do lockup / freeze as well but depends on the game. Because i have been reading a lot you can see that I have already upped my NB and SB voltages. I have also used CPU-Z to get readings for my RAM memory tables (the damn thing does not have anything online) and I have set those manual accordingly (1.5v, then speeds as shown above).

Recently I have changed CMD to 2T instead of 1T and that seemed to have stabilized the machine a bit more. I've been using it for a couple of days now with only 1 autoreboot incident (while browsing).

Please Help guys. I have gone through the 24 pages of this forum hoping to find a similar setup but with no luck. Apparently I made a wrong choice of RAM (recommended to me by the dumbass who sold me the board - compatibility claim).

Cheers.

[Cibic]

Hi Meezus and welcome to XSF.

Your ram timings seem a bit off and some voltages need adjustment. Your ram is CL9 by the way, I don't think there's a problem with your ram, this board doesn't like a lot of ram dimms. Try these changes then prime95 blend for 8 hours:

BIOS Settings
Extreme Tweaker
CPU Level Up = Auto
Memory Level Up = Auto
AI Overclock Tuner = Manual
CPU Multiplier = 8.5
FSB - Memory Clock Mode = Linked
FSB - Memory Ratio = Sync mode
FSB (QDR) MHz = 1333
MEM (DDR) MHz = 1333
LDT Frequency = 5x
PCIE Bus Slot 1 & 2 MHz = 100
PCIE Bus Slot 3 MHz = 100
SPP<->MCP Ref Clock, MHz = 200.0
SLI-Ready Memory = Disabled

Memory Timing Setting
P1 = Enabled
P2 = Enabled
tCL ( CAS Latency ) = 9
tRCD = 9
tRP = 9
tRAS = 27
Command Per Clock (CMD) = 1T
Rest auto on this page

Over Voltage
CPU Voltage = auto
Loadline Calibration = Disabled (you don't need this if you are not clocking)
CPU PLL Voltage = auto
CPU VTT Voltage = auto
Memory Voltage = 1.6v actual in hardware monitor/voltage monitor
NB Core Voltage = 1.5v
SB Core Voltage = 1.5v
Rest auto on this page

Good luck

[Meezus]

Good luck

Hi Cibic,

Thanks a lot for the response mate. I will try these as soon as I go back home in about 4 hours. For my RAM settings, when its in auto mode on BIOS it picks up 8-8-8-24, you sure it is CL9?

I know they seem a bit off, but thats the timings table readings I got from CPU-Z, I was desperate you know and hence tried them. Funny enough is yesterday I installed Everest Ultimate; it detected my RAM as Eudra and not TWINMOS, and gave me complete different timings (again 8-8-8-24). All them software read my memory as 5, 6, 7 and 8 none listed 9.

Anyway if this works tonight, I am so buying you a gift Will update you.

Cheers.

[Cibic]

This is your ram's web page:
http://www.twinmos.com/dram/dram_p_dt_ddr3_1333.html
One more thing, if it crashes/freezes again then check your NB temp asap then run memtest86+ for 10-12 loops.

[Meezus]

This is your ram's web page:
http://www.twinmos.com/dram/dram_p_dt_ddr3_1333.html
One more thing, if it crashes/freezes again then check your NB temp asap then run memtest86+ for 10-12 loops.

Thanks Cibic, I did check that page but thought since the board is autodetecting at 8 then I should keep it so - dumb I know.

Anyway I've done the changes, machine looks fine so far, prime98 has been running for 1h15m so far and I am doing other things in the background. Will let you know in 7 hours

Btw, I am on Vista64, Prime95 (64bit) has differnet testing modes, could not find "blend" so I ran the option which seemed would test everything with 4 workers of course.

Cheers.

[Meezus]

This is your ram's web page:
http://www.twinmos.com/dram/dram_p_dt_ddr3_1333.html
One more thing, if it crashes/freezes again then check your NB temp asap then run memtest86+ for 10-12 loops.

Hi Cibic,

I have jinxed it after 1.5 hours i got the usual auto-reboot. My machine just auto rebooted on its own.

NB temp was 68.

I ran memtest already no errors at all.

[Cibic]

Your NB temp is quite high. Try to keep it under 65, bare in mind that it gets even hotter on full load and by the time it takes to get into bios and monitor the voltage it cools down a bit. Lower NB voltage to 1.44 and monitor temp in windows while on blend with HWMonitor http://www.cpuid.com/download/hwmoni...itor64_114.zip

[Meezus]

Your NB temp is quite high. Try to keep it under 65, bare in mind that it gets even hotter on full load and by the time it takes to get into bios and monitor the voltage it cools down a bit. Lower NB voltage to 1.44 and monitor temp in windows while on blend with HWMonitor http://www.cpuid.com/download/hwmoni...itor64_114.zip

Hi Cibic,

Done that, I am still getting random auto-reboots.

It might be worth mentioning that I no longer have freezes though, only auto-reboots.

I am dying to find out what is causing these. I read some extreme articles on the web which suggests that i could be a wireless keyboard/mouse combo or even the "enable write behind caching" option for the RAID. It seemed a bit wierd though.

Any thoughts?

Cheers.

[joebloggs]

@Meezus.

Try disabling Loadline Calibration. I had random restarts with Loadline Calibration Enabled. You might have to increase some voltages to compensate though, but you should be fine.

[Meezus]

Try disabling Loadline Calibration.

Hi Joe,

Thanks for that. I've already done that (Cibic advised it too).

Can you be more specific about the voltages I need to increase please? Maybe that would solve the problem.

The machine is much more stable now with Cibic's guidance (thanks mate), but the auto restarts problem still bugs me like hell.

I am afraid to play games man...imagine all this trouble with just browsing.

Cheers.

[Cibic]

Try setting P1 & P2 to auto also Command Rate (CMD) to auto as well. Are the auto reboots random?

[Meezus]

Try setting P1 & P2 to auto also Command Rate (CMD) to auto as well. Are the auto reboots random?

Hi Cibic. Done both.

Yep random. Happens mostly while I am browsing. I have all different browsers and it happens with all: IE8, Chrome, FF3 and Safari3. So it is not browser related.

For example, it is almost guaranteed to reboot if i keep scrolling up and down for a while on this page:
http://www.instantshift.com/2009/02/...themes-around/

I know coz today i was considering updating my blog theme and the machine auto rebooted on me 3 times.

Do you guys need me to give you any other BIOS settings? Can the issue be RAID / harddrives related?

Really thanks a lot for all your help.

Cheers.

[Cibic]

Disable automatic restart on system failure and let me know the error code when it occurs again. With your current settings, what kind of torture testing have you done so far and for how long?

I doubt its raid/harddrive related issue.

[slim142]

Meezus
Try leaving your Command Rate at 2T, SPP<->MCP Ref Clock, MHz = AUTO , FSB - Memory Clock Mode = unLinked, FSB - Memory Ratio = manual, SB voltage on 1.50.

[Meezus]

Disable automatic restart on system failure and let me know the error code when it occurs again.

Meezus
Try leaving your Command Rate at 2T, SPP<->MCP Ref Clock, MHz = AUTO , FSB - Memory Clock Mode = unLinked, FSB - Memory Ratio = manual, SB voltage on 1.50.

@cibic: done. will let you know when it happens.

@Slim142: done the advised settings. will let you know the outcome.

Thanks again guys.

[Meezus]

Hey Guys (Cibic & Slim):

Machine just auto-rebooted again, no error messages or blue screen despite that the auto reboot on failure option is disabled.

One more insight I have noticed: I leave my machine on 24/7. Not a single once in the 7 months I had it it rebooted or froze while I was away. It only happens while I am using it. Even when I stream content (I have divx connected, the device just streams but it uses the machine's CPU and VGA card to process the media) it never happened. It has to be me physically using it.

[slim142]

Hey Guys (Cibic & Slim):

Machine just auto-rebooted again, no error messages or blue screen despite that the auto reboot on failure option is disabled.

One more insight I have noticed: I leave my machine on 24/7. Not a single once in the 7 months I had it it rebooted or froze while I was away. It only happens while I am using it. Even when I stream content (I have divx connected, the device just streams but it uses the machine's CPU and VGA card to process the media) it never happened. It has to be me physically using it.

That sounds like CPU inestability. Disable Loadline calibration and if it still reboots, put your CPU voltage to what your CPU BOX VID says (ex 1.16v, 1.25v etc)

[Meezus]

That sounds like CPU inestability. Disable Loadline calibration and if it still reboots, put your CPU voltage to what your CPU BOX VID says (ex 1.16v, 1.25v etc)

It has a range: 9550 e0 specs are 0.85V – 1.3625V

CPU-Z reads it swinging between 1.280v and 1.296v

When I followed CIBIC's settings it was at around 1.25

It is set to Auto on BIOS btw.

I have most of the CPU stuff disabled following Benchwarmer settings. These specifically: (internal thermal control, limit CPUID maxval, C1E, speedstep).

What do you think?

[slim142]

It has a range: 9550 e0 specs are 0.85V – 1.3625V

CPU-Z reads it swinging between 1.280v and 1.296v

When I followed CIBIC's settings it was at around 1.25

It is set to Auto on BIOS btw.

I have most of the CPU stuff disabled following Benchwarmer settings. These specifically: (internal thermal control, limit CPUID maxval, C1E, speedstep).

What do you think?

Maybe is spiking. The anandtech article about loadline calibration explained that even when loadline calibration gives more voltage than usual, it also spikes (down) for short periods of time. That was the cause of my problems some time ago.

Leave it on auto as it might work as necessary there.

Have you tried LinX?

[Meezus]

Maybe is spiking. The anandtech article about loadline calibration explained that even when loadline calibration gives more voltage than usual, it also spikes (down) for short periods of time. That was the cause of my problems some time ago.

Leave it on auto as it might work as necessary there.

Have you tried LinX?

You mean leave the CPU at auto in BIOS? Loadline Calibration is disabled in the BIOS.

ummm..what is LinX?

[slim142]

You mean leave the CPU at auto in BIOS? Loadline Calibration is disabled in the BIOS.

ummm..what is LinX?

Yes leave CPU voltage on AUTO

About LinX
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...highlight=linx

[Meezus]

Hi Guys,

Are these normal / do they shed any light?



HT 1.2V as at 1.5V ... isnt that a bit strange?

btw I've enabled loadline calibration again.

Cheers.

[Meezus]

Hey Guys,

Here it is with Loadline Calibration disabled, SB and NB on auto.



Hope this helps too.

Cheers.