Prime95 and GTX 260

[anatolymik]

Hi friends!

My systems specs are as follows:

CPU : Core 2 q9550
Motherboard : Asus P5Q PRO
Memory : 2 x Kingston KHX8500D2K2/4G (8gb)
VideoCard : Palit geforce gtx 260
PSU : Antec TP-750 (750W)

Nothing is overclocked, only memory is at 1066Mhz with timings 6-6-6-21(now 6-6-6-24), DRAM voltage 2.1. Memory is intend to run at 1066 with timings 5-5-5-15 at 2.2v, but i have timings 6-6-6-21 because memtest86+ 2.11 fails with 5-5-5-15.
Prime95 in about 8 hours and 30 minutes fails regardless of timings(changes only time from start to fail). If i set memory at 800Mhz then everything's all right, but IF I CHANGE MY GTX 260 FOR GEFORCE 6600 THEN PRIME DOES NOT FAIL EVEN WITH TIMINGS 5-5-5-15 (though memtest fails with this timings). i thought it is PSU's fault. i have changed the psu - result you know. (Antec is my new psu before i have FSP 550w).

Tell me, what will i do with it? I need for your advice.

Thanks in advance!
Sorry for my English.

[Blazing fire]

Hi, welcome to the forum. :)

Could you tell us what mode of Prime95 you used? Whether it is small ftt or blend?

Have you tried running other programs like OCCT (http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/index.php?Download)and intelburntest (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=197835)?

What is the temperature of your northbridge? Using the asus probe or speedfan (http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php).

Have you read the OC guide (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=515316)? It tells you what settings you should input into your BIOS.

I have a feeling that the problem lies in the settings you used, since the system's stability is affect by the GPU you use. For instance, the PCI Express Frequency and PCI Clock Synchronization is not set to 100mhz and 33mhz respectively.

However, if memtest fails with the 6600, it still means your system is unstable. "If i set memory at 800Mhz then everything's all right, but IF I CHANGE MY GTX 260 FOR GEFORCE 6600 THEN PRIME DOES NOT FAIL EVEN WITH TIMINGS 5-5-5-15 (though memtest fails with this timings)"

I would like to mention that 4gbx2 is very stressful for the northbridge. At the same time, 4GB RAMs are usually difficult to overclock. Why your memory cannot run at the rated speed is unfathomable to me, perhaps it's a bad stick.

[CGR]

:welcome: to the forums..

Just to get it straight. If you have the GTX 260 installed prime95 fails, but with the 6600 installed it doesnt fail?

Your memory fails memtest at its default speed? If thats the case, then the memory sounds like its bad. Have you tested each memory dimm separately in memtest with its default settings?

[anatolymik]

Could you tell us what mode of Prime95 you used? Whether it is small ftt or blend?
Sorry i completly forgot, i use blend. Small ftt i didn't try yet. I think i should.

Have you tried running other programs like OCCT and intelburntest?
No i didn't.

What is the temperature of your northbridge? Using the asus probe or speedfan.
46-49c. Everest.

Have you read the OC guide? It tells you what settings you should input into your BIOS.
No. I am reading now. In bios i set everything to AUTO except for DRAM Freq (1066MHz)
and timings 6-6-6-24.

For instance, the PCI Express Frequency and PCI Clock Synchronization is not set to 100mhz and 33mhz respectively.
Set to AUTO.

However, if memtest fails with the 6600, it still means your system is unstable
that's why i don't know in which program i should believe.

I would like to mention that 4gbx2 is very stressful for the northbridge.
When i use 2 of them memtest does not fail.

perhaps it's a bad stick
Before kingston i had 2xcorsair also 8gb, one pair of them was bad.

If you have the GTX 260 installed prime95 fails, but with the 6600 installed it doesnt fail?
yes, with 6600 installed Prime doesn't fail.

Your memory fails memtest at its default speed
Do you mean 1066MHz with 5-5-5-15 Timings? if yes memory fails

Have you tested each memory dimm separately in memtest with its default settings?
Yes. Everything's all right.

By the way, memtest fails only on 5 and 7 tests. if i set DRAM Volt 2.3 memtest hangs.

[CGR]

Ok, so each dimm passes all memtest at default speed?

Have you tried two dimms at default speed in memtest?

[anatolymik]

Ok, so each dimm passes all memtest at default speed?
Have you tried two dimms at default speed in memtest?

Only four sticks at default speed fails in memtest...
I think i should try it again.

[Blazing fire]

Thanks for responding!

Do set your PCI Express Frequency and PCI Clock Synchronization to 100mhz and 33mhz respectively.

Can't help you I'm afraid.

[anatolymik]

Do set your PCI Express Frequency and PCI Clock Synchronization to 100mhz and 33mhz respectively
I'll try it. I tested one pair. 24hours of memtest successfully. Now i'm testing another one pair. We'll see.
Blazing fire thank you for your help!:)

[Blazing fire]

I did help? Great! :D. Cross your fingers for the other pair. ;)

My rare few successful attempts at troubleshooting.

[CGR]

My guess is that board doesnt like using 4 dimms. Make sure to try the second set of dimms in the second set of slots so you can see if its a bad slot or not.

[18 is # 1]

Have you boosted your northbridge (MCH) voltage? Using four sticks puts more stress on it.

[CGR]

Have you boosted your northbridge (MCH) voltage? Using four sticks puts more stress on it.

He shouldnt need to change his NB voltage since he is not OCing. A board should accomodate 4 dimms without any voltage change with everything at default speeds.

[anatolymik]

i tested another one pair with memtest. it's ok. now i'm testing with prime each pair.

[EarthDog]

Gentleman, please correct if I am wrong...Small FFT has VERY little to do with the ram!!

Aside from that fact, these guys have you well covered. Sounds like some bad sticks of memory to me. Though I cant figure out why putting in the 260 would cause the issue.

[CGR]

i tested another one pair with memtest. it's ok. now i'm testing with prime each pair.

But did you test it in the second set of sockets?

[Marshmallow64]

Gentleman, please correct if I am wrong...Small FFT has VERY little to do with the ram!!

Aside from that fact, these guys have you well covered. Sounds like some bad sticks of memory to me. Though I cant figure out why putting in the 260 would cause the issue.

You are right about the small FFT, it just stresses the CPU.

Im going out on a limb here and this might be a dumb question but does it have anything to do with the 260 having some memory of its own?

[EarthDog]

P95 doesnt test the GPU's ram. ;)

[CGR]

Not only that, but his memory was failing in memtest as well when using 4 dimms.

[EarthDog]

Sorry I mishmashed the thread, but bad sticks or a bad slot or not enough NBv.

[anatolymik]

But did you test it in the second set of sockets?

I didn't. After Prime i'll try it. But trust me slots are ok, because i tested they earlier. About three or four months ago or so.

[CGR]

Well if:

1. Each dimm passes a few passes of memtest at default speed with no errors
2. Dual dimms passes a few passes of memtest at default speed with no errors
3. All sockets tested with no errors

Then the only thing left is either a bios flaw, or NB issue with 4 dimms.

You could try upping the NB voltage as suggested, but that really shouldnt need to be done with everything at stock speeds.

Only other option I can think of is updating the bios if its not the newest. If none of that works, then it could be a defective board.

When you look at the bios settings with 4 dimms in, what command rate is listed?

[anatolymik]

When you look at the bios settings with 4 dimms in, what command rate is listed?
what does it look like? 2T - is this it?

how do you think gtx260 can make NB more load? i thought about upping voltage. there are some people to whom it resolved their problems. bios i have is latest. also i know that some people with newest bios can't overclock system so as they did it on previous bios.
please explain to me difference:
what is a stock speed and default speed? when 4 dimms is at 800Mhz with 5-5-5-18 (as programmed) no errors at all.

[anatolymik]

by the way as for DDR2 then documented maximum speed is 800Mhz, therefore 1066 and upper is overclocking. also i wonder why prime and memtest fail only after 8 hours?

[CGR]

You said your memory was rated for 1066 default

[anatolymik]

You said your memory was rated for 1066 default
yes. but a few months ago i did test at 800Mhz for the sake of the experiment

i thought about errors with 4 dimms installed. One pair installed and 4 dimms what's difference? INTERLIVING. there is two buses for dimms from NB. yellow and black slots is on same bus. maybe when NB do switch to black slots (and vice versa) error occurs in this time?

[anatolymik]

one pair tested with no errors by prime(24 hours). now i'm testing another one pair.

[anatolymik]

i tested another one pair. it's ok. i put all 4 dimms and now i boosted NB Voltage to 1.3. tell me what maximum voltage is not dangerous to NB?

[EarthDog]

1.4 would be the about the max and that would be with active cooling.

[anatolymik]

prime failed in 5 minutes at 1066MHz with 5-5-5-15 2.1v

[EarthDog]

What test in Prime are you running?

[anatolymik]

What test in Prime are you running?
blend

[EarthDog]

Try adding more NB volts is all I can think of. Try 1.32, 1.34. How loong does it take to fail?

[anatolymik]

Try adding more NB volts is all I can think of. Try 1.32, 1.34. How loong does it take to fail?

i tried 1.4v NBv. it fails in 6-10 minutes. and it doesn't matter what voltage.
if i set 6-6-6-21 timings then it fails in 8 - 8:30 hours.
i wonder why time to fail is always the same

[EarthDog]

Well its not NB volts then... I wonder if the strap you are using is messed up. Try running your memory speed at 1:1 with your FSB and see if that helps. Running your memory faster doesnt improve much aside from benching anyway.

[CGR]

At this point Im thinking there is just something wrong with the board.

Prime only fails when you use all 4 correct? You tried running prime with each pair separately?

[anatolymik]

At this point Im thinking there is just something wrong with the board.
Prime only fails when you use all 4 correct? You tried running prime with each pair separately?

yes it fails only with 4 dimms. and i tried each pair, everything's all right

[anatolymik]

Try running your memory speed at 1:1 with your FSB and see if that helps. Running your memory faster doesnt improve much aside from benching anyway.


when i set memory to 800MHz it doesn't fails

[EarthDog]

WAIT WAIT WAIT. I am getting confused here.....You have the P5Q pro, what are you actual memory speeds at when its failing? They cant be at 1066 if you are overclocking (well they can be but it would bemixing straps and such). My point is this, run it at 1:1 with your FSB. Use the 333 strap as the 400 strap I heard is borked. Mine was at higher FSB on P5Q dx.

Ok, I reread the whole thread, you are not overclocked you are just trying to run your memory at its rated speeds of 1066. In CPUz in the SPD tab. What is the voltage for 1066? Did you manually set that in your bios?

[anatolymik]

You have the P5Q pro, what are you actual memory speeds at when its failing?
1066MHz

They cant be at 1066 if you are overclocking
what do you mean? i'm not overclocking. Memory is intend to run at 1066.

Use the 333 strap as the 400 strap I heard is borked.
do you mean set fsb strap to 333?

[anatolymik]

it failed in 1 minute

[anatolymik]

now i'm testing with FSB Strap 333 set

[anatolymik]

it failed in 1 minute

FSB Strap 333 i mean

[EarthDog]

Yeah, strap to 333.

Make sure your memory voltage is set properly for the 1066 speed. It will show it in the SPD tab in CPUz.

[anatolymik]

Yeah, strap to 333.
Make sure your memory voltage is set properly for the 1066 speed.

failed with strap to 333. voltage is 2.1v as manufacturer said.

[CGR]

I say its the board. Maybe the NB is messed up or maybe the bios is faulty. You could try updating it to the newest bios but I really think this is more a hardware issue with the board.

[anatolymik]

I say its the board. Maybe the NB is messed up or maybe the bios is faulty. You could try updating it to the newest bios but I really think this is more a hardware issue with the board.

resolving of this problem is set memory to 800MHz. but i want to try to get it works at 1066. do you think it's not possible?

[anatolymik]

it would not fails if memory timings set to 7-7-7-20 but with this timings system does not even post. maybe i should tune the rest of timings? if yes, then what values?

[EarthDog]

At this point I would do one of two things...

1. RMA the board
2. RUn your memory 1:1 to your FSB and over clock.

[anatolymik]

1. RMA the board

what rma is?

[EarthDog]

Return the board for a replacement.

[anatolymik]

i got it. i can't rma

[CGR]

i got it. i can't rma

How come?

[anatolymik]

How come?
what does it mean?

my warranty is out

[EarthDog]

So run 1:1 with your FSB since that is stable until you can afford/want to buy a new board.

[anatolymik]

So run 1:1 with your FSB since that is stable until you can afford/want to buy a new board.

1:1 will it be 667?

[EarthDog]

Or set it at 800, w/e works for you. it should be obvious that w/e multiplier/strap its using to get to 1066 isnt working. So Set it to 800 and live with it (its not a problem nor will it be slower) or start overclocking your CPU from there and see how it goes.

[anatolymik]

Or set it at 800, w/e works for you. it should be obvious that w/e multiplier/strap its using to get to 1066 isnt working. So Set it to 800 and live with it (its not a problem nor will it be slower) or start overclocking your CPU from there and see how it goes.

if with overclocked cpu (400 fsb) it will be all right then what will it mean

[EarthDog]

It will mean nothing. Just do it. :)

[anatolymik]

Just do it
it's nike

[anatolymik]

what FSB Termination Voltage is not dangerous? Simply i set FSB Termination to 1.2 and prime failed in one hour. if it set to AUTO then prime fails within 5 minutes.

[anatolymik]

i set FSB VTT to 1.10 (standart for q9550) prime failed in one hour as in last test where was set to 1.2. it looks like fails occur within 5 minutes when FSB VTT set to AUTO

[anatolymik]

it was coincidence. i mean FSB VTT is not auto and prime fails after 1 hour. now prime fails within 5 minutes.

[EarthDog]

Try 1.3 FSBt.

[anatolymik]

Try 1.3 FSBt.
i already tried. prime fails

[EarthDog]

Try 1.35. I would go up to 1.35-1.4 without active cooling on teh NB.

[anatolymik]

Try 1.35. I would go up to 1.35-1.4 without active cooling on teh NB.


i'll try it a little later. now i'm testing memory at 1000MHz.

[EarthDog]

I understand trying to run everything as fast as you can but there isnt going to be a real world difference of upping your ram past 1:1...

[anatolymik]

I understand trying to run everything as fast as you can but there isnt going to be a real world difference of upping your ram past 1:1...
Can you explain it easily. I can speak English badly. I didn't understand "a real world difference". And what do you mean here "upping your ram past 1:1"?

thank you in advance

[CGR]

He means that whether you run your memory at 800 or at its default 1066 you will not see much difference in speed in real world applications such as games or programs.

[anatolymik]

He means that whether you run your memory at 800 or at its default 1066 you will not see much difference in speed in real world applications such as games or programs.

Thank you CGR for simplier explanation. I know the difference not too much. i would say there's no difference at all if everest doesn't show 1Gb/s more than if memory is at 800.

[anatolymik]

by the way, already 1 hour and 30 minutes of testing by prime. no errors.

P.S. I cross my fingers. :)
Here I'm studying english. I should buy parts more often for i have more questions. :)

[anatolymik]

13 hours of prime test was successfully.

[brown_dog]

Try setting RAM to 2.3v, and maxing out the fsb voltage. Most mobos would usually put a cap on the highest fsb voltage on your nb so should be pretty safe also increase the vtt of the NB as well. Trial and error would be your best bet in terms of nb voltage and mem voltage.

[anatolymik]

if i set DRAMv 2.3 then memtest hangs

[anatolymik]

if i set DRAMv 2.3 then memtest hangs

[anatolymik]

if i set DRAMv 2.3 then memtest hangs

[anatolymik]

and i also know my mobo overvolts by 0.08v

[anatolymik]

appears it is fault of mother board

[anatolymik]

i wonder why prime and memtest fail but i don't even get BSOD or somethinfg else?

[EarthDog]

i wonder why prime and memtest fail but i don't even get BSOD or somethinfg else?b/c its not that off to do so....

which CPU GTL is not dangerious?Huh?

Default should be .67 IIRC. Raise it up .04 or so and see if that works out.

[anatolymik]

which CPU GTL is not dangerious?

[freeagent]

read this

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=515316

[anatolymik]

i already read this

[RJARRRPCGP]

b/c its not that off to do so....

Huh?

Default should be .67 IIRC. Raise it up .04 or so and see if that works out.

I have mine at .67.

[freeagent]

i have my dual at .65, wich is what i ran my old q6600 up to about 3500 i think. after that i used .67. i also drop back down to 1:1 once i cross 480fsb on the 333. i usually use 5:6 on the 266 with pl7. i just use 1:1 for 500 and up with pl9 :)

[jason4207]

There are several options that relate to the NB and RAM timings.

Transaction Booster
Mem OC Charger
Static Read Control
tRFC
others I can't remember

Try loosening some of these up and see what happens. You should be able to run auto or min voltage on nb and fsb-term.

Post up a CPU-Z SPD-tab and Memory-tab ss. And a Memset ss w/ the SPD tab open (if you can get it to run...if not some pics of your BIOS settings might help).

[anatolymik]

There are several options that relate to the NB and RAM timings.

Transaction Booster
Mem OC Charger
Static Read Control
tRFC
others I can't remember

Try loosening some of these up and see what happens. You should be able to run auto or min voltage on nb and fsb-term.

Post up a CPU-Z SPD-tab and Memory-tab ss. And a Memset ss w/ the SPD tab open (if you can get it to run...if not some pics of your BIOS settings might help).


I tried all of these.

there are some pics below...

http://pic.ipicture.ru/uploads/090801/IFstvBf4Fx.jpg
http://pic.ipicture.ru/uploads/090801/24ttRx8UTc.jpg

[anatolymik]

I tried all of these
I forgot completely. Nothing changes

[anatolymik]

i can understand nothing! not so long ago, prime does fail within 14 minutes. a little later prime does fail in one hour or so. now prime fails in 2 hours and 30 minutes or so. nothing changed. maybe software problem took place? i'm going to install windows 7 x64.

[jason4207]

There is no SPD listing for 533MHz. I've never seen that, but that doesn't mean much. I've never played w/ any Kingston RAM except some value DDR1 stuff a good while back.

Have you tried loosening up all those timings using memset?

You might just need to run it slower or maybe try to give it more juice. Or just run 4GB...do you need 8GB?

[anatolymik]

There is no SPD listing for 533MHz. I've never seen that, but that doesn't mean much. I've never played w/ any Kingston RAM except some value DDR1 stuff a good while back.
for some reasons this memory does not contain EPP.

Have you tried loosening up all those timings using memset?

i could not. but i loosed they in BIOS. the matter is memtest with timings 6-6-6-21 does not fail, but prime fails

You might just need to run it slower or maybe try to give it more juice

What does it mean -> "give it more juice"?

Or just run 4GB...do you need 8GB?

i need 8 gb

[anatolymik]

why if i have gf6600 installed prime does not fail? (thought memtest fails, it does not fail with timings 6-6-6-21). and if gtx260 installed memtest does not fail (with timings 6-6-6-21), but prime fails anyway. what changes? if prime wouldn't fail i could run memory at 1066 with timings 6-6-6-21

[SCFAdamVcG]

Well,I think it may just be motherboard heat? Nothing will crash it I don't beleive if its 1hr prime stable, But you have a point,maybe its spreading heat the gfx,which is also making heat then making your northbridge/southbridge hot,if it doesn't fail with a lower end card in (which produces less heat) then it could possibly just be a heat issue

[anatolymik]

Hi friends!

SCFAdamVcG thank you. You are right!!! I set a fan on chipset and prime ran 24 hours. Stable. No errors and no warnings!!! Now i'm going to test with memtest.

[anatolymik]

but memtest failed. i set timings to 6-6-6-24. and test again.

[anatolymik]

with 6-6-6-24 timings appears memtest doesn't fail. already 17 hours of stable working. I can't understand why prime doesn't fails with timings 5-5-5-15 but memtest fails?

[anatolymik]

and if i set timings to 6-6-6-24 can i think my system is stable?

[RJARRRPCGP]

LOL an 8 hour Prime95 failure sounds like more like heat, it seems that it's gonna keep going, then bombs out, that, in my experience, is because you need more cool air on your processor.

If it's a wall, then I never saw Prime95 last longer than 2 hours, maybe 5 hours.

[anatolymik]

because you need more cool air on your processor

then why when i set memory at 800MHz prime and memtest don't fail?

[anatolymik]

it's not NB heat. it's memory heat. i put memory cooler on the memory and it does not fail with timings 6-6-6-24. (with 5-5-5-15 fails anyway, but memtest only). but i wonder why with timings 5-5-5-15 memtest fails but prime doesn't? as i know prime more stressfull than memtest.