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RAM causing system freeze (I think) but why?

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makecoldplayhistory

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My sig rig (specs below) is / was freezing every hour or two. The freeze often causes white noise from the speakers and the system doesn't unfreeze itself even after 45 minutes.

I clean installed two days ago but had two freezes within 30 minutes.

Using the MS diagnostic utility on the Win 7 disk, I ran 17 memory tests with zero errors. Everything at stock volts and speeds. The freezes are apparently random as it's not under heavy use, with a particular program or anything like that. In fact, I ran Prime, Furmark and GPU video encoding simultaneously; couldn't reproduce the freeze.

Having removed two sticks of RAM, the system's been fine. With different two sticks, the system's been fine.

Powersupply issue? I'd have thought the Furmark, CUDA and Prime would test the PSU?

Would bad RAM slots cause it?

My mobo handbook says to use slots 1 & 2 for two sticks. Can I use 3 & 4?

Am I likely to need to up the volts to the RAM for it to be stable at stock speeds? If so, what's a sensible voltage to use?

Thanks a lot

Edit: Windows error log only says Kernal Power Fault which, google tells me, is simply me having to do a hard reboot following the total freeze.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Will do, although I don't think there is one... hence the Windows Memory Diagnostic.

Should I do it with four sticks back in?
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
My bIOS doesn't have a mem test utility.

Using the Windows 7 one though, it passes with individual sticks and all 4 sticks.

:Confused:

Is it possible that the RAM needs extra volts to run at stock?* My PC hasn't frozen for 4 days or so running with only 2x2Gb so it's pretty safe to say that it's something RAM related.

If so, what's a safe and small voltage to try?

Thanks for the replies.
 
#8 ·
You might need to raise the voltage to the IMC. Up the CPU-NB voltage a tad, say in the range of 1.2 to 1.25. Can add stability when running four sticks of ram. Others will say that you can go higher with that voltage as well.

Can you please tell us what is your current DRAM voltage and CPU-NB voltage?
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Sorry for the slow reply.

Here are all of the voltage settings. Taken from the voltage monitoring in the BIOS, not any 3rd party app.

CPU - 1.346v (C&Q is enabled, don't know what the low frequency voltage is)
CPU / NB 1.111v
CPU VDDA - 2.487v
DRAM - 1.601v
HT - 1.204v
NB1.8v Voltage - 1.812v
SB - 1.204v
3.3v Voltage - 3.361v
5v Voltage - 4.495v
12v Voltage - 12.427v

I know / think that IMC is Internal Memory Chip* - is the voltage to this controlled by the CPU-NB voltage? How will this affect the temps? Only the NB, or the CPU too? I have passive cooling on the NB.

*is this the go-between for RAM and CPU?

Thanks a lot

Mike

all repped
smile.gif
 
#11 ·
Post us the brand & model and all the specs off a ram module. If they differ post then too.

Weak PSU can do it too.
try to under clock the ram and see if it stabilizes.
 
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Discussion starter · #12 ·
Mushkin Blackline

It's DDR3. 2Gb sticks.

7-7-7-20 1.85-1.95V

Speed Spec:pC3-12800

Frequency:1600MHz

I'll be back in second to edit the post. Just going to look at the BIOS to see the speed...

I can't see the speed when it's auto. It says target speed 1333Mhz - does this mean the auto setting is to the target?

IMGP0254.jpg?t=1296884195


IMGP0253.jpg?t=1296884197
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Capture-14.jpg


This looks low, especially as the sticker on the RAM stick says 1.85-1.95v. I increased the DRAM voltage to 1.85525v. It turned yellow @ 1.7v. It doesn't turn red until 2.4v
smile.gif
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Set the volts to just over 1.85v - The sticks say 1.89-1.95v.

Haven't had a freeze yet but, as I said, it seemed sporadic and hard to reproduce the cause. Gone back to 4x2Gb with the higher volts... finger's crossed
smile.gif


Thanks for all replies. Hopefully I won't need to post in this thread again :crossed fingers:
 
#16 ·
Go ahead and bump the CPU-NB voltage up to 1.2. It helps to stabilize things when running 4 sticks of ram. IMC = Internal Memory Controller (on the CPU). Such a small bump in CPU-NB voltage shouldn't really raise temps very much, if at all.
 
#17 ·
Increase the DRAM voltage. I had to use 1.9V up from rated 1.8V on my old Mushkin 996629 (similar kit voltage-wise, but 8-8-8 timings and blue heatspreader) on a C2 revision processor; this trend continued on my x6 1055T when I upgraded. The RAM continued running at 1.9V until I purchased my first kit of G.Skill ECOs.
 
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Discussion starter · #18 ·
Thanks to everyone for very helpful replies
smile.gif


I haven't touched the CPU-NB voltage as since bumping the RAM's volts up to 1.8...v I haven't had a problem. I've even had 4 sticks (4x2Gb) without a crash for a couple of days. As I've said stressing the memory didn't produce the freeze so it's more of a 'see what happens' as opposed to testing for stability.

If the problem continues then I'll bump the CPU-NB. If it continues after that, well, hopefully Bulldozer'll be here
smile.gif
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Just to update; having bumped up the RAM's voltages to just over 1.8v, I've had 4x2Gb running for 3 days 24/7 without even a hint of a system freeze.

One of the temp sensors stuck directly on the RAM shows a 1c increase.

Happy days! Thanks all
 
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