GA-G31M-S2L overvolting RAM by default

[Krohling]

My system:

Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200
Gigabyte GA-G31M-S2L (Rev 1.0 BIOS F9)
2x1GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2-1066 @ DDR2-800 5-5-5-18 2T
Samsung 250GB SATA Hard Drive
Samsung DVD-RW drive
Enermax 470W PSU

Under "M.I.T." everything is running with pretty much default settings, CPU @ 12.5x 200, Vcore is set to "Normal" (if I remember correctly it shows default VID 1.2250V), EIST and C1E enabled. RAM @ AUTO DD2-800 5-5-5-18 timings. I don't know what is GTLRef but its default set at 0.67. Not using any VGA card for now, running the onboard Intel GMA 3100 video.

Currently having two problems:
1) Board is overvolting the RAM by default instead giving the default 1.80V
2) Random freezing and BSOD

I installed XP SP2 and updated it to SP3. Installed all updated chipset, video, audio and LAN drivers. PC was working fine, but all of sudden a BSOD happened. No special task was running, just ordinary usage (web browsing, reading documents).

I also noticed under the M.I.T settings inside BIOS the DDR2 voltage is set to "Normal" and that should give 1.80V. However at PC Health screen it shows 1.936V-1.950V. The memory SPD has a default profile of DDR2-667 4-5-5-15 2T @ 1.80V or DDR2-800 5-5-5-18 2T @ 1.80V. And it doesn't require any overvolting to run on the specified clocks/timings.

I don't think I'm having overheating issues because the CPU is idling at 36-38ºC and it reaches 53ºC when running stress/stability tools like OCCT, Prime95. Also, I don't have any problems running those tools.

I also ran memtest for more than 1 hour and no errors shown.

The freezing and BSOD happened at random occasions. Hard drive connection is OK and disk scan doesn't show errors.

The PSU has stable lines, readings with a multimeter show +3.3V = 3.40V, +12V = 12.25V, +5V = 5.11V.

For additional cooling I placed a 120mm fan blowing air on ram sticks. I noticed they were running a hot. But even at the hottest situation no errors happened.

I don't know what caused the random instability, if its hardware or software.
I don't know if the DDR2 overvoltage is normal behaviour for this board or if the board is faulty.

Thank you

[Nickel020]

Well you can try setting the voltage manually but the "overvoltign" is absolutely no problem as the RAM is designed to run at that voltage or higher anyway in roder to achieve 1066MHz.
You may save a Watt or two, but unless you really care about that just leave it as it is. i don't think this is the RAM overheating.

What does the BSOD say? Ther usually is an error code that points to the cause of the issue. ALso describe the circumstances when it is happening, they may seem random to you but maybe we can make sense of it.

[Krohling]

About the voltage I know the RAM can run at 1.80V, 1.95V, the RAM is warranted up to 2.2V. Of course I'd like to run at the lowest voltage possible. Less voltage will also possibly give a little less heat.

But is it normal behaviour for this board to overvolt the RAM by default? Or could this be a faulty board?

The BSOD I didn't take note of the error code on the bottom of the screen. But everytime a BSOD happens it usually shows an error message on the second line, but it said the computer was shutdown to protect the system (something like that). I really don't remember which was the "STOP" 0x???????? code.

[Lsdmeasap]

Yes, it is normal. What does it give you if you set Auto?

What is the Model # on these Crucial, the number starting with BL?

What speed are you running the ram at anyway?

Your errors may be due to low ram voltage actually, if you are running it at 1066 then you may need 2.0 or more volts, depending on the timings and other settings.

Do you have Performance Enhance on Standard?

[Krohling]

AUTO gives me "Normal" DDR2 Voltage under M.I.T. And reports 1.936-1.950V @ "PC Health"

Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR2-1066 5-5-5-15 2T 2.1-2.2V
It's a matched 2x1GB pair. Kit part# BL2KIT12864AL1065
Each memory module has one sticker showing part# BL12864AL1065.16FD3

Running @ DDR2-800
AUTO = 5-5-5-18 2T
They are able to do this with 1.80V, but BIOS is currently giving ~1.95V

Performance is "Standard"

These sticks are also capable of DDR2-1000 5-5-5-15 2T with only 1.95V but I'm running @ DDR2-800. I'm not forcing any overclocking until get this 100% stable at stock settings.

[Lsdmeasap]

Auto and Normal are two Different Settings in the MIT Section. Are you sure you are setting Auto and not normal? Just checking to be sure you are aware of that

Those sticks are rated at 2.2V anyway, so if I was you I would be manually setting 2.0-2.1 anyway for stability

Try setting ram voltage to 1.9, 1.95, 2.0, 2.05, and 2.1 and see what each is after a reboot in the PC Health section. I would not be worried at all, some voltage range settings will vary more then others, but you should want 1.95-2.05 or so running thru them anyway

[Krohling]

AUTO gives 1.936-1.950V, and shows "Normal" 'greyed' under M.I.T.

With "Manual" if I set DDR2 voltage to "Normal" it also gives me 1.936-1.950V.

What is CPU GTLRef? Its set by default at 0.67

Since I started this thread I'm not running into instabilities. Everything looks OK so far. I repeated all tests, memtest doesn't give any errors too. I also reinstalled the OS and all software completely.

[Lsdmeasap]

Well then sounds like you need to just set something and not use Auto, Auto is not advised anyway so you shouldn't worry about what it's Value gives you. Some BIOS may be more at Auto, some less.

I would set 1.95 and 2.0 and see what it gives in PC health after a reboot, and then do the same for 2.05 and 2.1.

GTLRef is very complicated to explain, something you may not need to worry about at all yet. Here is some in depth reading about it though since you asked >>>

Understanding GTL Reference Voltage

CPU And Northbridge GTL Default Settings

Great to hear you are now stable though!!

[Krohling]

GGTS told me that when running DDR2 @ 800 the board gives 1.90V~1.95V for stability, such behaviour is normal.

I know the memory can run @DDR2-1000 with only 1.90V, so 1.95V for DDR2-800 is more than enough. At least it was for DDR2-667/800 on another board. But I also know that hardware is not exactly an exact science sometimes.

Not running into instabilities at the moment. I think it was OS/driver/software related. It should give me crashes while running heavy tasks like Prime95, OCCT, or show errors on memtest if the memory had low voltage, but nothing happens. So I think this is not BIOS or hardware related.

Let's see if it remains like that :)

Thanks

[Lsdmeasap]

Yes, it could be normal for that board, but I bet that was just canned reply likely.

So did you try setting 1.85 or 1.9? Normally when you physically set a voltage, it will be less once you are in windows anyway. Not how Auto or Normal acts for sure