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[Groonx2]

@lsdmeasap and others, I want you to be aware that I have a very very similar problem. Infiniti and I have discussed the details at length. What we have in common is Gigabyte mobos (but not the same model) with Award BIOS. (Also we both use 8GB of RAM, but it's different RAM and we've experimented with less.)

On mine, the problem is a very strange delay or hang or wait that occurs only on cold (power off) startups. The power button is pressed and everything is exactly as in Infiniti's situation; about 2 seconds pass and the monitor goes down into power-saving/wait/standby mode. If I do nothing, the system seems to be sitting at idle for between 7 seconds and (usually) about one minute 10 seconds. Then there is either a perfect BEEP! or else a kind of stumbling de-d-BEEP! [not 2 short beeps; still just one beep; but with half an extra syllable on the front, as though it trips or stumbles] and then up everything comes into Windows.

—Sometimes the hang is more than 3 minutes, when I abort the attempt via the PSU power button (without the same trouble Infiniti has) and I try again. On a second attempt, the average time for the hang is again just over a minute.

[Lsdmeasap]

@ infiniti25, if you are trying to clear your CMOS and are not getting a checksum error then you are not getting the CMOS Cleared fully. How long are you trying this, and what are you doing to try it?

Your board has a Quad Triple Phase Power setup, that would be 12 Phase. Not sure what you meant by your comment about that or where you read that it was 6 Phase but it was wrong

I would go ahead and flash to the Latest NON Beta, or Beta if you like and use that for now. Not a much older BIOS as F6

Yes, the Quad BIOS stores a backup in the HPA section of your hard drive in a NON Raid or NON AHCI setup, but that has nothing to do with your issues. That is only for a BIOS failure where a recovery would be needed and then only after the backup chips on the board failed as well would it get the BIOS from the drive

Do you have these issues at stock? 8GB is alot of ram, so I just wondered. I do see you are using all Auto, that wont be stable even with 4GB so this is likely a HUGE part of your issues for sure. With 8GB you will need to set all settings manually, and spend some time tweaking them

Also, have you lately or ever tested each stick on by one at stock spec'd settings with Memtest86+ to be sure none are faulty modules?

That extra onboard molex is just as you said, IF you want to use it to connect to power a card or something else. Just a extra power connector is all

Here would be optimal ranges for the settings you gave above with 8GB of ram >>>

Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Turbo] << Set to Fast or Auto for now to rule this out as a Issue
CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [9]
CPU Host Clock Control_ [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [400] << Use 401 or 399
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [100]
C.I.A. 2__________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.00]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Auto] << Manual

High Speed Dram Option (If you have it, try both last)

Performance Enhance = [Turbo] << Huge ISSUE as well, Set to Standard.

CAS Latency Time________________5/6
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay________5
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______5
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________ 18

Set all below to highest values first, then later lower one by one testing with Memtest86+ as you go

ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________3-5
Rank Write to READ Delay________ 4-8
Write to Precharge Delay_________ 4-12
Refresh to ACT Delay______________ 65-75/80
Read to Precharge Delay__________ 4-7
Static tRead Value_______________ 7-12
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ [Auto] << Always Auto



System Voltage Control____ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [+0.40V] =2.2V << I do not advise running 2.2V without a Fan directly over the ram. 2.2V is likely also not need at all, especially not until you overclocked the ram which would be pretty hard with 8GB. Set +0.3 for 2.1V for now as 2.2 is only the max warrantied not usually what is needed at all. More does not help here with stability and could cause issues. You did however for sure need more MCH noted below

PCI-E OverVoltage Control_ [+0.10V]
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [+0.10V]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [+0.150V] << +0.25-0.35 needed for 8GB of ram

CPU Voltage Control_______ [1.42500V] << may need more, or less? All up to your chip and your boards Vdrop and Vdroop. What do you get for idle and load for actual voltages in CPU-z and have you fully tested your CPU for stability? Just wondering, Your issue mainly I think is the use of 8GB of ram with way to many Auto settings and Turbo Performance Enhance.

Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled] << Enabled
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Disabled] << Enabled
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Enabled] << Disabled if you do not use Vmware/Virtual Machines (Virtual PC)

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect___________________[Enabled]

@ Groonx2, do you have a thread about this issue? If not please make on, if you do please bump it so I may see it in the next day or so. Normally this is all caused by settings, as you can see above I noted out Several things and reasons why things would not work properly for Infiniti25. 8GB is alot of ram, and always will require more user input then just plug and play for sure

[drotr]

I have a problem with a new ga-ep45-ud3r motherboard. I can not get it for the life of me to run 4 gig memory dual channel. It will run one memory card no problem. I have tried 2 brands of memory, Patriot pc2-8500 and OCZ pc2-8500 and both have the same issue. When both sticks are installed in the correct (same color) location, it will not post, just get a lot of short beeps. I have tried all kind of settings in the bios, including defaults but I am having no luck. Is there anything you can tell me to help me out.

[infiniti25]

No disrespect but I have tried all manner of settings in the bios to get around this problem, I have even tried new hardware, everything except a new CPU.
I get this issue with a single 2gb memory stick in or with 4x2gb memory sticks in.
I get this issue with a 8800GTX 768 or with a 8800GT 1gb.
I get this issue with any of my 3 hard drives and I get it with no hard drives.
I get this issue with a Enermax 1000W psu or with a Thermaltake 750w psu.
I get this issue @ stock speeds or at overclocked speeds.
My RAM does always have a 120mm fan directed over it and I also have a 80mm fan pointed down through the northbridge silent pipe fins.
I get this issue with a single ram stick in any slot.
I am 100% stable with 8GB @ stock and overclocked, the issue does not lie there.

I believe the board problem might be hardware related, do you know of any common faults? Or if its a problem with the bios chip?

I am not discounting your advice but I tried your bios settings and I get the endless reboot until it has successfully downclocked everything back to 2.4ghz and auto timings. I even tried your settings on stock fsb of 266 and upped the cpu voltage a little. I have never had much success with +0.25v or +0.30v on the (g)MCHv and for all I know I have damaged my northbridge way back in april from trialling with these voltage increases.

I am open to further suggestions, but for now I am going to reflash my BIOS back to F9b and run my normal fully working 100% stable 3.6ghz because the boot problem exists regardless.
I might even make a small video of the scenario to help explain my case.

Thanks and Best Regards,

MATT

[7thangel]

hi, 1st post and 1st build. the specs, (this is a daw computer not a gamer build, even though i'm using a duo instead of a quad but budget dictates)

ga-ep45-ds3l
intel e7300
arctic cooling alpine pro 7
2 x 1gb corsair xms 2 ddr2 pc-6400 (800)
2 x 512 ocz ddr2 pc-4300 (533 mhz) (old)
antec 300 case
coolermaster extreme power 500w
ati radeon x300 (from current system)
dell e153pt lcd (from current system)
maxtor sata 160gb (from current system)
seagate sata 320gb (from current system)
firewire pci card (still trying to find the make that dell used)
benq 1620 (flashed from phillips 8620?)
coolermaster led silent fan 120/arctic cooling fan 120
m-audio 2496 pci soundcard
uad-1e dsp pci-e card

a few small questions:

i have put the spacers that line up to the mobo in the antec case except for 1, which i'm wondering about. the hole isn't one of those with the metal (it's above the 24 pin), should i still put a spacer and screw it in?

the case itself doesn't have a speaker connect for the front panel, how would i be able to get a system startup status beep without it (i'm still waiting to hear from antec)

i just came back from replacing my psu and i've realized that i forgot to buy arctic silver. the acrtic pro 7 has a healthy amount of thermal on it already, should i hold off until i get some?

finally (so i don't ask too much already), because my current c drive has the devils, i mean dell's, xp oem, i'm resigned to the 99% chance that i'll have to use my xp sp2 slipstream cd, but i'm wondering should i do a clean install on my current and would that get rid of dells oem version incl the recovery area (i'm backing up and ghosted the drive)? could it be replaced with a new recovery partition? i figured i would have to do it on my current as i don't know if my display will show anything without a driver but i'm not sure as i know some test the mobo outside of the case with only the psu, mem card and graphics card.

any help would be appreciated, thanks

[Lsdmeasap]

Originally Posted by drotr

I have a problem with a new ga-ep45-ud3r motherboard. I can not get it for the life of me to run 4 gig memory dual channel. It will run one memory card no problem. I have tried 2 brands of memory, Patriot pc2-8500 and OCZ pc2-8500 and both have the same issue. When both sticks are installed in the correct (same color) location, it will not post, just get a lot of short beeps. I have tried all kind of settings in the bios, including defaults but I am having no luck. Is there anything you can tell me to help me out.

You likely need to set performance enhance on standard, set trfc to 54 at least, set your ram voltage to spec, and set MCH voltage to 1.2-1.24 or so. Do this with one stick in and then save and shut down and put in the second stick. Also before this, check to be sure static tread is not too low, maybe set them both to 10 to start with

Originally Posted by infiniti25

No disrespect but I have tried all manner of settings in the bios to get around this problem, I have even tried new hardware, everything except a new CPU.
I get this issue with a single 2gb memory stick in or with 4x2gb memory sticks in.
I get this issue with a 8800GTX 768 or with a 8800GT 1gb.
I get this issue with any of my 3 hard drives and I get it with no hard drives.
I get this issue with a Enermax 1000W psu or with a Thermaltake 750w psu.
I get this issue @ stock speeds or at overclocked speeds.
My RAM does always have a 120mm fan directed over it and I also have a 80mm fan pointed down through the northbridge silent pipe fins.
I get this issue with a single ram stick in any slot.
I am 100% stable with 8GB @ stock and overclocked, the issue does not lie there.

I believe the board problem might be hardware related, do you know of any common faults? Or if its a problem with the bios chip?

I am not discounting your advice but I tried your bios settings and I get the endless reboot until it has successfully downclocked everything back to 2.4ghz and auto timings. I even tried your settings on stock fsb of 266 and upped the cpu voltage a little. I have never had much success with +0.25v or +0.30v on the (g)MCHv and for all I know I have damaged my northbridge way back in april from trialling with these voltage increases.

I am open to further suggestions, but for now I am going to reflash my BIOS back to F9b and run my normal fully working 100% stable 3.6ghz because the boot problem exists regardless.
I might even make a small video of the scenario to help explain my case.

Thanks and Best Regards,

MATT

Hmm, well I dunno what to suggest then really. I do know with more then 2Gb you do need to add some MCH Voltage, but that amount needed and what will work is dependant on the strap being used, FSB, ram speed, and tRD setting.

I doubt you damaged the NB at all, I see people using 1.45 all day long and I myself have used 1.4 without issues for long periods so I would think it is likely ok.

Is this ram on the QVL at all? Not that it matters much, but it may with 8GB

Originally Posted by 7thangel

hi, 1st post and 1st build. the specs, (this is a daw computer not a gamer build, even though i'm using a duo instead of a quad but budget dictates)

ga-ep45-ds3l
intel e7300
arctic cooling alpine pro 7
2 x 1gb corsair xms 2 ddr2 pc-6400 (800)
2 x 512 ocz ddr2 pc-4300 (533 mhz) (old)
antec 300 case
coolermaster extreme power 500w
ati radeon x300 (from current system)
dell e153pt lcd (from current system)
maxtor sata 160gb (from current system)
seagate sata 320gb (from current system)
firewire pci card (still trying to find the make that dell used)
benq 1620 (flashed from phillips 8620?)
coolermaster led silent fan 120/arctic cooling fan 120
m-audio 2496 pci soundcard
uad-1e dsp pci-e card

a few small questions:

i have put the spacers that line up to the mobo in the antec case except for 1, which i'm wondering about. the hole isn't one of those with the metal (it's above the 24 pin), should i still put a spacer and screw it in?

the case itself doesn't have a speaker connect for the front panel, how would i be able to get a system startup status beep without it (i'm still waiting to hear from antec)

i just came back from replacing my psu and i've realized that i forgot to buy arctic silver. the acrtic pro 7 has a healthy amount of thermal on it already, should i hold off until i get some?

finally (so i don't ask too much already), because my current c drive has the devils, i mean dell's, xp oem, i'm resigned to the 99% chance that i'll have to use my xp sp2 slipstream cd, but i'm wondering should i do a clean install on my current and would that get rid of dells oem version incl the recovery area (i'm backing up and ghosted the drive)? could it be replaced with a new recovery partition? i figured i would have to do it on my current as i don't know if my display will show anything without a driver but i'm not sure as i know some test the mobo outside of the case with only the psu, mem card and graphics card.

any help would be appreciated, thanks

I would add a spacer, if you think it may be needed to ensure the board does not make contact with the tray

You will just have to buy a case speaker, they are cheap! You can get on on ebay, or any of these stores for a few $$ >>>
Motherboard Case speaker - Google Product Search

If your heatsink has pre-applied paste then sure you can use that until you get more to redo it yourself. If it has USED paste on there I would advise against it but I think it would be ok likely for short term use... Just dont get lazy and forgot to redo it


Ya, I would do a clean install and format off that recovery partition as you wont be able to use a OEM Install/system on a custom board. So that and your OEM Key will be useless. As for making backup's or backup partitions to store backups yes, you can for sure do that with many apps. Like Acronis True Image is a good one.

If you need more help, please do make a new thread and I will be happy to help

[infiniti25]

I found today in my power-supply box an adaptor that is a 24pin-to-24pin with a 4pin molex that only has the yellow 12v wire.
I read the separate sheet that I also found in the box and it states,

Manual of MB Adapter For Special Motherboard Timing Compatibility Solution
Some MB (motherboard), such as Gigabyte GA-P35-DQ6, MSI P35-Platinum, might have special current timing requirements to power up. In case you have such power up problems, please use enclosed special "MB Adaptor". For other technical question, please contact your nearest ENERMAX support center.

I have taken a picture of the adaptor for someone to try and name it, but I haven't put it on my PC and uploaded it somewhere yet.

I have all my equipment connected and my overclock applied as posted previously and with f9b bios. This adaptor has single handedly solved my problems and I had used this when I first built the machine but when I overhauled it to clean out dust I must not have put it back in.

I suspect not every power supply manufacturer will supply this adaptor though and you might have to search long and hard on ebay or somewhere, if you have an enermax psu and you didn't get one you could always ask them to send you one.

Image coming soon....
EDIT: Image of motherboard adaptor hosted on google docs
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcwh3wkd_15cpfpzwgc

[7thangel]

Originally Posted by Lsdmeasap

I would add a spacer, if you think it may be needed to ensure the board does not make contact with the tray

You will just have to buy a case speaker, they are cheap! You can get on on ebay, or any of these stores for a few $$ >>>
Motherboard Case speaker - Google Product Search

If your heatsink has pre-applied paste then sure you can use that until you get more to redo it yourself. If it has USED paste on there I would advise against it but I think it would be ok likely for short term use... Just dont get lazy and forgot to redo it


Ya, I would do a clean install and format off that recovery partition as you wont be able to use a OEM Install/system on a custom board. So that and your OEM Key will be useless. As for making backup's or backup partitions to store backups yes, you can for sure do that with many apps. Like Acronis True Image is a good one.

If you need more help, please do make a new thread and I will be happy to help

thanks for the help. i'll search around the city for a computer/electronics store that will have the case speaker, if i can't i'll contact the link via email for international shipping.

as far as the thermal compound, arctic cooling uses their mx2 compound which got a very favourable review from hardwarecanucks, but i'll need some in the future in any case.

thanks again

[Lsdmeasap]

Infiniti, that is VERY ODD! Where do you think that is supposed to plug into?

I dont think it is needed for any gigabyte board for sure, all that is is a 12V lead coming out of there with no ground wire. Seems very useless and likely depending on what you plugged the 4pin molex into could fry everything.

And that quoted info is even more crazy, what would timings have to do with voltages aside from ram?

7thangel, you can likely for sure find one at your local PC shop, if not ask them and they will likely get you one out of a broken PC in the back! Or you could likely find one in a old pc around your house. If not, you can for sure likely get one at your favorite online store for your area. If you need help with that link me to where you normally shop.

You can really use any speaker, if you feel up to it cut up a headphone speaker and connect to it while you look for a normal one

Ya MX-2 is Good, I use that and TX-2 myself

[RxBoy]

Hi,

I have a big problem with a new Gigabyte motherboard GA-MA78GM-S2H. The MB is connected with a AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ and a pair of PC2-6400 RAM. The system DOES NOT start completely. There is no POST on display, no beep from speaker.

For boot testing, I only connected MB, CPU, RAM, keyboard, mouse, and a LCD monitor. The power supply and RAM work fine because I checked them on another PC. The CPU fun is rotating, and noise from hard drive can be heard. Also, I cleared CMOS following the instruction in the manual. Besides, I tested a DDR2-667 RAM, nothing changes.

I checked Gigabyte's web site. It shows this MB supports Athlon X2 6000+. I doubt the MB is dysfunctional. But before I return it to the store, I want to make sure I didn't miss anything. Any suggestions will be highly appreciated.

System details:
MB: GA-MA78GM-S2H Rev. 1.0 (Rev.1.0 is printed on the motherboard, although the label of the box says Rev. 1.1)
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.1GHz (Mfr: ADV6000DOBOX)
RAM: Corsair XMS2 4GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800
Power Supply: Thermaltake TR2 430 Watt ATX
Hard Disk: Matrox 250GB SATA1.