GA-MA78G-DS3H and EPP

[Zyxmon]

Gigabyte mb - GA-MA78G-DS3H Bios F4
Processor Athlon X2 5200+ Brisbane G2
Memory TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX 2x 1gb kit)
HDD Hitachi HDP725050GLA360

The system is not very stable - it randomly freezes (need to push reset button) and randomly reboots. This does not depend on cpu load. The system can be stable for a week (24/7) and can halt 3 times a day afterwards. Memtest shows no errors in dual mode. AMD overdrive stability test pesses. No problems with 3DMark'06!

So I've decided to tweak some secondary memory timings and noticed that EPP profile that is enabled by default has tWR value 8, while the automatic settings set it to 6.
Here is a screenshot of everest with EPP profile

http://www.zyxmon.org/tmp/everest.jpg

And here are the timings set with EPP enabled in BIOS

http://www.zyxmon.org/tmp/chipset.jpg

The M.I.T page also shows 6 in auto timings when EPP is enabled. 6 is the largest value that can be set through bios.

Today I've flashed the new BIOS f5h. I have done "Load Optimezed Defaults" before and after flashing. EPP Timings and voltage were disabled after "Load Optimezed Defaults" in f5h. EPP settings were enabled by default in F3 and F4 bioses.
But what is more strange the Auto column on M.I.T page shows the timings that were in bios F4, but the spd column looks strange now, something like 4-6-6-18. There a now such timings in spd as shown in cpu-z and everest (see the sceenshot).

Is it a mobo bios bug?
Some help in tweaking secondary memory timings to increase stability would be appresiated. Now I am testing the stability with increased trfc 105->127.5 and tRC 22->24.

[VorLonUK]

Re: GA-MA78G-DS3H and EPP

Are you using Vista?

If you are, it is less forgiving than say previous OS's as part of it's security feature is to load programs in different places of RAM everytime you reboot. So in the past, less than perfect address ranges of RAM may have never been used. Almost a bit like a Video Tape, where the first half often got used more than the second.

This Vista feature is called ASLR. I found I'd have the odd Vista Freeze (hard lock) even when Prime95 and memtest showed no errors. However i have noted that on my board the RAM voltage does vary inconjunction with heat. If you then have your RAM Voltage close to a threshold where it may or maynot work without error, ie when the PC is cold - you could find upon the first boot that it freezes on the Vista Progress bar on bootup, but works correctly on every subsequent boot (ie when warm).
The answer is to increment the Ram voltage by one notch. Either 0.05 or 0.1volts whichever is the smallest on your bios.

You'll probably say you are using XP now - lol

I'd set:-

1) Main timings to 5-5-5-15
2) Performance Enhance = Standard
3) tRFC = 46 (you shouldn't need to go higher with just 2GB at 800Mhz)
4) DDR2 Voltage = 1.9 to 2.0 volts
5) tRD = 8 (could go lower for performance - but at 8 for stability testing)

Edit:-
If your Auto SPD readings look way off you could go back to an earlier bios than the very latest. Also a bios number with a suffix is usually beta. Also it is preferable to use Q-Flash when Updating the bios.

Timing reference:-

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/memory-timings-explained-w-suggested-timings-memset-vs-bios-27283/

[Zyxmon]

Re: GA-MA78G-DS3H and EPP

VorLonUK Thank you for your reply.
I am using windows xp sp3 32 bit. "Memory Timings Explained W/ Suggested Timings & Memset VS. BIOS" is a great article. I've found it searching for explanations of memory timings. I am using Q-Flash to update Bios.
I'm sure that using this memory as cas5 memory at 1.8-2.0V will give no problems.
This is a screenshot with memory timings in BIOS

http://www.zyxmon.org/tmp/dram1.jpg

The SDP and Auto columns correspond to SPD at 1.8.
The manual column correspond to EPP profile (If I set the EPP enabled in BIOS Auto and SPD will be the same as Manual) This is for BIOS F4.
tRFC timings are set in ns. I think tRFC = 46 is even lower then 105ns.
There is no tRD in the mobo Bios.

There is no information on Gigabyte site that F5H is a beta bios, but I have read somewere that a bios number with a suffix is usually beta.
Of coarse I'll try to loosen main timings if I'll have no stability with 4-4-4-12.

[alexx88]

Re: GA-MA78G-DS3H and EPP

i have similar problems + random freezes but when the system is not on full load and it all started after i added a Sapphire HD4830 as a video card. Random freezes in BIOS or when idle and i think i found a solution: better cooling for the northbridge. prior to this the chipset's heatsink felt very hot but now it's muuuch cooler and the system seems pretty stable so far. hope it helps!

[stasio]

Re: GA-MA78G-DS3H and EPP

GA-MA78G-DS3H (rev. 1.0) BIOS F5 is already out
Update CPU ID (AGESA3.3.2.0)

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-MA78G-DS3H and EPP

trfc would not need to be more then 105ns for 2x1GB of ram, and your twr value question 6-8 is not going to matter much either unless you run into stability issues. And actually you are trying to compare tWR and tWRT two very different settings

Please run this for 5-10 full passes >>>
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Do you have your BIOS set to Ganged Mode for Dual Channel, if not please do so

[Zyxmon]

Re: GA-MA78G-DS3H and EPP

trfc would not need to be more then 105ns for 2x1GB of ram, and your twr value question 6-8 is not going to matter much either unless you run into stability issues. And actually you are trying to compare tWR and tWRT two very different settings

Please run this for 5-10 full passes >>>
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Do you have your BIOS set to Ganged Mode for Dual Channel, if not please do so

With the settings I've posted before the computer seems to be stable for 6 days now (trfc 105->127.5 and tRC 22->24).
I have already run memtest86+ for 3 full passes with no errors. I'll try more passes.
AFAIR Ganged Mode is for Phenom and not for X2 that I have.
There is sure a BIOS bug with setting incorrect tWR from EPP. I'll try F5 instead of F5H, probably it is fixed.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-MA78G-DS3H and EPP

Could be about Ganged? I am not sure about much for AMD, but I do know Ganged is for Dual Channel on AMD