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**profJim** · 12-07-2010, 01:15 AM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

Please a provide a link to your exact memory modules specs (for both memory models) from the Crucial website.
Are you using 4 x 2GB of memory?
You should first perform a bios clear using the procedure in http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...ash-guide.html.

Disconnect all unneeded hardware such as hard drive, audio card, mouse, etc. Your goal right now is to be able to boot into the bios with ONLY one memory module in slot #1.

Can you try booting using PS/2 keyboard?

When you get into the bios, immediately load OPTIMIZED bios settings from the main menu screen, then save settings and exit. Immediately go back into the bios and apply the suggested bios settings in http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...tml#post295784, post #5.

Before you post again, please follow steps 1 - 3 from post #5 to provide detailed information in your forum signature.
We can better help you if you post your bios settings in your posts, instead of attaching a document with the settings.

Do you have a case speaker connected to the mobo SPKR pins?
Did you use QFlash (from the main bios screen) to flash your new bios version?
Did you flash using @BIOS when in windows?
I'm not familiar with QUpdate.

You might need to try to get your system running by removing the motherboard from your computer case and place your mobo on a book or cardboard box beside the computer case.

Do you have another psu that you can test with?

**edit** These are starter steps, next step will be to get your system stable with only 2 memory modules and to run Memtest86+ for at least four full passes to ensure that your bios settings are somewhat "stable".
Booting into windows is on the back burner for now.

**profJim** · 12-07-2010, 10:41 AM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

For additional trouble-shooting tips, check out http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...tml#post301218.

If/when you are able to boot to your bios, try setting your DDR3 memory speed lower than 1333MHz.
1066 memory speeds would be ideal until you get your system stable.
If you want to reflash to your previous bios, don't do this until your system is stable.
Flashing while your system is unstable might lead to a permanently damaged (aka "bricked") motherboard.

When you're removing or installing hardware or trying to clear your bios:

power down your system
power off your psu using the psu on/off switch at the back of your case
unplug the psu cable from the back of your psu or the wall socket
then press and hold the front panel on/off switch for 10 - 15 seconds to discharge any stored electrical charge in your system.

Sometimes the system will boot after 5 - 10 boot loops.
Good Luck

**JoeR** · 12-07-2010, 07:05 PM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

Hi profJim,

Thank you for the help! I have followed the steps that you suggested (assuming that you meant clear the CMOS when you said clear the BIOS) and I am back to being able to boot again. Yeah! One problem down, a gazillion more to go (well just the problem of getting the RAM stabilized hopefully).

I modified my signature per your request and will paste my BIOS settings at the end of the message (instead of as an attachment). Here is the current situation, I am running the latest BIOS (per stasio's sticky for my MB) F2D. I was using QFlash, not QUpdate. The stress of working on this is causing my brain to fade. I booted with one stick of RAM, loaded the optimized settings and rebooted, set the other settings from the "wont post" message and rebooted.

The case speaker is wired and working.

I have only 1 DIMM in slot 3_1. This is one of the Gold sticks from Crucial BL25664BA1336. Your suggestion to incrementally work on getting things to work makes sense, and I will start with this set. The other set was purchased from NewEgg and is listed as BL25664TA1336. I don't know the equivalent product spec page at Crucial, searches for that part don't produce anything. It appears to be the same as the Gold DIMMs that I first listed, except that they are Black and have LEDs.

I can boot and force loading of Memtest (v4.0) but I get failures. I have swapped DIMMs and have the same problem with both gold sticks. The two Black bl25664ta1336 sticks pass 4 complete Memtest passes (with only one stick at a time installed at 1066). So it sounds like the system might not be quite stable yet. Explicit settings are listed below, auto is listed where it is set. I think I changed the memory speed to 1066 correctly. This system is a far cry from the days of dip switches on the old original IBM PCs!

Thank you again for your help. You are a life saver!

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 8 x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.+0.5
CPU Frequency ...........................: 2.83GHz (333x8.5)

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Disabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800mV
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 900mV
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0ps
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 0ps

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [Standard]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: <-- not listed option
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 3.20B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1333 1066
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Auto]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ 9 auto
tRCD ......................................... 9 auto
tRP'........................................... 9 auto
tRAS.......................................... 24 auto

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD........................................... 4 auto
tWTR.......................................... 5 auto
tWR............................................10 auto
tRFC...........................................74 auto
tRTP........................................... 5 auto
Command Rate (CMD) ....................: 0 auto

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................ auto

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:9 auto
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:0 Auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:0 Auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:0 Auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:0 Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:8 Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:8 Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:7 Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:9 Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto
DDR Write Leveling ...: Auto
DDR Write Training ...: Auto

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:9 auto <-- same values as channel A
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps

Motherboard Voltage Control

CPU
Load Line Calibration: Disabled
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.23750v

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: 1.200

CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: 1.500

CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: auto 0.760

CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......: <- dont see this in my MIT

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.200V
MCH Reference….…….0.760V...........; auto 0.760
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: auto 0.750
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V............: 1.500V
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: 1.100V

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 1.800V
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............: auto 0.750
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: auto 0.750 <-- I have a Data VRef and Address VRef for both channels
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: auto 0.750

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [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................: [Disabled]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Enabled]

**profJim** · 12-07-2010, 11:17 PM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

Glad you're making progress!

The first step is the hardest.
You have 4 Ballistix modules. The Black modules with the LED lights are Ballistix Tracer modules. The nearly identical part numbers for the gold and black modules indicate that they are probably from the same family/batch. This is good.

Look at the label on your psu to get the full model number. The newer D-models are not quite as good as the original EA-500 models.

Using a small piece of masking tape attached to one side of each memory heat spreader, label them as follows:
gold #1 = A
gold #2 = B
black #1 = C
black #2 = D

CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: auto 0.760 <-- this "style" is confusing, make it look like your bios screen for all settings, I get confused easily

I flunked mind reading at tweaker school

Before you test further, make the following bios changes:

Code:

CPU Clock Ratio ....................: [8] <-- set to 6 to underclock your cpu
Fine CPU Clock Ratio................:.[+0.5] <-- set to 0 (zero]

Memory Frequency (Mhz) .............: 1333 1066
DRAM Timing Selectable .............: [Auto] <-- set to MANUAL

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time..........9.........: [6] 
tRCD .....................9.........: [6]
tRP'......................9.........: [6]
tRAS.....................24.........: [20]

Advanced Timing Control <-- leave these set to [AUTO]

Channel A and B <-- both channels should always have the same setting
Static tRead Value.........9.........: [7]

MCH Core .............1.100V.........: [1.20] <-- try 1.24 - 1.26 

Leave your DATA and ADDRESS vref settings on AUTO
Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ...........: [Enabled] <-- set this to [B]Disabled[/B]

We need to determine if you have faulty memory modules and/or faulty memory slots.
To hopefully save you from having to perform 20 possible memory tests

here's what I would try:

slot 1 = module A, slot 3 = module B
slot 1 = module C, slot 3 = module D
slot 2 = module A, slot 4 = module B
slot 2 = module C, slot 4 = module D

If all dual module tests fail, you might need to perform up to 16 single module tests.

Do you see where this is heading? There is a method to my madness.

Write down the results of each test, along with Memtest86+ error details that include the pass/loop number that failed, the test number that failed, approximate # of errors. Once errors occur, that test is done and it's time to move on to the next test.

Don't get discouraged, we'll find out what the problem is. Any questions?

**edit** Avatar is on tv in about 2 hours, so I'll be here for a while.

**profJim** · 12-07-2010, 11:35 PM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

Oh POOP!!
I completely skipped your promising results with the Black Tracer Modules.
Skip tests 1 & 3 above with the gold Ballistix modules for now.
Perform tests 2 & 4 with the black Ballistix Tracers in:
-- Memory channel A using slots 1 and 3
-- Memory channel B using slots 2 and 4

Post your results of these two tests & we'll continue.

**Lsdmeasap** · 12-08-2010, 02:21 AM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

Ya, I gathered it sounded like 2 sticks pass memtest at given settings, and the other 2 sticks fail.

So sounds like you have one or two faulty modules.

Also, please verify with this app, what tRD you are actually getting from auto. This is Static tRead Value in the BIOS, Performance Level in this app
Tweakers.fr

**JoeR** · 12-08-2010, 09:42 AM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

The Static tRead Value for both Channel A and Channel B when set to Auto is 9 for all four sticks. I have modified the BIOS per profJim and am in the process of running MemTest on slots 1 & 3 of the Black DIMMs.

If both Gold DIMMs fail as a single stick at the prior settings, are they both bad? They both passed MemTest in my old MoBo (Intel DP45SG) when I put them in originally. I could understand one failing, but both? I thought they were failing in this setup due to possibly some other setting or difference (i.e. some BIOS setting). Granted in the old setup, I was never able to get them to run both at the same time at 6-6-6-20, and just took the default SPD values when in slots 1 & 3 of the Intel MoBo.

After I let these tests run on the Black DIMMs, I will see what tests are failing for the Gold and post those results, probably late this afternoon / evening.

Thanks again for all your help guys!

Originally posted by Lsdmeasap View Post

Ya, I gathered it sounded like 2 sticks pass memtest at given settings, and the other 2 sticks fail.

So sounds like you have one or two faulty modules.

Also, please verify with this app, what tRD you are actually getting from auto. This is Static tRead Value in the BIOS, Performance Level in this app
Tweakers.fr

**JoeR** · 12-08-2010, 07:15 PM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

With the changes to the BIOS that profJim suggested, my Performance Level setting as reported by MemSet 4.1 is 7. As I mentioned in my earlier post, the Static tRead Value when set to Auto in the BIOS is 9.

The failures that I am seeing with MemTest86+ v4.0 on the Gold sticks (installed one at a time in slot 3_1) appear at different addresses on all tests, except for test #7 - Random Number Sequence. The reported failure addresses ranged from 785.0MB to 2030.9MB. From what I can tell, all the failures appear in the high byte of the word being tested, 99% are resulting in ff000000, a few others come through with fe000000, f9000000, e7000000, and 9f000000. Could this be a BIOS issue, something like a leading or trailing timing (or voltage) for a read or write?

The Black Ballistix Tracer modules passed all MemTest tests 4-5 times without any failures at the current settings. My system is still set at the values profJim suggested. The tests were done with both Black Ballistix Tracer in slots 3_1 & 3_3 and then again in slots 3_2 & 3_4.

What are my next steps with both the Tracer DIMMs and the Gold DIMMs?

Thank you for your continued help. You guys are really life savers!

Originally posted by Lsdmeasap View Post

Ya, I gathered it sounded like 2 sticks pass memtest at given settings, and the other 2 sticks fail.

So sounds like you have one or two faulty modules.

Also, please verify with this app, what tRD you are actually getting from auto. This is Static tRead Value in the BIOS, Performance Level in this app
Tweakers.fr

**Lsdmeasap** · 12-09-2010, 12:07 AM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

Can you post a CPU-z screenshot of the SPD tab, one for each type of module you have.

Just want to check what the default voltage is for each at stock speeds.

If it's 1.8V then they are all the same, and the gold should pass at exactly the same settings as the black ones.

Also verify with Easytune, HWmonitor, or Everest that your memory voltage is actually being set to 1.8V. You can also check the realtime voltage in the PC Health section of the BIOS, it should be 1.8V or close

**JoeR** · 12-09-2010, 04:42 PM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

Attached is an image with the screen shots you requested. The top two CPU-z shots are with the Black Ballistix Tracer DIMMs in Slots 3_1 & 3_3. The bottom two are with the Gold Ballistix DIMMs in Slots 3_1 & 3_3. Aside from the serial numbers, they look the same. The two shots from EasyTune6 show the voltage. I have been running with the two Tracer DIMMs successfully with the BIOS DRAM voltage set to 1.80v which appears to be reported as 1.776v as noted in the top image. I tried bumping the BIOS setting to 1.82v, which yielded the bottom image showing 1.792v. The Gold DIMMs at that voltage still fail the MemTest tests. When I put the Black Tracer DIMMs back in, the system reverted to not booting and giving a continuous short beep cycle followed by a reboot. Putting the Gold back in and resetting the BIOS voltage back to 1.80v and then replacing with the Black Tracer modules allowed me to boot again.

When I originally contacted Crucial about getting these DIMMs to work in my last MoBo, they said that the SPD values didn't reflect the way I should be using them and to go by what is on the label: 1333MHz 6-6-6-20 1.8V

Any more suggestions?

Originally posted by Lsdmeasap View Post

Can you post a CPU-z screenshot of the SPD tab, one for each type of module you have.

Just want to check what the default voltage is for each at stock speeds.

If it's 1.8V then they are all the same, and the gold should pass at exactly the same settings as the black ones.

Also verify with Easytune, HWmonitor, or Everest that your memory voltage is actually being set to 1.8V. You can also check the realtime voltage in the PC Health section of the BIOS, it should be 1.8V or close

**profJim** · 12-09-2010, 08:05 PM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

When I originally contacted Crucial about getting these DIMMs to work in my last MoBo, they said that the SPD values didn't reflect the way I should be using them and to go by what is on the label: 1333MHz 6-6-6-20 1.8V

Think of the values in the SPD table as safe, "guaranteed" to work values.
Using your gold modules, try using the JDEC #2 SPD values; 8-8-8-22 and set DRAM Voltage to 1.50 volts. These values are for 1184MHz (2 x 592) speeds, and should be a piece of cake for your system with your current 1066MHz settings.

It's possible that 1.80 volts is "too much" with your current underclocked (1066) memory settings.
If Crucial had an XMP profile for 1333MHz in the SPD, it would probably be the 1333MHz 6-6-6-20 @ 1.8V values on the label.
Are you using memory slots #1 & #3 for all your two module tests?

Please include Memset using the SPD and ">>" tabs when your post additional screen-shots along with Cpu-z information.
Including EasyTune6 --> TUNER tab --> ADVANCE tab --> VOLTAGE tab (only the Voltage tab is needed) helps us confirm that applied voltage settings match your posted bios settings.

If you test with only one gold module at a time, you will probably find that only one of the module has errors and/or boot-loop problems.

**JoeR** · 12-09-2010, 11:44 PM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

Thanks for explaining the lingo! It helps me understand a little bit of what is going on (emphasis on the little). I have changed the BIOS settings as you suggested to 8-8-8-22, w/DRAM voltage set to 1.50 and installed both Gold DIMMs. Surprisingly (to me at least), they seem to run MemTest86+ without any errors. Of course, that was only a single pass of the test so I could come back on and post the results. I will run the test overnight to see if it can pass multiple times.

For what it is worth, the Gold sticks are in slots 2 & 4 at the moment. It seems the motherboard needs to see the RAM in a different slots to break out of the reboot cycle. If I change the slots, I have a better chance of booting successfully.

Originally posted by profJim View Post

Think of the values in the SPD table as safe, "guaranteed" to work values.
Using your gold modules, try using the JDEC #2 SPD values; 8-8-8-22 and set DRAM Voltage to 1.50 volts. These values are for 1184MHz (2 x 592) speeds, and should be a piece of cake for your system with your current 1066MHz settings.

It's possible that 1.80 volts is "too much" with your current underclocked (1066) memory settings.
If Crucial had an XMP profile for 1333MHz in the SPD, it would probably be the 1333MHz 6-6-6-20 @ 1.8V values on the label.
Are you using memory slots #1 & #3 for all your two module tests?

Please include Memset using the SPD and ">>" tabs when your post additional screen-shots along with Cpu-z information.
Including EasyTune6 --> TUNER tab --> ADVANCE tab --> VOLTAGE tab (only the Voltage tab is needed) helps us confirm that applied voltage settings match your posted bios settings.

If you test with only one gold module at a time, you will probably find that only one of the module has errors and/or boot-loop problems.

**profJim** · 12-10-2010, 04:11 PM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

Think of the values in the SPD table as safe, "guaranteed" to work values.

My statement (above) is simplistic, as other bios settings need to be properly set, such as in the post I linked to (post #5) in the second post in this thread. It's good that you got the point.

When you post a screen-shot, please crop the unused white space in the top, bottom, left and right areas before you upload the image image. This will display your screen-shot as a larger image.

Please include the following information in your screen-shots:

Memset using the SPD and ">>" tabs
cpu-z CPU and Mainboard screens (several instances can be run at the same time)
EasyTune6 --> TUNER tab --> ADVANCE tab --> VOLTAGE tab (only the Voltage tab is needed)
CoreTemp screen [for your cpu's VID (Voltage ID)]

along with any other useful information that relates to your tests.
Feel free to include your bios settings so that we know what settings were used.
When you add your bios template settings, your can "wrap" the bios settings in a compact "CODE" section by selecting the bios text and pressing the # icon.

If your current test completes with no errors,use the following settings:

Code:

CPU Clock Ratio -----------------: [6] <-- cpu still underclocked
Fine CPU Clock Ratio ------------: [+0.0] 
Cpu Frequency (Mhz) -------------: 1200
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) --------: [375] <-- 6 x 375 = 2.25GHz (underclocked)
System Memory Multiplier ------- : [3.20B] <-- 375 x 3.20 = 1200MHz memory speed

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time ------- ?? ---- : [8] <-- using Jedec#1 SPD values
tRCD  ------------------ ?? ---- : [8]
tRP -------------------- ?? ---- : [8]
tRAS  ------------------ ?? ---- : [22]

MCH Core ------------- 1.10V --- : [1.26] <-- 1.28 or higher might be needed for stability
DRAM Voltage --------- 1.80V --- : [1.50] <-- per SPD for 1200MHz

If there are no errors, the next step will be to test your memory at 1333MHz using 9-9-9-24 (1.50 volts) or the tighter 6-6-6-20 (1.80 volts) with your cpu underclocked.

Once we've found the maximum stable memory speed with your cpu underclocked, we'll get your cpu running at stock or higher speeds. First we need to know if your memory modules are all OK and that there aren't any problems with your motherboard's memory slots.

MCH Core = 1.20 (in post #4) is probably the primary cause of your system's instability with your DDR3 memory.

**Lsdmeasap** · 12-11-2010, 02:12 AM

Re: GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

Let us know how you get along with further testing.

Thanks for the images, but they didn't show what I was looking for anyway. Odd to see 1333Mhz Tracers and or Ballistix, I always thought they were 1600 or above only.

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GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

GA-EP45T-USB3 & Crucial Ballistix help requested

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