EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

[campbesd]

I know this isn't the first UD3P cold boot thread on these forums, but i've been reading many old topics and I can't get any of the suggestions previously posted to work on my system (but this could be because of user error, or my ignorance).

My particular cold boot issue goes like this: When I boot the machine after being off for 4+ hrs, it will always fail on the first try. When it fails changes, however. Sometimes it will power up (fans start) for a few seconds, restart once or twice, and then boot into windows.

Sometimes it blue screens immediately. Sometimes it gets almost into windows and then blue screens.

The error messages on the blue screen are always different (have never seen the same one twice over 2 months of use.

Once it boots into Windows, it is perfectly stable, and I can restart successfully ad nauseum. I can turn it off and then boot up 2 hrs later with no problems.

I know that cold boot errors are usually due to RAM problems, but I've run Memtest for around 4-6 hrs and it found no errors.

Here are my MBIT settings


Robust Graphics Booster ...............: [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio .......................: [ 9]
Fine CPU Clock Ratio...................: +0.0
CPU Frequency .........................: 3.00GHz

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control.................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 333Mhz
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.)........: [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch.................: Auto
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 3.2B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ................: 1066
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time.......................: 5
tRCD ..................................: 5
tRP'...................................: 5
tRAS...................................: 15

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...................................: 4
tWTR...................................: 4
tWR....................................: 8
tRFC...................................: 54
tRTP...................................: 4
Command Rate (CMD) ....................: 0

Channel A
Static tRead Value.....................: 8
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]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.....................: [Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.....................: 8
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]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............: [Auto]
DDR Write Training.....................: [Auto]

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type...........................: [Manual]

CPU---------------------Normal-----------Current

Load Line Calibration..................: [Disabled]
CPU Vcore...............1.25000V.......: [Auto]
CPU Termination.........1.200V.........: [Auto]
CPU PLL.................1.500V.........: [Auto]
CPU Reference...........0.760V.........: [Auto]

MCH/ICH
MCH Core................1.100V.........: 1.100V <----I've tried setting this to 1.2, but the system fails to restart twice and then gives me a message about an overclock setting that caused the system failure.
MCH Reference...........0.760V.........: [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Reference......0.900V.........: [Auto]
ICH I/O.................1.500V.........: [Auto]
ICH Core................1.100V.........: [Auto]

DRAM
DRAM Voltage............1.800V.........: 2.000V
DRAM Termination........0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel A Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]
Channel B Reference.....0.900V.........: [Auto]

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 .............: [Disabled]</pre>
any help would be greatly appreciated.

[kick]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

Well for a reply,which may or may not be of use but at least it bumpsthe post.
How old is the system,well more specifically the components?
If its only a "cold problem" perhaps a slow start up fan could be to blame.
Reseat all the compononents clean out the dust etc .

Save your regular bios if you havent already,then before you shut pc down for awhile load the optimum defaults and save them,boot up then shut down.If you still get the prob next time you start up,it could be mechanical,(dust,cold temps/loose contacts/fans not spinning up rapidly enough).
If its an electrical component,you might just have to test each one.

[campbesd]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

Well for a reply,which may or may not be of use but at least it bumpsthe post.
How old is the system,well more specifically the components?
If its only a "cold problem" perhaps a slow start up fan could be to blame.
Reseat all the compononents clean out the dust etc .

Save your regular bios if you havent already,then before you shut pc down for awhile load the optimum defaults and save them,boot up then shut down.If you still get the prob next time you start up,it could be mechanical,(dust,cold temps/loose contacts/fans not spinning up rapidly enough).
If its an electrical component,you might just have to test each one.

the components are pretty new. I built this machine during the first week of January. I just recently opened it up and dusted it out and redid most of the connections, but that didn't change anything.

The optimized default bios doesn't eliminate the cold start issue. For one thing, the motherboard undervolts my RAM by default by .3V. But even adjusting that doesn't eliminate the issue.

Not sure how I could test a slow-starting fan or electrical components, but I'm definitely willing to try.

For what it's worth, my RAM isn't on Gigabyte's supported list. I know this doesn't mean that it won't work, but I've read about issues between G-Skill RAM and my motherboard elsewhere, but nothing that definitely says it is the RAM's fault.

I don't have another set of RAM I can test with my machine unfortunately, but I suppose I could buy another set of DDR2 1066 2x2 GB and see if that changes anything. At the very least I'd be running 2x4 after it I suppose, and it would only cost me about $60. Does this seem like a good idea to anyone?

Obviously if I can avoid spending more, I'd like to do that though. I've never come close to maxing out 4GB or RAM, so 8 would just be overkill...

[Nickel020]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

Have you tried running the RAM at DDR2 800? If that works we know that this is no general compatability issue. It should then be fixable by fine tuning the timings. Btw, have you tried leaving all the timings on auto and setting Performance Enhance to Standard?
Have you run any tests other than Memtest? No stability test is 100% reliable so while Memtest doesn't give you errors Prime 95 might.

[kick]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

I havent seen any unsolveable problems with Gskill mem aside from my own and others using 800mhz mem above 1000(argh :)
Ive seen people compaining about the undervoltage on the board...myself included.
If its running ,03/.05 under bump it up that much in the bios.2.3v for ddr2 memory is supposed to be the start of the danger zone.
Ive no idea how to test fan spin up speed.
I just know it was a cause of boot failure on a pc I had.Yes i had to have the side casing off and spin the fan with my finger from cold and quickly hit the power on button befoe the fan stopped. Hi tech soln.
If components are all newish ,thats probably unlikely,i thought maybe you had used an old cooler from a previous pc.
if u have another 4 lead fan connect that to the cpu fan header.make sure the cpu fan is connected to another header too.Just to test.If the problem never occurs again,perhaps cpu fan is failing.
Send it back .
It seems to me that the most pc strain is under startup and then full load,maybe some setting is right on the edge,Which one ive no idea,or maybe some component is failing.
Otherwise I guess just follow nickels suggestions.
I know cold boot probs would annoy me a lot!

[campbesd]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

Have you tried running the RAM at DDR2 800? If that works we know that this is no general compatability issue. It should then be fixable by fine tuning the timings. Btw, have you tried leaving all the timings on auto and setting Performance Enhance to Standard?
Have you run any tests other than Memtest? No stability test is 100% reliable so while Memtest doesn't give you errors Prime 95 might.

I've actually been running Prime95 priority 10 for the past 2.5 hrs with no flaws so far. I tried setting Performance Enhance to Standard with no timing alterations last night (after reading another thread here) but still had issues this morning.

Then again, I did have some voltages up higher than usual as well (MCH and DRAM, I think), so maybe I'll reset to optimized defaults, then change performance enhance to standard and see how that works.

If that doesn't work, I'll drop the multipler to a 2.4 (which should drop the RAM to 800MHz like you suggested) and try that the next morning.

Is there any way to force a cold boot quicker than letting it sit for 5+hrs? It makes it extremely hard to test these things because there is always a day in between when I can test new settings...

[campbesd]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

I havent seen any unsolveable problems with Gskill mem aside from my own and others using 800mhz mem above 1000(argh :)
Ive seen people compaining about the undervoltage on the board...myself included.
If its running ,03/.05 under bump it up that much in the bios.2.3v for ddr2 memory is supposed to be the start of the danger zone.
Ive no idea how to test fan spin up speed.
I just know it was a cause of boot failure on a pc I had.Yes i had to have the side casing off and spin the fan with my finger from cold and quickly hit the power on button befoe the fan stopped. Hi tech soln.
If components are all newish ,thats probably unlikely,i thought maybe you had used an old cooler from a previous pc.
if u have another 4 lead fan connect that to the cpu fan header.make sure the cpu fan is connected to another header too.Just to test.If the problem never occurs again,perhaps cpu fan is failing.
Send it back .
It seems to me that the most pc strain is under startup and then full load,maybe some setting is right on the edge,Which one ive no idea,or maybe some component is failing.
Otherwise I guess just follow nickels suggestions.
I know cold boot probs would annoy me a lot!

I might just buy an aftermarket cooler and replace the CPU fan. I was planning on overclocking this machine from the time I bought it, but I've held off because I haven't been able to fix this boot issue.

But like I said, I'm going to end up with an overclocked machine anyway, so I might as well get the fan now and see if that helps, right?

[yako]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

I also had cold boot issue with my previous rig. After turning it off for the night. I would have to try and power it on and off multiple times in order to get the PC to post.
I was busy to deal with it back then, so I left it alone, the problem got worse and then after about 6months. It got so bad that I didn't bother turning the computer off once it was running.

Anyway, one day I did turn it off and it never post again, everything turns on just no post. As it turns out my Power supply is screwed and it fried my motherboard slowly.
I had replaced both parts.
While I did try the Power supply on a different motherboard known to be working it didn't post either. Same case with my old motherboard with a different power supply.

My suspicion in my case was the fact that my power supply started swaying out of spec to cause the malfunction. Which is my I think it got worse as time went by.

I can only suggest try a different power supply if you can. Isolate the problem by just running with bare minimum. CPU + RAM + Motherboard + Graphics card. Preferably one that is not power hungry.

[kick]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

If I had to bet! Yako's experience sounds more likely than mine.
Since your parts are new ,you should be able to return anything faulty.
Determining if it really is the psu,I dont know how since its running fine aside from cold.
The loan of/using a spare one would do it of course but that might not be an option.
For other than mild oclks a decent aftermarket cooler is recommended,but if cpu fan isnt the prob a new cooler would just be annoying.
Id go with your original plan of fixing the problem first.
As an aside when I ordered my bits n pieces I had some cash left over on the cc voucher.
I had just enough left for a $15 "no name" 480w psu,which is in a second pc with my older parts .
It does run the pc I have now,so I have a backup in case this psu becomes suspect.
The cooler I have is a coolermaster v8 which is around $50 I think.( I bought mine in europe).

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

Have you tried adding MCH Voltage, this is normally needed for 2x2GB. Most of your settings look to be ok other then that.

I would try 1.2-1.24 first, then if no luck try 1.05

[campbesd]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

Have you tried adding MCH Voltage, this is normally needed for 2x2GB. Most of your settings look to be ok other then that.

I would try 1.2-1.24 first, then if no luck try 1.05

I was playing around with those voltages yesterday and I couldn't get the motherboard to post at anything over 1.15, and 1.05 didn't post either.

prime95 ran for over 6 hrs with no stability issues. Tonight I'm going to try Nickel020's suggestion of setting everything back to defaults, then adjusting only Performance enhance and DRAM voltage.

If that doesn't work, I have found someone with DDR2 800 2x2GB RAM, I might borrow that and stick it in and see if that solves any issues.

As far as the ability to return parts, most of my RMA periods with newegg have expired. All I can currently RMA are the PSU and the video card I think. So I need to figure out if the issues do lie with the PSU pretty quickly before my RMA period expires on that as well.

If only I could try this more than once or twice per day.

[campbesd]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

If I had to bet! Yako's experience sounds more likely than mine.
Since your parts are new ,you should be able to return anything faulty.
Determining if it really is the psu,I dont know how since its running fine aside from cold.
The loan of/using a spare one would do it of course but that might not be an option.
For other than mild oclks a decent aftermarket cooler is recommended,but if cpu fan isnt the prob a new cooler would just be annoying.
Id go with your original plan of fixing the problem first.
As an aside when I ordered my bits n pieces I had some cash left over on the cc voucher.
I had just enough left for a $15 "no name" 480w psu,which is in a second pc with my older parts .
It does run the pc I have now,so I have a backup in case this psu becomes suspect.
The cooler I have is a coolermaster v8 which is around $50 I think.( I bought mine in europe).

gotcha, I'm going on spring break in a little over a week, so if I haven't solved anything by then I'm thinking of RMA'ing the PSU. It's made a high pitched whine since I built the PC but I've just dealt with it. If there's a possibility it's both annoying me and causing my cold boot issues then I'll either RMA it or buy a new one. If it still doesn't work after I switch out the RAM, I would think the next most likely culprit would be either the Motherboard or the PSU, from everything I've read. At that point, I might need to start talking with OCZ.

[campbesd]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

So I've developed a new symptom this morning. And this happened on every boot.

Once I got into windows, the mouse shows the "loading" circle next to the mouse pointer for about 3 seconds. Then, the desktop image corrupts and the computer freezes. I see lots of horizontal lines which are distortions of the desktop image.

This came out of the blue. This doesn't happen in safe mode, so I uninstalled the razer software and drivers for the arctosa keyboard I installed this morning and managed to get the machine to boot properly. Strange...

Edit: Yep, so it's definitely the Razer software and drivers. I've never had an issue like this before, but I've installed/uninstalled the drivers and program 3 times, and each time I can replicate the freeze and artifacting. The keyboard works perfectly without the software and drivers though, so I just won't install it I suppose.

[campbesd]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

I tried booting with my RAM @ 800 MHz with appropriate voltage settings, and I still had the cold boot crashes.

I swapped RAM with a friend, and her 2x2GB DDR2 800MHz booted without issue in my computer this morning. Meanwhile, my RAM did not have any cold boot issues in her computer either.

I want to test the swapped RAM for a day or two more, but if both sets of RAM experience no more cold boot issues, what does this mean?

Would it just point to incompatibility between my motherboard and my original G-Skill RAM? Or could it just mean that I need to further fine tune the voltages with my original RAM?

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: EP45-UD3P Cold Boot problems, no idea where to start

Hmm, odd to see a keyboard driver cause screen corruption, but hey I see something new everyday!

As for your ram, it is possible that your board does not like that particular set of memory (model # or just that Particular set?) without more testing it is hard to tell.

What memory did you borrow from your friend? And what Board is she using your memory in?