Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

[the_jc]

This is my second EP45-UD3P board and I'm having a couple issues. You guys helped me out last time and I'm hoping you can do it again

My problems are skipping audio, failing prime 95 blend test and the occasional crash during a game. I monitored temps during prime 95 and I don't even think I hit 50c so I don't think temps are my problem.

System is NOT overclocked right now.

Specs:
Case: LIAN LI PC-A05NB
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300
CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS9500
Ram: Patriot Viper II 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) (PV224G8500ELK)
HD: Western Digital Caviar Black 750GB
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTS 250 512MB
PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W

Running Win 7 Pro x64

I'd like to OC it but right now I'm mostly concerned with getting this audio skip to go away. I've updated all the drivers I can think of.

Settings:

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto 
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 7x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:+0.<wbr>5
CPU Frequency ...........................: 2.5ghz - 333X7.5


Clock Chip Control 
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Disable] 
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333 Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: This is on Auto . Should I set to 100?

C.I.A.2 ..............................<wbr>...:[Disabled]


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


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [333]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 3.20B
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1066
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................ 5
tRCD ..............................<wbr>........... 5
tRP'..........................<wbr>.................5
tRAS..........................<wbr>................15

Set all Suggested below to highest Values first.  Then later you can lower, one at a time, testing as you go

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD..........................<wbr>.................4 Auto
tWTR..........................<wbr>................4 Auto
tWR...........................<wbr>.................8 Auto
tRFC..........................<wbr>.................68 Auto
tRTP..........................<wbr>.................4 Auto
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:0  Auto

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

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................<wbr>: Auto
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:<wbr>Auto <<< Leave for all below as well
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:<wbr>Auto
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:<wbr>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

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................<wbr>: Auto
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:<wbr>Auto <<< Leave for all below as well
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:<wbr>Auto
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:<wbr>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
CPU Vcore….………....................<wbr>.....:Auto 

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

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

CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......<wbr>: <<< Auto

CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......:<wbr><<< .67% Of Vtt (Termination above) Auto Will set this correctly 

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V..........<wbr>.: Auto << 
MCH Reference….…….0.760V..........<wbr>.; Auto<<< Leave
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: Auto <<< Leave
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V..........<wbr>..: Auto <<< Leave
ICH Core…………...……1.100V...........<wbr>.: Auto <<< Leave

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 2.10
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]  (Should I keep this Disabled??)
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function......................<wbr>...: [Disabled] (Same here. disable?)
Virtualization Technology................: Don't see this setting...?

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled] *Note* Must be enabled to flash from USB

[the_jc]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

Also, I have set power settings to performance and uninstalled DES and EasyTune.

[the_jc]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

...

[Chike]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

Have you ran memtest86+? Does it pass or fail?

Try increasing MCH Core, 1.2-1.24v, start low then add if still not stable. If more MCH Core does not help try less 1.05-0.95v.

Fill your forum signature with your system specs, add board revision and BIOS version.
A screen capture of MemSet main(click >>) and SPD(click spd) windows will also be helpful.

[the_jc]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

Sorry I failed to mention that it has passed memtest86+ v 4.0. I ran it for about 2-3 hours, which I think was 5 passes.

Board revision is 1.6 and the BIOS is the newest version, dated 2009/11/24.

[the_jc]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

[Chike]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

Also try Driving Strength 1066 or 1200 for both channels.

[kick]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

Skipping audio and game crashing are are hard to tell about.
recheck all board connections?

I have to leave my headset plugged into front usb permanently and just use the realtek audio manager to switch between spkr or headset output(may be nothing to do with your prob).

Load and save optimised defaults and reboot :

I dont follow "power settings set to performance" with easytune uninstalled.

Do you mean memory performance set to [standard]

Here are my Q8200-Q8400 settings which I dont mind posting now they worky looong time:

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/q8400-q8200-overclock-ep-45-ud3-high-fsb-37179/

settings may not be much use to you right now tho.
The audio skip thing,I remember seeing a problem like that way back in the forum.. it may have been on a different board tho ga-73pvm s2 i think and I dont remember the solution.
the game crashing and audio skip are related ? do u get gx skipping also?
check out your dx installation,see if its working properly(run dx diagnostics) or whatever the equivalent is in windows 7.
I had to install older nvidia gx card drivers on my machine 1.182 i think .. the later ones were causing me problems.

However the prime 95 testing is getting errors,so it could be more basic:

After you load and save the optimised defaults,if you still have problems you could manually set the memory to run at 800mhz for testing.you can see the profile for it..the jedec0# :
set mch latch to auto then use the 2:40B multiplier. set ram v to auto it should only need the ~1.8v at that speed.
Still tho it should work ok with the optimised defaults.
If you dont want to try the 800mhz memory just yet you could as suggested above raise the mch V a bit and also the ram voltage you have set at 2.1,thats what u have set in bios but the memory may be only recieving 2.06-2.08v try 2.14v in bios in case it needs that to hold 1066mhz under heavy testing(prime blend).

The settings you are wondering about to disable or not..you should only really need to disable those when you start off on your overclocking journey.
For now I would leave everything at standard and try the optimised defaults first.then perhaps go for the mch v increase and test,then if no joy the ram voltage to 2.14. etc

The virtualisation technology .. Q8200 doesnt have it,Q8300 is probably the same.Q8400 does have it.
Its not a huge deal unless u want to run an older version of windows or similar inside a shell for older games/software etc.

xmp or if you like enhanced performance profile for the memory .Most recommendations are to leave it turned off in bios. However Ive tried it and it works ok AT STOCK SETTINGS.
If it was me Id try it just for experimentation.Nothing bad is going to happen at those speeds.If you do try it the board should read your EPP2# from the memory and apply the settings.
If it works ok see what settings are in memset when you boot into windows ,write them down or do a capture (dont hit the save button in memset)and remember to turn xmp off again when you start to overclock.

nb One of the reasons I mentioned trying the memory at 800mhz is you may not be able to reach your max stable cpu overclock (im guessing around 3.75 Ghz),with your memory at 1066+..but thats for later..

[the_jc]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

Thanks a lot kick. I just got in to work right now so I'll try your suggestions when I get home this evening.

[the_jc]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

Skipping audio and game crashing are are hard to tell about.
recheck all board connections?

I'll recheck but the skipping is very random and it's not just skipping, it's more of a ERRRRRRRRRRRRR. If that makes any sense.

I dont follow "power settings set to performance" with easytune uninstalled.

I meant windows power settings are set to performance.

settings may not be much use to you right now tho.
The audio skip thing,I remember seeing a problem like that way back in the forum.. it may have been on a different board tho ga-73pvm s2 i think and I dont remember the solution.
the game crashing and audio skip are related ? do u get gx skipping also?
check out your dx installation,see if its working properly(run dx diagnostics) or whatever the equivalent is in windows 7.
I had to install older nvidia gx card drivers on my machine 1.182 i think .. the later ones were causing me problems.

No graphics skipping but I'll try running dx diagnostics.

However the prime 95 testing is getting errors,so it could be more basic:

After you load and save the optimised defaults,if you still have problems you could manually set the memory to run at 800mhz for testing.you can see the profile for it..the jedec0# :
set mch latch to auto then use the 2:40B multiplier. set ram v to auto it should only need the ~1.8v at that speed.
Still tho it should work ok with the optimised defaults.
If you dont want to try the 800mhz memory just yet you could as suggested above raise the mch V a bit and also the ram voltage you have set at 2.1,thats what u have set in bios but the memory may be only recieving 2.06-2.08v try 2.14v in bios in case it needs that to hold 1066mhz under heavy testing(prime blend).

The settings you are wondering about to disable or not..you should only really need to disable those when you start off on your overclocking journey.
For now I would leave everything at standard and try the optimised defaults first.then perhaps go for the mch v increase and test,then if no joy the ram voltage to 2.14. etc

The virtualisation technology .. Q8200 doesnt have it,Q8300 is probably the same.Q8400 does have it.
Its not a huge deal unless u want to run an older version of windows or similar inside a shell for older games/software etc.

xmp or if you like enhanced performance profile for the memory .Most recommendations are to leave it turned off in bios. However Ive tried it and it works ok AT STOCK SETTINGS.
If it was me Id try it just for experimentation.Nothing bad is going to happen at those speeds.If you do try it the board should read your EPP2# from the memory and apply the settings.
If it works ok see what settings are in memset when you boot into windows ,write them down or do a capture (dont hit the save button in memset)and remember to turn xmp off again when you start to overclock.

nb One of the reasons I mentioned trying the memory at 800mhz is you may not be able to reach your max stable cpu overclock (im guessing around 3.75 Ghz),with your memory at 1066+..but thats for later..

Thanks for the rest of your tips. I am gradually trying them. When you mentioned trying to run at 800, I realized that I have a 2GB PC6400 set so maybe I will try those to see if my results are any different.

[the_jc]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

I ended up getting sick and haven't had much time to try stuff. I did the optimized settings and 2.12 ram voltage and just had prime 95 fail within 3 minutes...

:(

[the_jc]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

I am now trying mch @ 1.16 and ram v @ 2.1.

[the_jc]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

Failure @ the 13 minute mark.

[Chike]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

More MCH Core, up to 1.24v is quite normal for such memory configuration.

[the_jc]

Re: Need help with EP45-UD3P w/ 4GB Patriot Viper 2

I increased MCH Core up to 1.22v and prime95 ran for about an hour and half before I stopped it to play Left 4 Dead. I had 2 crashes during the game.

So now I've upped it to 1.24v and will be testing.

Sorry for the constant updates. I'm posting to help myself keep track of what I've tried.