Z68XP-UD4 Cold Boot Memory Error Forcing OC Recovery

[NeuDub]

System specifications:

Motherboard: GA-Z68XP-UD4 (F5 BIOS)
Processor: Intel Core i7 2600K @ stock
Memory: Corsair Vengeance CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9B 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3
Graphics Card: Palit NVIDIA GTX590
Power Supply: Corsair HX750
OS Storage: Corsair Force Series 3 120GB SSD
File Storage: Western Digital Green WD20EARX 2TB HDD

PROBLEM: Cannot get system to cold-boot with memory @ 800MHz (DDR3-1600) or without tripping OC recovery and defaulting to 1333MHz memory (yet CPU will maintain 4.2GHz overclock if overclocked)


Having tested the F2 and F5 BIOS, I have not been able to get the 4x4GB memory kit to maintain DDR3-1600MHz operations on a cold-boot, nor conduct a cold-boot without tripping the failed overclock boot recovery feature before reaching P.O.S.T. (i.e. 3x failed cold-boots reverts to 1333MHz memory and activates OC recovery boot [recovery feature functioning]).

Memory settings are:

Memory @ 800MHz (DDR3-1600) 9-9-9-24 2T

BIOS Settings:

X.M.P.: Disabled
System Memory Multiplier: 16.00
Performance Enhance: Standard
DRAM Timing Selectable: Expert
Channel Interleaving: Auto
Rank Interleaving: Auto
Channel A Timing Settings:
 CAS Latency Time:  9
 tRCD:    9
 tRP:    9
 tRAS:    24
 tRC:   34 (Auto)
 tRRD:   5 (Auto)
 tWTR:   5 (Auto)
 tWR:   10 (Auto)
 tWTP:   22 (Auto)
 tWL:   8 (Auto)
 tRFC:   108 (Auto)
 tFAW:   25 (Auto)
 Command Rate(CMD): 2
 IO Latency:  1 (Auto)
 Round Trip Latency: 37 (Auto)
Channel B Timing Settings: 
 Same as Channel A

The CPU and base clock have been left at stock default settings.

CPU Clock Ratio: 34x
Base clock frequency: 100MHz

All advanced CPU Core Features left at default as well as tested with Turbo CPU Multiplier @ 42x for all four cores.

Voltage settings as set in BIOS:

Multi-Steps Load-Line: Disabled
CPU VCore: 1.260v
QPI/VTT Voltage: 1.150v
System Agent Voltage: 1.050v
Graphics Core: Auto
CPU PLL: 1.825v
DRAM Voltage: 1.525v
DRAM VRef: Auto
DRAM Termination: Auto
Ch-A DATA VRef: Auto
Ch-B DATA VRef: Auto
Ch-A Address VRef: Auto
Ch-B Address VRef: Auto

NOTES:
Click to view full size!

Any help resolving this problem would be much appreciated. Your help could allow for the system to be built into the case and the water cooling to be installed and some BF3 enjoyed. ^_^

I really hope I've overlooked something simple and can change a setting and have my issues resolved.

Thanks.

[profJim]

Re: Z68XP-UD4 Cold Boot Memory Error Forcing OC Recovery

You have an excellent power supply but....
Can you test with another power supply?
Can you test using the other 16GB memory kit?

I recently had some issues with one of my systems and fixed the problem by cleaning the motherboard memory slots and memory contacts with 91% pure rubbing alcohol.

[BobCollette]

Re: Z68XP-UD4 Cold Boot Memory Error Forcing OC Recovery

Since you have two identical systems, one which has the cold-boot problem and the other that doesn't, why not try switching the components from one system to the other. In other words, try swapping the power supply and RAM between the two systems. If the problem follows the components, then you know that it's either the PSU or RAM and you can then narrow it down further. If the problem follows the motherboard, then it's either a bad motherboard or a BIOS setting that's causing the problem. I assume that you have compared all of the BIOS settings, or better yet, save the settings from the good machine to a flash drive and then bring the flash drive to the problem machine and load the settings. I don't know what the RAM voltage is for your RAM, but my Kingston RAM is 1.5V for 1333 but jumps to 1.65V for 1600 (XMP Profile). If yours is the same, then perhaps you simply need to raise the RAM voltage.

[NeuDub]

Re: Z68XP-UD4 Cold Boot Memory Error Forcing OC Recovery

You have an excellent power supply but....
Can you test with another power supply?
Can you test using the other 16GB memory kit?

I recently had some issues with one of my systems and fixed the problem by cleaning the motherboard memory slots and memory contacts with 91% pure rubbing alcohol.

System specifications:

Motherboard: MSI X58 Eclipse SLI
Processor: Intel Core i7 920 @ stock
Memory: Corsair Dominator DDR3-1600 3x2GB (6GB)
Graphics Card: XFX GTX280
Power Supply: Corsair HX750
OS Storage: Intel X25-M 80GB SSD


This system was put together and booted fine first go and held all memory settings upon restarts and cold boots. The SSD was then formatted and Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit was installed.

There have been no problems using the PSU from system #2 on my replacement parts and I feel confident in ruling out the Corsair HX750 as the hardware at fault. Having said that though, I believe I have a spare Corsair TX750 I could test with and if need be I could pull the PC Power & Cooling 750W out of my Lian-Li system to test system #2.

Since you have two identical systems, one which has the cold-boot problem and the other that doesn't, why not try switching the components from one system to the other. In other words, try swapping the power supply and RAM between the two systems. If the problem follows the components, then you know that it's either the PSU or RAM and you can then narrow it down further. If the problem follows the motherboard, then it's either a bad motherboard or a BIOS setting that's causing the problem. I assume that you have compared all of the BIOS settings, or better yet, save the settings from the good machine to a flash drive and then bring the flash drive to the problem machine and load the settings. I don't know what the RAM voltage is for your RAM, but my Kingston RAM is 1.5V for 1333 but jumps to 1.65V for 1600 (XMP Profile). If yours is the same, then perhaps you simply need to raise the RAM voltage.

• Test system #2 using Corsair TX750 power supply
• Test memory from system #2 in system #1
• Test processor from system #2 in system #1

[profJim]

Re: Z68XP-UD4 Cold Boot Memory Error Forcing OC Recovery

;start rant
I'd like to see just one motherboard manufacturer get their act together and offer fast, decent tech support where their people fluently speak the native languages of their customers and provide meaningful advice and/or suggestions. The first mobo company than can pull this off will greatly expand their sales and customer base, even if their products are only as good as their competitors. It's too bad that they can't come up with a system where the companies contract with local computer shops to provide component testing and quality warranty repairs.
;end rant