System smooth with an Athlon II but not an FX?

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BansheeL

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Jul 11, 2013
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RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8 GB (2x 4GB) DDR3 1600
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0
HD: WD Blue 1 TB
PSU: OCZ Pro 600W
Video Card:Radeon HD 7750
CPU: AMD FX-6300
OS: Vista 64

I've posted about this elsewhere, and I assumed I had found the problem.
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1731673/ram-dimm-somthing.html

The system keeps freezing in Windows and the two tools I have been using are Prime 95 and Memtest (as well as keeping track of temperatures).

I thought it was the FX 6100 I had installed originally, as it had 10+ bent pins. It ran great, except for the constant freezing. I could not get it to run Memtest or Prime 95, so I dropped in an old AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana, and it ran like a dream.

So I ordered another processor. The FX 6300 was on sale, so I picked it up. Now the freezing is back and both Memtest and Prime 95 won't run.

Can anyone tip me off as to why a two supported processors won't work while an old one will? The BIOS version is 1503, while the FX 6*** support was added in 1006.
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A97_LE_R20/

The newest BIOS is 1709. Would flashing the BIOS help?

Other than that, maybe my 600 W PSU is inadequate, but both the 450 and the 6300 are 95w processors.
 
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bobbybamf12

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Well you don't have the latest bios. The latest is 1708 so I would update to that before trying any other troubleshooting methods.

Here is the link: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A97_R20/#support_Download_30

Even though, It says you need bios 1003 to run the fx 6300 it's always worth a try to update to the latest bios. Since normally the latest bios updates are normally the most stable.

That will most likely fix the issue...hopefully. If not check to see if your cpu and memory is getting the right amount of voltage. I had a Asrock before that had my CPU voltage at 1.475v at the default setting but really it was suppose to be 1.35. So if the bios update does not work just take a look at that.
 
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bobbybamf12

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Well you don't have the latest bios. The latest is 1708 so I would update to that before trying any other troubleshooting methods.

Here is the link: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A97_R20/#support_Download_30

Even though, It says you need bios 1003 to run the fx 6300 it's always worth a try to update to the latest bios. Since normally the latest bios updates are normally the most stable.

That will most likely fix the issue...hopefully. If not check to see if your cpu and memory is getting the right amount of voltage. I had a Asrock before that had my CPU voltage at 1.475v at the default setting but really it was suppose to be 1.35. So if the bios update does not work just take a look at that.
 
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iam2thecrowe

iam2thecrowe

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yes flash the latest bios always. If that doesnt work, could be the extra power draw on your psu, if your psu is on its way out, or a cheap 'n nasty brand. Also, after you flash the bios, restore the bios to defaults with the hard reset on the motherboard to clear any old settings.
 
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BansheeL

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Flashed the BIOS to 1709 (1708 is for the 2.0, while I have 2.0 LE). Still have the same freezes, although it does appear to boot up faster - so it helped. I didn't do the hard reset, but I did tell the bios to use defaults.

Here's the PSU, it is brand new and not a no-name brand.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17-341-017

Here's HWMonitor if anything stands out.

tumblr_mq3pnnOtFk1s5335bo1_500.jpg


I'll do the DRAM voltages and find out what MC and Vcore means.
 
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BansheeL

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I doubt it is a Window's issue, as Memtest boots from disk before Windows starts. I could be wrong there though.

The chipset drivers on the Asus website are the same version I installed off the MB support CD. The other drivers appear to all match up with the latest ones on the website.
 
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BansheeL

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The numbers look close to me - took pictures of the BIOS screens. I appreciate the help guys, as this is pretty much Greek to me. I did change the DRAM voltage. Core Temp shows a few degrees higher, but both were on an idling machine.

tumblr_mq3pnnOtFk1s5335bo2_r1_500.jpg


tumblr_mq3pnnOtFk1s5335bo3_r1_500.jpg

 
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bobbybamf12

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Well try running windows memory diagnostics and see if it finds any memory problems.

Open Memory Diagnostics Tool by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type Memory, and then click Diagnose your computer's memory problems.‌ Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.


See if that finds anything, but in the mean time email Asus and let them know what's going on. They may be able to help you or at least point you in the right direction. It sounds like something my not be running in it's manufacture settings or something is defective. Since the Athlon works I'm guessing something wrong in the bios but by looking at your cpu settings all that seems fine. So it could possibly be your ram.

Your voltage on your ram should be at 1.5v and I believe the timing is suppose to be at 8-8-8-24. So check your bios and see if both of these check out.
 
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BansheeL

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http://www.corsair.com/en/memory-by-product-family/vengeance/vengeance-8gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cmz8gx3m2a1600c9.html

What I bought^
High-performance 8GB Vengeance Dual Channel Kit, 1600MHz, 9-9-9-24, 1.5V
It is listed in the MB manual as being compatible along with those timings.

In my original thread that I mentioned in the first post, the RAM works fine individually, and the DIMM slots I am using tested out fine on their own too. But put two sticks in at the same time with the FX 6300 and Memtest freezes up. This led me to think that my FX 6100 might have a bad memory controller (as the Athlon worked fine with two sticks), but the 6300 has the same problems that the 6100 had.

Basically - Athlon works with everything, FX doesn't. This led me to think it wasn't the RAM at all, but I'll check it out again.

I'll check the BIOS RAM settings Window's Memory Diagnostic.

This is probably a dumb question, but by switching to single, do you mean pull out a RAM stick?


Here's the BIOS:
tumblr_mq3pnnOtFk1s5335bo4_r1_500.jpg
 
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bobbybamf12

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Yes, boot with one stick of ram and then boot with the other stick of ram. Everything does seem to check out on your ram as far as bios settings. AMD Athlon and FX uses different memory controllers so this may be why the Athlon works fine and the FX doesn't. For example, When I had the Athlon x3 455 my ram was working fine but when i upgraded my cpu to phenom 965 my motherboard overvolted my ram a lot! even though it was the same stick of ram I used with my Athlon. That doesn't seem like the same problem that you are dealing with. I think you should just try to boot with one stick of ram and if that doesn't work you may have to contact Asus. Your cpu and ram seems to be on the correct settings. Just shoot Asus an email and see what they say or you could call them which would be a lot faster.

Whoops didn't ready the part where you say they work fine individually...whoops.

Have you try putting them in different slots? normally they are suppose to be in the same color slots and your motherboard manual will tell you what slots to place your ram in first. I'm guessing you did it right but just try and see putting it in other slot will make a difference. There really nothing you have to lose.
 
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BansheeL

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Okay, now I'm thoroughly confused.

I was originally keeping the RAM in A2 and B2, as in No RAM - RAM - No RAM - RAM. That is the suggested layout in the MB manual. Per Bobby's suggestion, I moved it to A1 and B1. Same freezing in Memtest.

So I moved it to A1 and A2. Two different colored DIMM slots.

And memtest worked. It took a half hour to run, but finished without any freezing or errors. I just ran Prime 95 for about ten minutes (it takes about five for it to freeze) and it seems to be stable. I'll set Memtest running overnight.

According to CPU-Z, I now have 8GB of single channel RAM.

EDIT - looks like I spoke too soon, as Memtest is freezing again.
 
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iam2thecrowe

iam2thecrowe

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yeah if you run in different colour slots it runs single channel, which will reduce any memory errors. as suggested before try each module of 4gb ram on its own and test.
 
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sarwar_r87

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once i read that signle / dual channel makes no difference in PRACTICAL life scenarios. donno if its still the same way, but i would be surprised if it not the same way still.

regarding your situation, if you still want to solve a problem/find an answer: borrow a pair of RAM from a friend to see if the problem is due to a compatibility issue. you can also try SLIGHT over volting of your current pair of ram to see if it helps.
 
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iam2thecrowe

iam2thecrowe

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i have seen ram work in single channel but not dual channel. Never found weather it was ram or motherboard, it was quite a few years ago. But then again, he said it works with his old athlon cpu, but not with 2 different fx cpu's. i'd be putting my money on a motherboard fault/or incompatability with his particular configuration. Sometimes random components just don't like to work with each other and will individually work fine when in another system.
 
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BansheeL

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I did the slight over-volting without anything changing. I agree that it might just be the motherboard I have. I'm still in the exchange window for Amazon and I bought it directly from them, so I might be able to switch it out.

Contacting Asus might point me in the right direction, but from what I've read about their customer support it might be weeks.
 
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bobbybamf12

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I think I may have found out the problem. here a quote I have taking from Asus.com for your exact motherboard.

* Due to CPU spec., AMD 100 series CPUs support up to DDR3 1066MHz. With ASUS design, this motherboard can support up to DDR3 1333MHz.

Here is the link to your motherboard just for reference- http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A97_LE_R20/#specifications

Try lowering your Ram down to 1333 and see if that solves the problem. The older Athlon II didn't support anything above 1333mhz, unless you overclocked it. So what I'm guessing is that you may have your memory set at 1600mhz which is causing your computer to freeze. So try lowering your ram speeds to 1333mhz and see if that fixes the problem.
 
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bobbybamf12

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Here another poster who has suffer a similar problem as you when he tried using 1600mhz speed. http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/325491-30-asus-m5a97-kingston-hyper-1600mhz

So I'm fairly confident that you need to lower to 1333mhz to fixed the problem. Your motherboard were probably running the ram at lower speeds with your Athlon ii that's why you didn't have problems before. Anyways, The difference in performance between 1333mhz and 1600mhz won't be noticeable. So it's not a huge lost.

Here another reference link explaining what might of happen with your Athlon ii-http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/281012-30-athlon-memory-speed-limitations
 
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