I think my i7 memory controller is shot

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jrod474

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Jan 21, 2014
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I've had this computer for almost 2 years before this happened, but I've been getting blue screens. I've tested the memory, all come out clean. The only time I get the blue screen is when both sticks are in together, alone everything works fine. So is there a way to check the mc on the cpu or should I just go and buy 1 8gb stick to replace my two 4gb. Oh and I have messed with the timing settings and voltages, but that didn't fix anything either.
 
Solution
dgingeri
OK. Once you enter the bios, you should see a selection for "Advanced Memory Settings." In that section, you should make sure the XMP profile is enabled and the Performance Enhance setting is to Turbo or Normal. Normal is preferable if you can't stabilize it with Turbo selected. Then, go back to the main page and select the Advanced Voltage Settings section. In there, increase the QPI/Vtt voltage setting to 1.100V and make sure the DRAM voltage is set to the proper voltage for your memory. (That memory is probably 1.65V, but I can't say for sure. It will be labeled on the side of the module.) DO NOT set the memory voltage higher than 1.65V as that could damage the CPU.

The manual is at...
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dgingeri

dgingeri

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There is a possibility of increasing the voltage to the memory controller slightly, if your MB allows that. That's what it took for my old Core i7 920 to handle DDR3-1600 memory. At default voltage, it would only run 1333, while Intel's official support says it should only accept 1066. Just one notch up on the voltage supplied to the memory controller and it handled 1600 just fine. Which i7 and motherboard do you have?
 
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jrod474

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I can't remember off the top of my head, but I do remember looking for the MC voltage because I read about that fix, but I could only find RAM voltages.
 
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dgingeri

dgingeri

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It might be listed under the various CPU voltages. Various manufacturers have their different ways of listing things, and even have differences between models at times. I'd have to see the manual to find the right settings. If you can get the motherboard model and post it here, that would make things much easier.
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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What's your mobo and CPU along with the model number of the DRAM? Often just raising the DRAM voltage + 0.05 can help stabilize, if you need to go to the MC (memory controller) voltage, what it's called varies a lot, AMD it's often the CPU/NB, Sandy Bridege most often is the VCCIO, Ivy Bridge CPUVTT, etc
 
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dgingeri

dgingeri

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OK. Once you enter the bios, you should see a selection for "Advanced Memory Settings." In that section, you should make sure the XMP profile is enabled and the Performance Enhance setting is to Turbo or Normal. Normal is preferable if you can't stabilize it with Turbo selected. Then, go back to the main page and select the Advanced Voltage Settings section. In there, increase the QPI/Vtt voltage setting to 1.100V and make sure the DRAM voltage is set to the proper voltage for your memory. (That memory is probably 1.65V, but I can't say for sure. It will be labeled on the side of the module.) DO NOT set the memory voltage higher than 1.65V as that could damage the CPU.

The manual is at http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-z68a-d3h-b3_e.pdf Memory settings are on page 39 and voltage settings are on page 41.
 
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jrod474

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Everything is working fine now, have been playing WoW at higher settings and had a couple chrome tabs opened for an hour now, no BSOD as of yet :)
Update: Of course not 5 mins after posting I blue screen :fou:
 
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jrod474

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it didn't have that option, it was either disabled or Profile 1, don't know where the profile settings are.

Went back and checked again, performance enhance is set to standard.
 
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dgingeri

dgingeri

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Not the XMP Profile, the Performance Enhance setting, on the 4th line of the advanced memory settings. That should be set for "Normal." (Gigabyte does some strange things with memory timing trying to eeek out a performance edge against other MB makers, but it doesn't work with all memory. My x79 UP4 works with Turbo on my Trident X set, but not with my Ripjaws X set.)

The XMP profile should be Profile 1.
 
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jrod474

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xmp is profile 1 now, and performance is set at standard, no bsod yet, but i haven't strained the system yet.

Update: Well it still bsod's, although it seems it's not bsod as easily as it was before.
 
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dgingeri

dgingeri

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Well, ok, we're making a little progress, I think. Try stepping down the memory speed from 1600 to 1333. (This isn't a permanent fix, but it would give answers as to where the instability might be.) See if it lasts that way. If not, we'll look in another direction.
 
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