Intermittent lock up and freezing issues (ASUS M5A97 R2.0 + G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3)

soupofthepast

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Jul 3, 2014
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I built a computer with the following specs

Processor: 3.80 gigahertz AMD FX-6200 Six-Core
Motherboard: ASUS M5A97 R2.0
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 6670

Ever since I put it together I have been experiencing lock up and freezing issues intermittently (where I am forced to do a hard restart of the computer every time) throughout use starting out slowly (where I could use the computer for a week with no issues) and has slowly progressed to a much more frequent occurrence. This occurs most often when playing video games but has been known to occur even with just the browser open.

My first thought was a corrupt hard drive since I was using an old lap top hard drive that had been banged around. I got a new hard drive and installed a fresh copy of windows on it and the problem persisted. Then i tried 32 bit just because I was desperate. Still freezing (almost always in games I can use the browser indefinitely it seems although on the rarest occurrence it freezes then as well). I continued to use the computer for a month or so when it started locking up on reboot as well in a couple key areas which it had not done until this point (around 3 months into computer life)

Recently, I was in the BIOS when the computer froze which had been the first time that had occurred so my next thought was immediately either bad RAM or mother board. I ran memtestx86 for 8 hours with 0 errors so I started looking into the motherboard. I found their Qualified Vendor List (http://support.asus.com/QVL.aspx?SLanguage=en&p=1&s=24&m=M5A97%20R2.0&os=&hashedid=n/a) and noticed by specific module of RAM was not included on any list. I then read some comments on Newegg stating this mobo had a reputation with being fairly picky with its RAM and that a few people were having issues with G SKILL RAM in particular and I discovered a few other posts on this forum with similar issues (but not exact and not with a solution that has worked for me). I then replaced the 2 sticks of 2gb G SKILL with 1 stick of 2gb ddr3 corsair ram i had laying around and still it froze. Then i tried my friend's 1 stick of 4gb ddr3 kingston ram. The computer booted and worked for a few hours (the longest it had made it recently) before freezing at which point it froze very soon into or during every startup after. I then went into the BIOS and used the built in OC Tuner and it changed many settings that I previously thought I had right (this is with the Kingston RAM). I booted again and the computer worked for almost a day, at which point I thought it was finally fixed, before it froze again.

I replaced the Kingston RAM with the original G SKILL and then ran the OC Tuner in BIOS again where it changed some settings once more. It changed the timing to 11-11-11-28-1T when I know the timing is 9-9-9-24-2T. It also changed the frequency to 1151 Mhz when it is a 1600 module. I changed all those settings to what I knew (or thought) they should be although oddly enough they didnt have a 1600 option for Mhz but rather odd numbers like 1523 or 1751 (or something like that) so I left that as is. The other timing settings were as follows but I didn't know the correct inputs for them

READ to PRE: 4
RAS to RAS: 4
WRITE to READ: 4
CAS Write Latency: 6
WRITE recovery time: 8
REF Cycle Time: 160 ns
Row Cycle Time: 25
READ to WRITE: 10
WRITE to WRITE: 3
READ to READ: 3
Refresh rate: 7.8ms

Is there anything I should adjust there that will help the stability of my machine? The locking up has continued although it is much better than it was the last few days although still present. What is my next course of action? RMA the motherboard? Buy RAM that is EXACTLY compatible with the mobo from the Vendor List? The fact it locks in BIOS makes me know a solution lies with one of these pieces of hardware. Are there other settings I could try to change first? I tried exhausting all my own resources and brainpower before coming to you, the experts, for assistance. Please help!

EDIT: Looking at my BIOS further after resetting to optimized defaults and then resetting my timings and frequency to 1600 (it showed up this time as an option) I see that the NB Voltage is 1.1v and SB Voltage is 1.1v. Does that matter if my RAM is 1.5v? I upped it to 1.2V as was suggested on G SKILL forums. We will see if that helps. Also, the BIOS is completely up to date. I just am at a loss. I know one little setting can make all the difference and just need to know what it is!
 
Don't use the OC tuner, everything should be manually set, or use the DOCP/XMP Profile.

The advanced timings should look something like this for DDR3-1600:

READ to PRE: 6
RAS to RAS: 5
WRITE to READ: 6
CAS Write Latency: 7
WRITE recovery time: 12
REF Cycle Time: 160 ns
Row Cycle Time: 44
READ to WRITE: 10
WRITE to WRITE: 4
READ to READ: 4
Refresh rate: 7.8ms

Input the basic DRAM settings, restart, then check the advanced timings to see if they are similar to what I listed above.
 

soupofthepast

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Jul 3, 2014
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I am using all the timings you listed. There were a few I had to change. Computer worked from this morning when you posted that (10:30am) until just now (9pm) with fairly gaming intensive use which was much longer than it had been recently but it still ended in a freeze. On reboot I noticed the CPU temp was hovering around 70-75 degrees which was much more than the usual 50 it runs at. It quickly went down with just browser use but increased fairly rapidly when gaming. Could CPU overheating cause the problem?
 
It can cause a problem like that.. but for it to last so long before a freeze is somewhat strange. Keep an eye on CPU temps, maybe get a program like RealTemp to actively monitor it within Windows.

When you ran memtest, was it one module at a time?

We need to determine whether the problem is with the memory itself, or a problem with settings.

Can you post some pics of BIOS? Test the system with CPU Frequency and settings on AUTO default. The CPU temps should not go up so high.
 

soupofthepast

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Jul 3, 2014
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So the issue still is here and getting more consistent with time. The temperatures are not a problem, I bought a side fan for my case and the temperatures all dropped to very good levels across the board at all times. I know it has to be an issue between the motherboard and RAM at this point because it gets less stable or more stable (able to run games for longer periods) depending on the BIOS timings I tweak. I took some BIOS screenshots for you as well as CPU Z data.

CPU-Z
ydKI7AX

http://imgur.com/ydKI7AX

klN3IRM

http://imgur.com/klN3IRM

M6lvoSm

http://imgur.com/M6lvoSm

These are the settings, that if I were to guess, would be the correct ones and the settings I am currently using (even though I am still getting lockups)

rkP2Cr9.jpg


(I just had ROW cycle changed to 37 to test it the reboot before I took the screenshot. It is usually 33 like the input shows)
qWIyb7m.jpg


(Same with the 1T Command Rate. It is usually 2T. I was just trying something new.)
geWHyEB.jpg



Something of note: When I put the tuner to DOCP it defaults 11-11-11-28 timings for the RAM. I have actually found these to be some of the more stable ones I have tried. The NB is also set to 1.2V. I have also tried running it 1333 frequency with 8-8-8-24 timings as well as 8-8-8-25, 8-8-8-28 but all resulting in similar freezing instabilities.
 

soupofthepast

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Jul 3, 2014
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I also adjusted the HT frequency between 2200 and 2400 (matching the NB) for no changes in stability. I realize the NB should be higher but I also read a stickied post on g skill saying to set both to 2400 for optimal stability when running 1600.
 
Does the issue still occur with one module by itself? DDR3-1333 8-8-8-24 1.50V are fail proof settings, so if that's not working properly, something is definitely wrong.

The CPU-NB Frequency @ 2400MHz is only for Phenom II CPUs, not FX series. Leave NB Frequency to AUTO.

In those pictures, you didn't input the timings I mentioned.

 

soupofthepast

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Jul 3, 2014
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Sorry. I have been fiddling with the timing the last 2 weeks trying to get it more stable. I ran it with the exact timings you had posted and the stability decreased quite noticeably. The timings were on the exact ones you posted for about a week but it was actually one of the more unstable configs I've tried. 9-9-9-24-2T 2400 NB/CPU 2400 HT (the settings it shows above) has not locked up in the last 24 hours which is a record lately so I was keeping it on that.