PRIME 95 FATAL ERROR ISSUE

[denster]

I cannot get Prime 95 to run any great length of time on my X2 system Overclocked... Everytime it halts with the same error:

FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4
Hardware failure detected, consult stress .txt file.
Etc, etc......

At 2.7Ghz VCore and DramV maxed it fails within a minute,
At 2.6Ghz, within a couple minutes,
At 2.5 with the VCore only +.1 it fails,
and even at 2.4Ghz (which is just under 10% OC), stock VCore, stock DRAMV, failed in like 3hrs and something....

HOWEVER Windows doesn't crash and I don't have any program that puts enough stress on it to make it crash I don't believe.

Gee Whiz what is it??? I read all the text on Prime and they really don't get specific on what it could be...

Does anyone know anything about this???

Thanks

 

[ChipDeath]

Try running with a memory divider. I would hazard a guess your RAM can't run at the higher speeds...

if running RAM much slower works, then try relaxing memory timings. more voltage doesn't always help RAM, so I would start with it at stock VDimm, or maybe slightly higher.

Your CPU should be able to cope, especially with 2.4Ghz.

 

[TabrisDarkPeace]

:?

Any error in Prime95 = unstable machine.

Overclocked or not, *any* error = unstable machine.

They don't document it because overclockers kinda know this stuff already.

 

[bront]

That's a memory error.

Try OCing your memory only (drop your CPU multiplier) and run tests till you find something stable in timings, voltage, and speed, then push your CPU and test that. once you know your max settings for both, then you should be able to setup everything to give you your best results.

I got my 3800+ to 2.5 Ghz (a 25% OC), though I've heard the X2s with the 1 MB L2 don't overclock as well. You can see what I did in my overclocking journel that I have in this forum.

 

[denster]

Try OCing your memory only (drop your CPU multiplier) and run tests till you find something stable in timings, voltage, and speed, then push your CPU and test that. once you know your max settings for both, then you should be able to setup everything to give you your best results.

Ok Thanks. I will try later when I get home.


Thanks for all the help guys

 

[denster]

I got my 3800+ to 2.5 Ghz (a 25% OC)

Ok But does it run Prime 95 Torture Test Blend w/out error?

 

[denster]

I am working on trying to relax my memory timings, so far to no avail...

What amazes me is that My PD 805 Oc'd @ 3.73 can run Prime 95 w/out a hitch...

Another thing, is my system runs just fine @ 2.7Ghz... Until I experience a problem, I am reluctant to trust some group of scientists who I almost seriously doubt they are able to keep up with technology...

Have you read the list of fixes in their text file??? It goes on and on and on, I would fall asleep trying to read it...

But I would like to know how to pass their stress test..... someone with an OC'd X2 please tell me that they can pass it without error....

 

[a1ien]

The point of "passing" the stress test is proving that your system is stable.

It's simple:

Any error in Prime95 = unstable machine.

Overclocked or not, *any* error = unstable machine.

They don't document it because overclockers kinda know this stuff already.

 

[denster]

Hey BRONT and MR CHIP!!! Good News to report...

Thanks to your suggestions, I spent some time adjusting RAM settings last night and by lowering my RAM to 200Mhz (lowest setting) I was able to get Prime to run all night!!!

I am currently at 2.55Ghz. I believe this is going to be my limit unless I overlooked something.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[ChipDeath]

Well done!..

It's always good to help. I like to keep my karma topped-up. :mrgreen:

 

[TabrisDarkPeace]

I am working on trying to relax my memory timings, so far to no avail...

What amazes me is that My PD 805 Oc'd @ 3.73 can run Prime 95 w/out a hitch...

Another thing, is my system runs just fine @ 2.7Ghz... Until I experience a problem, I am reluctant to trust some group of scientists who I almost seriously doubt they are able to keep up with technology...

Have you read the list of fixes in their text file??? It goes on and on and on, I would fall asleep trying to read it...

Software Fixes = Not hardware errors. Prime95 handles 'software bugs' and hardware faults (invalid calculation from CPU or values in memory corrupt) very differently. There was only 1 exception to this (in that entire fix list btw) I can recall and it was fixed promptly.

"Until I experience a problem," - The point is to stress test so data you actually care about doesn't go corrupt. Sure it looks stable.... sitting on the desktop at under 10% CPU load .... but what if you wanted to play Far Cry ? (also good memory tester.... it'll crash good) or WinRAR some documents to send to someone, documents you don't have time to send twice after finding out 24 hours later they are corrupt ?, etc

Stress testing is a 'Very Good Thing (tm)'

Since people need sleep, I recommend at least 4 hours a day, if not heaps more , you may aswell use that sleep time to stres test while overclocking. Only use settings you know are stable.

Classing a PC as stable because it only crashes while word processing once every 90 days, but crashes in Prime95 within 1 hour is utter folly. The machine is either rock solid or it isn't. It is the 'isn't stable' part that has a 'very large' grey area, moving into an orange/red area where machines lock up, crash doing basic GUI tasks, etc

The goal of overclocking is to sit right next to that 'grey' area, just inside the black (safe) area. Regardless of the software being run.

You don't want to go to some 72 hour LAN event (if they still do those, liability insurance and all, and the time all those 14yo kids when crazy ), you don't want to 'think' your PC is 'game stable' only to find out half way into winning a $10,000 prize for 1st place your PC crashes - and thus you lose by default for non-stable hardware.

There is 'risk management (akin to gambling and losing more often than vists to the casino)' and there is 'knowing every point of failure and ensuring none occur within your power' - Which would you rather do ?

8) Congrats on overclock, that is pretty decent and RAM is likely still within manufacturer spec

 

[denster]

Congrats on overclock, that is pretty decent and RAM is likely still within manufacturer spec

Thanks! Yes I did run Prime while I sleep, on both machines...

And my X2 ran for 8 Hours and 8 minutes stable @ 2.55Ghz

However I will run it again for longer just to be absolutely positive!

I am learning that good OC'able RAM is very important.

 

[Grimmy]

Did you stress both cores at the same time?

Or does that matter?

I only have single core.. so just wondering.

 

[a1ien]

Yes, you need to run it on both individual cores.

 

[denster]

Sorry I was wrong

 

[a1ien]

Yes, you need to run it on both individual cores.

Dude you are right.

But at the sake of being slightly an A-Hole I have to tell you.


You might need to check what you have before giving advice to others. There is no way that 3800 can pass 8hrs Prime 95 Blend at 2.6Ghz and I guarantee it, besides it is only 2.0Ghz at stock to begin with.

Specifications

Model Number 3800+
Frequency 2.0GHz
L1 Cache 64KB+64KB
L2 Cache 512KB + 512KB
Socket Type Socket 939
Core Manchester
FSB 2000MHz
Process Type 90 nm
Hyper-Transport Support Yes
Multimedia Instruction MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, 3DNOW! Professional

First of all, I have never said anything in this thread about 8 hrs.

SECONDLY, you might want to look CLOSER at my sig. Do you see "x2" in there? No? That's because it's a SINGLE core which is stock at 2.4Ghz, NOT a DUAL core. Okay?

 

[denster]

My fault dude and I apologize.

 

[bront]

I got my 3800+ to 2.5 Ghz (a 25% OC)

Ok But does it run Prime 95 Torture Test Blend w/out error?
Yes, for 14+ hours.

 

[bront]

Hey BRONT and MR CHIP!!! Good News to report...

Thanks to your suggestions, I spent some time adjusting RAM settings last night and by lowering my RAM to 200Mhz (lowest setting) I was able to get Prime to run all night!!!

I am currently at 2.55Ghz. I believe this is going to be my limit unless I overlooked something.

Thanks for all your help!

Great

Here's what I'd suggest then. Drop your memory multiplier a bit (Run at DDR333 instead of 400, or a 6:5 Ratio (CPU to Memory), and then crank it up again. Your memory and CPU don't need to be syncronous, and in fact you get more out of a CPU overclock than a memory OC, including more efficient use of the memory bandwidth.

I put a link to it in my overclocking journal (My overclocking journy) it's near the top. It's an article that talks about the effects of the different parts of OCing a system.

 

[denster]

Here's what I'd suggest then. Drop your memory multiplier a bit (Run at DDR333 instead of 400, or a 6:5 Ratio (CPU to Memory), and then crank it up again. Your memory and CPU don't need to be syncronous, and in fact you get more out of a CPU overclock than a memory OC, including more efficient use of the memory bandwidth.

Actually, I had to drop my RAM to 200Mhz (lowest setting)... That was when I finally got Prime to run...

I will run Prime again tonight individually on both cores and see how that does...

3DMark6- 2654
Sm2.0- 1036
HDR/Sm3 943
CPU- 1811

So far my system is running sweet though. Found another test programs online. How about CPUSTABILITYTEST... Ever tried that one???

Thanks for all your help