GA-P35-DQ6 freezing with 800MHz DDR2

[elvi5]

Hey guys,

I've just built a new system & have been very happy with it until it started freezing during games. Usually the game, any game, will freeze within 15mins.
Of course I first thought 'heat'. But its cool in there. the CPU is 32-34C under load & the GPU loads at 55C.

After days of searching forums, installing & un-installing drivers & patches I turned to the memory. Originally I had 4x1GB Crucial Ballistic PC2-6400C4 800MHz.

I ran memtest. after a few seconds the system froze just like the games. I'm convinced its bad ram.

I swapped the ram for Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2-5400C4 TwinX (2x1GB). I ran this new ram for 3 days, leaving games running overnight. No freezing. Memtest ran for hours. perfect.

I ordered some new ram convinced the freezing was cause by the Cruicial ram.

Today the RAM arrived. OCZ 2GB (4 x 1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2
This OCZ ram freezes it up too. Games & Memtest.

THe freezing is just with games & memtest.

I'm out of ideas. My BIOS is pretty much all on default/auto. No overclocking.
I hope one of you guys can kindly help me. I've been fiddling with this thing for over a week

My specs would help:

Windows Vista 32bit home premium

GA-P35-DQ6 (F5 BIOS)
Core 2 Duo E6850
4GB OCZ PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2
Nvidia 8800GTS
Antec TruePower Trio 550W PSU
Zalman CNPS9500-LED CPU Cooler
Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case


Cheers guys.

 

[gwyndell]

I have the same problem.

I have Super Talent 2x1 GB T800UX2GC4. When I put both modules, system freezes almost instantly. When there's only one module, it freezes after 15-30 min.
I also tried with no-name 2x1 GB DDR2 800 memory that I borrowed from a friend and it freezes to. My friend used my RAM and it worked perfectly well, so the problem is not the memory.
Also, twice while powering on, system wouldn't POST. It would power on & off every 2 sec.
For the record, I didn't overclock.

My configuration:
P35-DQ6
C2D E6750
Super Talent 2x1 GB T800UX2GC4
8800 GTX
OCZ GameXStream 650W
Thermaltake Kandalf LCS

 

[Zorg]

Just a thought. Is the RAM on Gigabytes compatibility page on their website? I'm using Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) with no problems. Although, from what I've seen, some people have had problems with Crucial as well. Maybe someone else is using your ram and can comment on it. Also, as-suming you can post, you could run memtest86.

 

[tlmck]

Go into BIOS and manually set the ram voltage to 1.8v to see if this solves the problem. The memory will run a tad slower, but should not be noticeable other than benchmarking programs.

 

[elvi5]

The GA-P35-DQ6 doesn't seem to have a direct imput for ram Voltage that I can see. Just an over voltage entry.

 

[elvi5]

I have the same problem.

I have Super Talent 2x1 GB T800UX2GC4. When I put both modules, system freezes almost instantly. When there's only one module, it freezes after 15-30 min.
I also tried with no-name 2x1 GB DDR2 800 memory that I borrowed from a friend and it freezes to. My friend used my RAM and it worked perfectly well, so the problem is not the memory.
Also, twice while powering on, system wouldn't POST. It would power on & off every 2 sec.
For the record, I didn't overclock.

My configuration:
P35-DQ6
C2D E6750
Super Talent 2x1 GB T800UX2GC4
8800 GTX
OCZ GameXStream 650W
Thermaltake Kandalf LCS

Are you on Vista too?

 

[gwyndell]

Are you on Vista too?

No. Win XP PRO.

I checked in BIOS and ram voltage is 1.8 V.
My P35-DQ6 is rev 1.0. BIOS is F4.

 

[Onus]

Other direction. That RAM needs more voltage. The ones that worked were probably 1.8v modules (I didn't find an exact match, just similar ones), but the ones that failed all needed more juice.
I believe the OCZ you have now needs 1.9v-2.1v, so bump the voltage, say +.2v, and see what happens.

 

[Onus]

Oh, and the Supertalent that isn't working for Gwyndell wants 2.2v.

 

[elvi5]

The CPU isn't overheating. I'm using speedfan & the ugly gigabyte software. I have articSilver & Zalman CNPS9500 on the CPU. She's staying cool. This is some BIOS screw up by Gigabyte.

The machine works fine with DDR2 5300 as soon as DDR2 6400(800MHz) modules go in, the freezes start.

 

[lobofanina]

Install Easytune4/5 from your motherboard driver dvd check your ram voltage by clicking "over clocking" then the "advanced" button. The ga-p35-dq6 default ram voltage is 1.8volts your ram most likely needs needs more voltage then the default. Since I'm using http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565 I need to increase the voltage to 2.2v in the bios it reads +.40. Hope that helps.

 

[elvi5]

I'm using...
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr2_pc2_6400_platinum_revision_2_dual_channel

I'll try some extra volts now. thanks.

 

[elvi5]

Its still freezing. I've tried 1.9v, 2.0 & 2.1V. It seems pretty random but games & memtest will freeze/lockup fairly soon.

This is a nightmare. Surly these boards should just autodetect & work. I've got two set of 800MHz ram that don't work. I'm betting gigabyte have messed up the 800MHz support for this board.

 

[Onus]

With the voltage increased, run Memtest on one stick at a time and see if one is bad.

 

[elvi5]

Ive tested the OCz ram in my shuttle barebone. Memtest ran for about half an hour with no issues. same ram lasts 15seconds in the Gigabyte board. oh boy. I'm def at a dead end now

 

[Rogue77777]

Have you tried under clocking your cpu?
I'm currently using an Asus P5N-E SLI board with the E6850 and I had to under clock my precessor to 2.92Ghz or 1300FSB to get my games to run longer then 10 or 15 mins. Now I can play alnight without any problems. I too thought it was my memory at first.
Try that and then see if your games run more smoothly.

Also what the default voltage for your cpu? mine's 1.46 volts not the 1.35v that on the box

 

[sycshk]

Try disabling the non-execute memory protect in the bios.

 

[elvi5]

My CPU is at the default of 1.3V. I think thats ok.

 

[elvi5]

I tried the non-execute memory protect. Still freezes Thanks anyway.

 

[elvi5]

Starting to get to the bottom of it all now. Like jtt283 said, i tried one stick at a time & ran memtest. Each individual stick is fine.

Also running a pair seems to be ok. no lockups.

3 or 4 & its on its ***.

Any evidence the GA-P35-DQ6 can even handle 4GB(1GBx4) at 800MHz?
I know my shuttle SD39 needed a BIOS update to support all four slots at 800MHz.

 

[lobofanina]

The GA-P35-DQ6 is supposed to support 8gb of ram at up to 1066Mhz.

Did you download the newer bios?

v1.1(the motherboard with less gaudy heatsink and heatpipe combo) F5 released 8-20-07 http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/BIOS_Model.aspx?ProductID=2532

v1.0(Huge heatsinks on the sb and nb) F5 Released 8-20-07
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/BIOS_Model.aspx?ProductID=2637


You can update your bios with a flash drive during boot if you press the "end" key. Your flash drive has to be configured for Fat32 though.

 

[elvi5]

Hey Lobo,

I already have F5 BIOS installed.

I starting to think I'll have to send the RAM back. I think its just not compatible.

 

[lobofanina]

Sorry it didn't work out for you, good luck next time. I have my $300 b3 q6600 at better then a $1200 qx6850 with this exact same motherboard.

 

[apache_lives]

try manually setting the timings and speed and raise the memory voltage to 1.9v or 2.0v - My ASUS P5B Deluxe/Wifi puts my CL5 ram to CL4 specs and wont run without 1.9-2.0v

 

[gwyndell]

Oh, and the Supertalent that isn't working for Gwyndell wants 2.2v.

My Supertalent is quite happy with 1.8 V at 5-5-5-15 timings . At 2.2 V timings are 4-4-3-8. At least at my friends Asus M2N-SLI Delux MB and it's perfectly stable.
Also, I borrowed his RAM - Transcend DDR2 800 2x1 GB and it still freezes - with both modules immediately, with only one module after 15-30 min.

With the voltage increased, run Memtest on one stick at a time and see if one is bad.

I tried every step from 1.8 V to 2.2 V. If there are 2 modules, Memtest freezes either during Test 1 or Test 2. If there's only one module inserted, Memtest freezes during Test 4.

I have updated BIOS to F5 and the results where all the same. I have even updated BIOS to new F6 version (2007/09/07), no effect.

I believe the time has come to take apart my configuration, pull the MB out and return it to supplier. Hopefully, new one will work.