Core i7-950 on Asus P6TD Deluxe - instable

[ZAPnDUSTER]

Hello

I need your help please: I just go my new PC based on an Asus P6TD Deluxe Mainboard, which hosts an Intel Core i7-950.
It has 2 OCZ Kits: OCZ DDRAM3 6000MB PC1333 CL7 Platinum Low-Voltage (OCZ3P1333LV6GK), which gives me 12GB of RAM.
For cooling purposes a Noctua Cooler with 2 Fans, Noctua as well. Two other Noctua Fans are in the Chasis, one in front of the case and one in the rear.
PSU is an Seasonic 500W S12II 82+.
I didnt't overclock any component yet, so CPU runs with 3Ghz and Memory runs with 1066Mhz.

Now to my problem: Memtest runs fine, no errors.
Prime95 x64 on Windows 7 x64 doesn't run, it stops shortly after execution

I really don't know what to do now since no component is overclocked, system was powered off so I don't think the system produced that much heat within minutes to render an erroneous Prime95?

BIOS Settings are almost set to Auto (default).

Please help, many thanks
Steve

 

[SkepticDave]

That sounds exactly like my situation. My guess...overheating RAM. Try using the small fan that came with your motherboard to blow air over the RAM. This worked for me. I can send you a link to my old thread, and a pic of my setup when I get home from work.

 

[SkepticDave]

Here's a link to my thread.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/263533-30-bsod-deluxe

 

[ZAPnDUSTER]

Thanks a bunch, Dave. That helps me a lot.
I just tested using only 3 modules, which works fine. Seems that using all 6 modules leeds to heat problems and thus to errors in Prime95. I use 1333Mhz with 6 Modules, OCZ as well.
I saw that little fan, will see if it helps in my situation as well.
Thanks again, Steve

 

[SkepticDave]

No problem, happy to help. Here's what I did with that fan that came with the motherboard. It's not permanent, however, I have some more (and better) case fans arriving tomorrow.

 

[HH89]

Now to my problem: Memtest runs fine, no errors.
Prime95 x64 on Windows 7 x64 doesn't run, it stops shortly after execution

I really don't know what to do now since no component is overclocked, system was powered off so I don't think the system produced that much heat within minutes to render an erroneous Prime95?

BIOS Settings are almost set to Auto (default).

Please help, many thanks
Steve

Hey Steve, I'm getting the exact same problem as you on 2 of my computers running almost same specs as you.

I'm using a i7 920 at stock settings (everything set to auto) with speedstep and HT turned on.
with 12gigs of OCZ PC12800 low voltage ram which I have manually set to 1600mhz 7-7-7-24 timings at 1.66V
Asus P6T mobo
850W Antec PSU.

I'm on Windows Vista 64bit Premium however. What happens to mines is that errors will come up in Prime95 Blend test within 2-3 minutes of running it (sometimes errors don't come up either) but within 5 mins of having the test on the computer will just auto restart itself. CPU Temps range from 63-68 on Full load during the test.

Testing with Super PI, an error comes up with in 5 minutes of running it.

Memtest has been running also for a bit over 15 hrs, 8 passes with 0 errors.




Is this the same thing that happens to you also?

 

[SkepticDave]

That's exactly what was happening to me. Supposedly, this memory runs hot under full load. Check the cons list on the link below. Get a fan blowing on the RAM and I suspect you'll be good to go.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/15651-ocz-6gb-pc3-12800-platinum-ddr3-triple-channel-memory-kit-review-10.html

 

[MRFS]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835202012&Tpk=N82E16835202012


Scroll down a page or so to view Corsair's memory module cooler for 6 DIMM slots:

http://www.corsair.com/products/dominatorgt/default.aspx


MRFS

 

[MRFS]

> For cooling purposes a Noctua Cooler with 2 Fans, Noctua as well.


Does your HSF have push-pins, or a proper backing plate?


MRFS

 

[SkepticDave]

> For cooling purposes a Noctua Cooler with 2 Fans, Noctua as well.


Does your HSF have push-pins, or a proper backing plate?


MRFS

Me? Proper backing plate. Thank god...that thing is massive.

 

[HH89]

Hey Steve and Dave,

After doing some extensive research, I believe I've found the solution to our problems.
Take a look at my forum thread here:

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/troubleshooting/23767-i7-920-12gb-1600mhz-ddr3-help-system-stability-issues-2.html#post264138

Especially my latest couple of posts.



Also take a look at these 2 guides:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core-i7-920-overclocking.html

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&id=20081220191040237&board_id=1&model=P6T%20Deluxe&page=1&count=66

Specifically the 2nd one. I recommend reading all 7 pages of the thread in the 2nd guide.


Basically in order to achieve system stability you have to set the QPI : Uncore multipliers at a ratio closest to 9:8 (QPI multiplier needs to be greater then Uncore multipier). Read the above links I mentioned and you will understand in more detail what I am trying to say.

Anyways, with that fix I've been running Prime95 64bit Blend test for 2 hrs now with no errors.

(basically in order to run that ram at 1600mhz, you have to overclock the bclk to something higher and adjust everything else manually - otherwise you have to underclock the ram to 1333mhz and manually key in the Uncore frequency to 2666mhz, and the QPI Link [aka QPI Frequency] to 5866 MT/s)

Kind regards,
- Carl

 

[ZAPnDUSTER]

The multipliers and ratios are set automatically in my case, I set the RAM to 1066 or 1333 => QPI & UCLK are set accordingly.

What I did was to try every single module using prime95 and I identified 1 module, which throws errors.
I returned the kit and got a new one, outcome was: two modules with errors.

I got the original kit back and now have three kits. Testing every single module I now have 6 modules out of 3 kits which run stable.
Interesting - some modules are more stable, some are picky.

 

[ZAPnDUSTER]

One important thing: The OCZ Memory OCZ3P1333LV6GK on an ASUS P6TD Deluxe has to be run on 1,66V
I now have two 6GB Kits with total 12GB running stable Prime95 x64, Memtest v4.00 and Linx x64 for two days.