680i/E6400 Prime95 issues

[NYHoustonman]

Alright, so I recently upgraded, got an EVGA 680i motherboard, (originally) OCZ Platinum DDR2-800 memory, and an E6400.

One of the memory sticks I originally received was bad. While in limbo, I used one stick and kept the CPU at 2.8ghz (it passed Prime95 for 2 hours or so at this point, I never did more as this wasn't going to be my 'permanent' setup).

I got my RMA back from OCZ, and they sent me better memory (it is specc'ed to run at more aggressive timings, still 2.1V). The computer now gets through Memtest without any issues (I haven't tried more than one test in a row, as with the defective memory it failed at the same point every time, that and I'm just trying to get through all this before tomorrow). But, even with default timings and with the CPU at stock (and all voltages at stock) Prime95 fails within 5 minutes every time I run it. I don't think it's the CPU or motherboard considering my previous results, but I don't know if it's the memory either because of my Memtest results.

I'm running Prime95 as we speak, with the memory set back at 700mhz, and it's still going (up to Test 4, wasn't reaching Test 2 before), this with the processor back at 2.8ghz.

What is the likely culprit here? Is this just issues with the motherboard (hopefully BIOS), as it is new, or am I likely having a hardware failure somewhere?

 

[Duvie]

I think there was some other dude that was having issues with failing orthos at stock speeds on the 680i board....sounds like a real winner or I mean weiner!!!

His was failing same core...how about you???


I haven't heard anything but ppl not ocing that well with these boards...kinda makes 260 feel like a real bend over and grab the ankles....

That is why I like my proven S3 mobo that does over 500fsb....My Ds3 can do 480fsb....Added together equal the cost of the 680i...Hopefully you are using the SLI features...

 

[NYHoustonman]

Originally posted by: Duvie
I think there was some other dude that was having issues with failing orthos at stock speeds on the 680i board....sounds like a real winner or I mean weiner!!!

His was failing same core...how about you???


I haven't heard anything but ppl not ocing that well with these boards...kinda makes 260 feel like a real bend over and grab the ankles....

That is why I like my proven S3 mobo that does over 500fsb....My Ds3 can do 480fsb....Added together equal the cost of the 680i...Hopefully you are using the SLI features...

It's generally the same core, but occasionally the opposite fails.

It's kinda tough, cause I love everything else about this board, but this bugginess is a little annoying. At this point I'm keeping everything where it is until I notice instability in my everyday use, and hopefully some solution comes up, as I know many people have had problems with various memories/processors.

I do plan to use the SLI capability as an upgrade path, ditto quad-core compatibility, but as of right now I'm not taking advantage of either.

 

[lopri]

You should fiddle with SPP voltages. Traditionally NV's chipset's been running hot and the new C55 (C60?) doesn't disappoint. If you're OC'ing, try anywhere between 1.30~1.45V for SPP voltage. What's funny is that you have to find just right voltage for the SPP. Sometimes giving just 0.05V more/less causes lock up, let alone Orthos fail. Even though you find a working voltage for SPP, once you run Prime for a prolonged period of time, the SPP gets hot and even with the special fan blowing, Orthos can fail. (think 1~3 hours) It's extremely annoying, to say the least. In short, right ammount of voltage and ample ammount of cooling for SPP is a very important factor for OC'ing/stability for this board.

 

[NYHoustonman]

Originally posted by: lopri
You should fiddle with SPP voltages. Traditionally NV's chipset's been running hot and the new C55 (C60?) doesn't disappoint. If you're OC'ing, try anywhere between 1.30~1.45V for SPP voltage. What's funny is that you have to find just right voltage for the SPP. Sometimes giving just 0.05V more/less causes lock up, let alone Orthos fail. Even though you find a working voltage for SPP, once you run Prime for a prolonged period of time, the SPP gets hot and even with the special fan blowing, Orthos can fail. (think 1~3 hours) It's extremely annoying, to say the least. In short, right ammount of voltage and ample ammount of cooling for SPP is a very important factor for OC'ing/stability for this board.

Ah, ok, I had tried jacking that up to 1.5 and it still didn't work, so I'll try values in between. It's certainly not a cooling issue as I'm using the optional fan and that particular temperature seems to top out around 50C for me.

Thanks.

EDIT-up to 1.45V, no luck, it fails within seconds.

It's just weird how it fails at 800mhz but passes (for 20 minutes, anyway, until I've stopped it) at 700mhz, when Memtest has confirmed multiple times that the memory is stable. It's gotta be some voltage somewhere, or something.

My voltages are:

CPU: 1.325 (stock)
Memory: 2.1 (stock)
FSB: 1.2
HT(SPP-MCP): 1.2
NForce SPP: 1.2
nForce MCP: 1.5
AUX: 1.5

If any of these look low, let me know. My last build was with an Asus A7V333 (socket A), and at that point all I had to fiddle with was memory and VCore voltage, so a lot of these voltages are foreign to me.
I had been tweaking the SPP voltage using nTune, not the BIOS, I'm not sure if that would have made a difference.

 

[NYHoustonman]

OK, I've found that both the 3.3v and 3.3v dual voltages are sitting around 3.2v (all the other voltages are fine), and this seems rather low. I'm using an Antec NeoHE 550 Watt power supply, so I don't think load could be a problem (maybe the power supply is faulty?).

 

[lopri]

If you haven't already, set 2T Command Rate mannually. When left auto, the board often boots with 1T, which is very unstable with current BIOS. Go to Memory Timing Setting, and select 'Expert' mode. Set Command per Clock to 2T mannually, even though it says 'Auto (2T)'.

 

[NYHoustonman]

Interestingly enough, it was set to 1T... but even with 2T I'm unstable at anything above 750mhz (for the memory).