Crucial Ballistix OC issues

[tomt4535]

I just got my AMD X2 3800+ and my DFI Infinity NF4 Ultra running in my rig. Its watercooled, and the CPU is overclocking real nice. 2.75ghz 1.525v is no problem for it. I started out with a divider just to see how well the CPU did, but now its time for me to get the memory overclocked as well. For some strange reason, My Crucial Ballistix PC4000(2x512) will not be stable even at 240mhz. Im running it at 2.5-4-4-10 @ 2.8v which is SPD for DDR500. The board has no problems going up to 275 and beyond, and Im running a real low multi on my chip so thats out of the question. It fails prime95 after one second every time I run it. Windows is pretty stable, but its probably not stable in games and other CPU intensive apps. Heres some screen shots to show you what its running at:

A64 Tweaker

CPU-Z SPD

CPU-Z Mem

Any ideas on whats wrong with it?!?

 

[RichUK]

try increasing you CPU voltage to 1.55 or maybe a bit higher if temps permit, the memory controllers might require more voltage.

there could be a BIOS issue with that particular RAM, have you tried another.

 

[tomt4535]

Originally posted by: RichUK
try increasing you CPU voltage to 1.55 or maybe a bit higher if temps permit, the memory controllers might require more voltage.

there could be a BIOS issue with that particular RAM, have you tried another.

Unfortunatley, I dont have another board that will run them at their rated speeds. Ill try the CPU voltage, that might be a good idea.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Crucial Ballistix's timings are supposed to be 3-4-4-10 @ 250mhz, increase your CAS to 3 and you should be all set.

 

[tomt4535]

Increased CAS to 3, pumped up the CPU voltage to 1.55, and it still fails prime quick and gives me 200+ errors in memtest86 in test 4 real fast. Any other suggestions?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Run memtest w/out the high oc. Also try moving your memory to the other dimm slots and memtest. And lastly, memtest each stick individually. You may have a bad stick.

 

[tomt4535]

I tested both sticks in at stock speed and they memtested fine. Each one also memtests fine. They run awesome at stock, seems like just when its oc'ed it gets messed up. Im gonna try moving the ram around in the slots, but I doubt it will help much.

 

[Shimmishim]

what bios are you using?

bios is important. i was using bh-5 for a while... switched over to tccd and i got 1000000 of errors in memtest. flashed to a new bios and all errors disappeared.

 

[tomt4535]

Originally posted by: Shimmishim
what bios are you using?

bios is important. i was using bh-5 for a while... switched over to tccd and i got 1000000 of errors in memtest. flashed to a new bios and all errors disappeared.

Yeah, I was using the older bios from 6/13. I just tried updating it to the 8/11 bios and now my PC wont boot at all. :|

 

[gsethi]

also reduce the voltage to 2.60v. I had problems with mine @ 2.80v but then run fine at 2.60v (kinda weird)

 

[Zebo]

Go over to DFI-STREET.COM and do a search for ballistix in NF4 section..

This is one reason of many I've been hesitant to buy this board.. Does'nt like ballistix and fries other memory. May I suggest you try a few different bios's (always load optimzed defaults before running a stock memtest). 2) if you can not get memtest passing 200Mhz@ 2-2-2-8 1T (it's advertised speeds) RMA ASAP and get the OCZ BH-5 stuff http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227211

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: tomt4535

Originally posted by: Shimmishim
what bios are you using?

bios is important. i was using bh-5 for a while... switched over to tccd and i got 1000000 of errors in memtest. flashed to a new bios and all errors disappeared.

Yeah, I was using the older bios from 6/13. I just tried updating it to the 8/11 bios and now my PC wont boot at all. :|

what board is it?

 

[tomt4535]

Originally posted by: Shimmishim

Originally posted by: tomt4535

Originally posted by: Shimmishim
what bios are you using?

bios is important. i was using bh-5 for a while... switched over to tccd and i got 1000000 of errors in memtest. flashed to a new bios and all errors disappeared.

Yeah, I was using the older bios from 6/13. I just tried updating it to the 8/11 bios and now my PC wont boot at all. :|

what board is it?

Its a DFI NF4 Ultra Infinity. I think I fried the bios when I flashed it. DFI is going to send me a new bios chip.

Zebo, I was trying a new bios, and now my board is dead from a bad flash. It seemed to run fine at stock speeds before I flashed it. I was just having overclocking issues with it.

 

[Muggy]

Isn't it advisable to go back to stock before flashing the BIOS and then OC again ?

 

[the cobbler]

Originally posted by: Muggy
Isn't it advisable to go back to stock before flashing the BIOS and then OC again ?

i am paranoid. here is what i do for each flash:

reboot
load fail-safe defaults, save and exit, reboot
power down
turn off psu
push power button on case about 10 times
unplug psu
remove battery
move clear CMOS jumper for at least 15 minutes.
replace jumper
replace battery
plug in psu
turn on psu
boot, load fail-safe defaults, save and exit, reboot
FLASH BIOS
then run through whole clear CMOS process again, except this time leave CMOS jumper in 'clear' position for a couple minutes.

 

[Muggy]

Nothing wrong. U will most prolly not end with a bad flash at all when u do that.