Memory problem w/ OC'd E4300

[dgouldin]

Here's my setup:

Intel Core2 Duo E4300
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3
Corsair XMS2 2 x 1GB DDR2 800 (4-4-4-12)

Using either one of the DIMMs individually, I can get the system to 3.0GHz @ 1.4v without a problem. When I put both sticks of RAM in (whether in dual channel mode or in slots 1 and 3), I can't get Windows to boot at 4-4-4-12 even at stock speeds, and the system won't even post when bumped up to 2.7GHz. In all cases, I'm adjusting the memory speed multiplier to keep the frequency at or under stock speed and memory voltage is kept at default 2.1v at all times. Do you guys think this is a motherboard issue or a RAM issue?

 

[dgouldin]

Anybody have any ideas? Both DIMMs passed Memtest86.

 

[Conky]

The only thing I can offer is that you should set the PCI-E setting from auto to 100. This is what made my DS3 run properly.

If your RAM passed memtest at 4-4-4-12 and 2.1v it has to be a motherboard or cpu issue that is limiting your overclock. Although to completely remove the RAM from the equation try your overclock with the RAM at 5-5-5-15 and see what happens.

 

[RonAKA]

Sounds like memory, but only a guess. Have you run CPU-Z and checked the Memory and SPD tab to see if everything looks ok? Under Memory you have to double the Freq to see what the real DDR2 speed is. It also tells you what clock delays your are running. On SPD you can compare the two memory channels to see if there are any differences. Or, can you not get the system to boot in dual channel mode long enough to get CPU-Z running?

 

[dgouldin]

PCI-E is set firmly at 100MHz. One of my dislikes with the DS3 is that it wants to set too much automatically. No thanks.

I get a blue screen either straight out of the gate or right after the splash screen using 4-4-4-12 timings with default CPU settings when I'm using both sticks. I can boot with the default RAM timings of 5-5-5-18. I'm not sure what use CPU-Z would be in this case, though, as I already know what my memory timings and speed are from the BIOS settings. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your suggestion.

 

[dgouldin]

I'm going to feel like an idiot if this is the root of my problem, but I noticed a review of the board on Newegg that stated that the default voltage for RAM on the board is 1.8v. Can anybody confirm this? If so, I'm running my RAM undervolted by 0.3v which could very well be what's causing the problems I'm experiencing.

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: dgouldin
I'm going to feel like an idiot if this is the root of my problem, but I noticed a review of the board on Newegg that stated that the default voltage for RAM on the board is 1.8v. Can anybody confirm this? If so, I'm running my RAM undervolted by 0.3v which could very well be what's causing the problems I'm experiencing.

I don't have the MB yet, but I have been researching it and that's what everyone says regarding RAM voltage. Some RAM reviews have also indicated that DS3 is set at 1.8v at default and the users had to raise it to 2.1v.

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: dgouldin
I'm going to feel like an idiot if this is the root of my problem, but I noticed a review of the board on Newegg that stated that the default voltage for RAM on the board is 1.8v. Can anybody confirm this? If so, I'm running my RAM undervolted by 0.3v which could very well be what's causing the problems I'm experiencing.

Yes, the DS3's default memory voltage is 1.8v so if you haven't adjusted this then you have indeed solved your problem!