SOLVED Dual-core problem with games BAD MEMORY

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skace

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
14,488
7
81
I think the point that Mem was trying to get at is this is not a "generic" dual-core cpu problem. An example of that would be trying to run EQ1 with 2 cores enabled, the game runs extremely fast, and you may even get banned for "speed hacking" due to how fast your character moves. However, both CS and Quake4 work perfectly fine with dual-core meaning this is not a dual core problem but a problem with hardware instability. That could be drivers, or hardware settings or simply bad hardware. I do not think trying to disable dual core is the solution you should be aiming for here. I think you should be ensuring none of your hardware is overheating, monitoring all your power requirements via something like everest and trying to narrow down the piece of hardware that may be causing conflicts. Also with dual core you can run 2 instances in parallel to test your dual core cpu, but I've found in the past that running prime successfully does not mean a whole lot in the long run.
 

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Member
Oct 19, 2001
54
0
0
The point Mem is trying to get to is not really new. Like I said, it's not news that it works for some ppl. And he didn't really say anything beyond that in his first post.

I can rule out that it has anything to do with overheating since I am watercooling both my CPU and GPU to low temperatures. And if it was heat it would crash in dual Prime (yea, I've run dual instances) pretty fast but it runs for hours even though it will crash in 2 min when I try to play CS. I do not think this is a hardware related issue.

My memory is a pair of 512 MB PC3500 TwinMOS BH-5. I've run these by SPD timings and they are stable in memtest86 even @ 245 Mhz with 3.3 V. Maybe they are unstable somehow but that just seems highly unlikely. Could be a drivestrength problem since I am not too familiar with those settings though, got any tips? Does DFI Expert got a problem with BH-5 (I've put em int the orange slots since the system won't boot if I put the in the yeallow slots).

I'm really trying to solve this since it kind of pi**es me of. Only reason I am a bit rude to some ppl is because they seem to underetstimate me and the kind of effort I've put into this.
 

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Member
Oct 19, 2001
54
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Major Update!

Seems I got a hardware problem. Fooled around with my memory and eventually got it stable if I used only 1 stick in the orange slot. I can't belive memtest86 didn't detect this problem since I ran it overnight without a single error @ 245 Mhz. Now I just have to find out how to make my TwinMOS Speed Premium PC3500 BH-5 stable in dual channel on my DFI SLI-DR Expert cause they worked just fine on my Ultra-D. I'm guessing DFI-Street is the best forum for that kind of question.

Thanks for all the help everybody! Without you I would probably never have found the cause of my problem. And now I am also an expert on dual-core related problems since I've read just about anything there is about it. :)
 

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
12,974
0
71
I've heard of a lot of instances where memtest and prime95 haven't detected a thing.
 

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Member
Oct 19, 2001
54
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Seems like I got the problem they are talking about in this thread over at DFI-Street although I got only one 7800GTX. I will report back here with my findings and the result from a flash to the older 11/02 BIOS.
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
Major Update!

Seems I got a hardware problem. Fooled around with my memory and eventually got it stable if I used only 1 stick in the orange slot. I can't belive memtest86 didn't detect this problem since I ran it overnight without a single error @ 245 Mhz. Now I just have to find out how to make my TwinMOS Speed Premium PC3500 BH-5 stable in dual channel on my DFI SLI-DR Expert cause they worked just fine on my Ultra-D. I'm guessing DFI-Street is the best forum for that kind of question.


Least I was right it was not a dual core issue,don't be so quick to be a bit rude with members here namely me,we are trying to help you.
 

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Member
Oct 19, 2001
54
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Mem:
Yea you were right. But you'r first post didn't really bring anything new to the table (certainly not that it was a hardware problem) and that kind brought me into a bad mood. The rest of your posts were helpful though, thank you.

About my memory and memtest86:
During my previous testing the memory was running 1:1 @ 200Mhz (that is underclocked from 217) and with loose SPD (2.5-3-3-8) timings with 2.9 V. I will admit that I just assumed they were stable after a night withour errors looping Test #5. These sticks did about 240Mhz at 2-2-2-5 timings on my Ultra-D 100% stable.

But when I tried all the test I got errors when switching from Test #5 to #6. Wierd thing is that looping only one of them does not produce any errors. This problem was solved by tightening the Cas-latency to 2.0 from 2.5 (which was the autodetected timing).

Now I only get errors after several hours of memtest86 and I seem to be able to play CS:S (an hour tested) with no problems. I don't like errors though so I think I will start a thread over at DFI-Street to get help finding 100% stable timings.

Or have you got any tip for me specific for this combo of mobo and memory?
(DFI SLI-DR Expert + TwinMOS Speed Premium PC3500 BH-5)