Why thousands of 'memory test' errors on P4C800-E Deluxe w/Promise cntrllr enabled?

[computer]

Hi all. I'm going to try and post this here since no one has been able to answer it in the P4C800 thread, and I don't see a "memory" forum.

I've been wondering for over a month now, why with the Promise controller enabled on my P4C800-E Deluxe (Rev 1.02) I get thousands of errors on Memtest AND the Microsoft RAM diagnostics utility? I've changed video cards (nVidia & ATI), power supplies (top rated Fortron-Source FSP400-60PFN & cheap Leadman 400 watt), **MEMORY, everything and it still happens. NO PCI cards are installed. It DOES NOT matter if anything is even connected to the Promise controllers! It just has to be enabled in the BIOS and the errors are incredible. When I disable the Promise controller, no errors! Legacy USB is DISABLED in the BIOS. Overclock settings and memory settings have no effect on the errors. Whether FSB is 200mhz or 255mhz, I get the same results. Whether Turbo and PAT are on or off, I get the same results. Regardless of voltages, same results. Regardless of ANY settings, the results are the same; Promise on, thousands of errors. Promise off, no Memtest or MS RAM diag's errors. The mobo is not in a case. **Memory tried is Geil PC4000 Ultra Platinum, and some generic PC2700. ONE SLOT OR TWO SLOTS used, same thing, even switching slots with one stick. I CAN run the memory tests on my P4B533 flawlessly using both types of memory. So, there is nothing wrong with the memory, and even it was it would not explain why only errors with the Promise enabled. (CPU is retail 2.4C).

Since I have two chips which look like VR's marked "9915" on this mobo that are about to melt, I've been trying to get an RMA for SEVEN WEEKS now, and after that long and over 60 emails and form fill-outs the Asus site, NO REPLIES. They won't even reply to address the Promise controller memory error issue. One of these "9915" chips are next to the AGP slot, the other next to the DIMM slot closest to the outside edge of the mobo. I'm wondering if that issue and the Promise issue are related, as in a screwed up mobo.

BIOS version is 1011. I am aware of v1012 & 1013 and the issues surrounding them (Asus pulled both 12 & 13 from their website). I have both 12 & 13, but of course am not going to try them for one; they were Beta, and I've heard of some fried mobo's with 13.

So........what's going on here? Is it normal to get all these memory errors with the Promise controller enabled, and if so, WHY? Would someone PUH-LEEEEZE take a few seconds and boot from the Memtest floppy or MS RAM test floppy and check the errors with the Promise controller enabled and disabled? If someone would do this, then I would know if this normal or not and if normal I could (after TWO MONTHS) finally get this SOB in the case and completed. As far as the 9915 chips, I can put heatsinks on them if there is no Promise problem. I'd also appreciate it if someone would touch these "9915" chips and see if they are this hot.
Thank you!

 

[computer]

^

 

[Thor86]

Which bios version are you using? Also, which ram models?

 

[computer]

Hi, another member on the P4C800 thread finally tried it and he too is getting the same errors and with a totally different setup and board revision. So, this is another bug in the P4C800-E Deluxe mobo. To answer your question though, I've tried different BIOS' (1009, 1010 and 1011), and different memory (Geil and some generic type, DC mode and single sticks). So, at least I'm not alone in this and I now know an RMA would not help.

 

[InlineFive]

Sorry I can't contribute anything but this is why I am buying an Abit AI7 with 512MB of PC4000 GEIL Platinum memory.

 

[computer]

You mean IC7? That's what I have; Geil Ultra Platinum PC4000. It's useless and slow UNLESS you're POSITIVE your CPU will O'clock a lot. If not, you're much better off with OCZ Gold PC3700. It's the fastest memory there is up to about DDR500. Geil UP is slow until you get to its max since it will O'clock a bunch (DDR546). Since my CPU sucks (2.4C) and will only do 255mhz bus, that's only DDR510 for my memory and I'm getting really bad performance. If my CPU would do 300mhz bus like most or many 2.4C's, my memory would really rock then.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: computer
You mean IC7? That's what I have; Geil Ultra Platinum PC4000. It's useless and slow UNLESS you're POSITIVE your CPU will O'clock a lot. If not, you're much better off with OCZ Gold PC3700. It's the fastest memory there is up to about DDR500. Geil UP is slow until you get to its max since it will O'clock a bunch (DDR546). Since my CPU sucks (2.4C) and will only do 255mhz bus, that's only DDR510 for my memory and I'm getting really bad performance. If my CPU would do 300mhz bus like most or many 2.4C's, my memory would really rock then.

No, AI7! And I think I will be able to hit 250Mhz FSB with a 1:1 ratio. Hopefully then both my processor and memory will have around 8GB/s of bandwidth.

And I chose the Geil because it has a CAS latency of 2.5 instead of 3 found on the HyperX. But I have a feeling that with the HyperX I could bump the voltage and get maybe even CAS2 anyways...

 

[Thor86]

Try visiting http://www.abxzone.com and peruse their Intel Chipset forums. Tonnes of info on the Asus board.

 

[Big Lar]

Try disabling"USB LEGACY" in bios..

 

[computer]

Big Lar, see my original post, I already did.

I came across ABXzone when I was trying to see if anyone else had this problem and no one there mentions it. I guess I was the only person to ever try this test which is hard to believe.

 

[Big Lar]

Hmm, OK, Back to basics/ What is your cpu voltage,for that matter all your voltages that you set, Download cpuz, and see what that says as to voltage to the board, and post it or pm... The only way to rma anything thru asus is to just call them, I tried the email route and its as if they can't read english, but they can sure hear it.My first thoughts when I hear of hot chips, is over volting, or a pci card not seated properly, I would try reseating Everything, and if you can get your hands on something to read the board voltages properly, as well as the output of the Power supply, that may give a clue. Sorry, not fully awake yet, but will give this more thought as soon as the coffee is done

Edit: spelling

 

[computer]

Guys, thanks but please listen: Overclock settings and memory settings have no effect on the errors. Whether FSB is 200mhz or 255mhz, I get the same results. Whether Turbo and PAT are on or off, I get the same results. Regardless of voltages, same results. Regardless of ANY settings, the results are the same; Promise on, thousands of errors. Promise off, no Memtest or MS RAM diag's errors. Power supply has been changed. No PCI cards are used, NO SLOTS are being used except for the AGP and different video cards have been used as well.

Any and ALL settings, and all hardware have absolutely no effect on this as long as the Promise controller is enabled with ANYTHING attached to it they happen. CPUz and other hardware monitoring software shows all voltages WNL.

Also note above I mentioned this is happening to others, so it's not just my mobo and an RMA would be even more of a waste of time since any replacement mobo would still exhibit the same bug.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: computer
Guys, thanks but please listen: Overclock settings and memory settings have no effect on the errors. Whether FSB is 200mhz or 255mhz, I get the same results. Whether Turbo and PAT are on or off, I get the same results. Regardless of voltages, same results. Regardless of ANY settings, the results are the same; Promise on, thousands of errors. Promise off, no Memtest or MS RAM diag's errors. Power supply has been changed. No PCI cards are used, NO SLOTS are being used except for the AGP and different video cards have been used as well.

Any and ALL settings, and all hardware have absolutely no effect on this as long as the Promise controller is enabled with ANYTHING attached to it they happen. CPUz and other hardware monitoring software shows all voltages WNL.

Also note above I mentioned this is happening to others, so it's not just my mobo and an RMA would be even more of a waste of time since any replacement mobo would still exhibit the same bug.

It may be a common problem, but I wouldn't say it affects EVERY board... yet. It may just be a manufacturing issue that effects a certain % of boards. Why do I say this? Because there ARE people who are running this board with the Promise controller and not having problems. I've never seen this bug exposed on any of the geek sites that use this board as their test platform.

Yes, I know I had the same problem, but I think mine was even worse than yours. I couldn't even load Windows and drivers without massive data corruption using the Promise Controller. We'll see how the new board goes. I'll pop the drives on the Promise first thing and run memtest as soon as I get it and let you know how it goes.

 

[computer]

"Homer", [deeeep, duuuuuuup, dooooop], like I just said on the other thread:
About my issue with the Promise controller; it WILL boot OK and work OK with my Raptor hooked up to it, or with an ATA133 IDE 'storage backup drive' connected to it, that HD can still be accessed fine and works normally, as does the Raptor when it's the boot drive on Promise. However, my fears and my point is with this many countless memory errors, that may, or probably means some serious stability issues noticed over periods of time, or even worse, the deletion/corruption of data. That is what I'm waiting on from Asus. Hopefully Monday that guy will reply on this matter. If he can somewhat "prove" to me it's in some way "normal" or there is no danger, then this mobo is FINALLY going into its case. Maybe something strange is going on with memory testing programs and the Promise controller with a drive attached that can be easily explained.....I HOPE.

Sure it may not be every board, but I know so far it's at least with the 800-E Deluxe (since another has the exact same behavior with his), now if only some 800 Deluxe users would try it. Also, I thought I previously explained; the review sites don't hook up all periph's to mobo's when they test them and rarely even use Memtest, and I've never seen any use the M$ RAM diagnostics yet. So, they are going to be missing this "bug" or whatever the hell it is. No one would ever think to: "Hey. why don't we hook up something to the Promise controller and check for memory errors". Those that are running this mobo as you say with no problems, haven't done this test yet.

Yes, thanks, please let us know what happens on your setup, and it's the "Microsoft RAM Diagnostics" you need to check it on, it shows MANY more errors than Memtest.

 

[computer]

Anyone? I had to end up RMA'ing the mobo due to fan header failure and the new mobo (which is newer Rev. 2) also as I expected has the EXACT same issues.

 

[paulcalif]

I read through these posts the other day and I know this doesn't make any sense, but have you disabled USB legacy support as someone suggested? I was having very weird unrelated problems, tried everything, and I think disabling the USB Legacy support has solved my issues (still testing)