[FIXED] P4C800E + 2.6C suffers persistent MemTest crashes

[Leo V]

EDIT: Fixed by Yourself's advice - disabled Legacy USB support in the BIOS. Please take note for the future!

I am building a new rig using Asus P4C800E-deluxe with retail P4/2.6C, and cannot get even a single pass of MemTest86 (ver3.0 booting from CD) to complete without locking up.

The CPU is NOT even overclocked. I have reinstalled the CPU and diligently reapplied AS5 (the CPU doesn't even reach 45C). I have tried different memory (OCZ 3700 pair and Corsair 2x3500C2) and tried both using primary and secondary matched DIMM slots. I have tried two quality 300W PSUs (Seasonic and Antec). I have tried 2 different videocards from ATI and NVIDIA. To be sure, I have no other devices connected except the CD-ROM drive with bootable MemTest CD.

I have installed Asus's latest BIOS, and changed a bunch of BIOS settings (higher mem/CPU voltage, disabling features, etc).

Nothing seems to help, or has ANY effects whatsoever on MemTest's behavior - it reports no errors, but locks up randomly within 10-15 minutes.

The only things in common are the mobo and CPU. Any suggestions? Did anyone had similar MemTest lockups? Help!

Much thanks,
Leo

 

[mechBgon]

What are your memory's timings set for? Try 2.7 volts on the DIMMs and relax the timings down to 3-3-3-8 @ 400MHz to see what happens. Use the Corsair. And dang... 300W PSU? Did you run out of money? I'd be plunking down for a nice Antec TruePower 430 for a nice rig like that.

 

[Leo V]

In my current setup, actual power consumption is way less than 150watts, so I doubt the PSUs are the problem. Both PSUs support P4 and the Seasonic worked in my previous 100% stable P4 rig.

Trying Corsairs @ 2.65v asus (probably 2.7 actual -- they dont like more juice)..

 

[RamIt]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
And dang... 300W PSU? Did you run out of money? I'd be plunking down for a nice Antec TruePower 430 for a nice rig like that.

People overrate wattage. You need quality over quantity. My 200w ps runs the following

I run a P 2.4c @ 3.5
200 gig hd
2 sticks memory
ATI 8500 oced to 300-310
8X dvd burner
SB sound card
6 usb devices
2 80mm, 1 50mm and 1 40mm fan
all in a shuttle sb61g2

 

[Leo V]

Crashed again - using Corsair at 266mhz this time! Whatever it is, I doubt it's the memory causing these problems. I'll try swapping in a P4/1.6A later tonight.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: RamIt

Originally posted by: mechBgon
And dang... 300W PSU? Did you run out of money? I'd be plunking down for a nice Antec TruePower 430 for a nice rig like that.

People overrate wattage. You need quality over quantity. My 200w ps runs the following

I run a P 2.4c @ 3.5
200 gig hd
2 sticks memory
ATI 8500 oced to 300-310
8X dvd burner
SB sound card
6 usb devices
2 80mm, 1 50mm and 1 40mm fan
all in a shuttle sb61g2

You are right about quality over quantity, but I prefer both quality AND quantity After 10000+ posts here, I've seen the pattern, and when it's a standard desktop PSU I recommend a pretty strong one for an enthusiast-type rig. Over the long haul (as in, ~3-5 years), I think it'll pay off.

 

[Leo V]

My last failed attempt - underclocked at 1733mhz (133fsb) with 333mem. At this point, the CPU consumes something like <50watts max. I'll just have to try my other CPU..

 

[mechBgon]

Good luck, let us know what happens Nice to have some spare hardware to test with, isn't it

 

[zShowtimez]

With all the other stuff workin nice it seems to me like maybe a mobo issue? Its a long shot but did you try different ram slots, and how about single channel?

 

[Leo V]

Originally posted by: Yourself
Turn off legacy USB in your bios and you should be good to go.

Self

(Taken from General boards.) You must be a magician, because my problems magically disappeared after following your advice. For real. I owe you my deepest gratitude for the troubles you saved.

PS: Given your nickname, am I to say that I solved my problems Myself? Anyway, I was about to RMA the mobo, so major thanks for helping me out!

 

[THUGSROOK]

USB = evil to OCers

 

[Leo V]

Now cooking stable at 3.033ghz (default VCore) with 466mem @ 2.5-3-3-6-4 @2.65V, PAT/Turbo mode enabled. (I'm using 1GB OCZ 3700 Gold pair like Anand's review - it works as Anand suggested.

Going above 242fsb (3146mhz) required raising VCore, so I'm afraid my CPU cannot go much higher than 3.2ghz range (yes, I have one of the crappy SL6WS chips). I prefer to stick with 3.033 @1.525Vcore using 1:1 aggressive memory. More results to follow later in sep thread...

If you have any optimization suggestions Thugs (like BIOS settings) I'd love to hear them, or a link

 

[THUGSROOK]

id love to help you out ~ but i dont know a thingy dingy about the P4C800.
i had a p4p800 months ago, wasnt much in the bios to even play with.

make sure that....
SMART = disabled
32BIT ACCESS = enabled

HTH