Ballistix Performance Memory

[widenet]

For some reason none of the more generic recommendations (here and at Tweaktown) seem to work with this board and my Ballistix modules.  I have the oft reported problem of one DIMM working fine at 800MHz but two or more causing the frantic beeping condition (23 beeps, then a reset, which is supposed to indicate a "power problem" but is apparently wrong).  So far I've tried:

  - All settings at Auto: 23 beeps, regardless of DIMMs

 - Forced bus speed ot 400MHz and multiplier of 2.0x: works for 1 DIMM, 23 beeps for 2, 3 or 4 DIMMs.

 - Forced bus speed ot 333MHz and multiplier of 2.0x: works for 1 DIMM, 23 beeps for 2, 3 or 4 DIMMs.

 - Forced bus speed ot 400MHz and multiplier of 2.0x, setting timings to 5,5,5,18: works for 1 DIMM, 23 beeps for 2, 3 or 4 DIMMs.

 - Forced bus speed ot 333MHz and multiplier of 2.0x, setting timings to 5,5,5,18: works for 1 DIMM, 23 beeps for 2, 3 or 4 DIMMs.

 - Forced bus speed ot 400MHz and multiplier of 2.0x, setting timings to 6,6,6,24: works for 1 DIMM, 23 beeps for 2, 3 or 4 DIMMs.

 - Forced bus speed ot 333MHz and multiplier of 2.0x, setting timings to 6,6,6,24: works for 1 DIMM, 23 beeps for 2, 3 or 4 DIMMs.

I've also tried each of the above with voltage forced to 1.8, 2.0 and 2.1 with no change in behavior.

I should mention that I was only able to get this far by borrowing a stick of OCZ Gold Series, which for some inexplicable reason works at full Auto settings, even though the specs appear to be the same.  Also, the Ballistix model number on my DIMMs are BL12864AA804.16FD3, NOT BL12864AA80A as found currently for sale at http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=BL12864AA80A .

I've run memtest86 for hours on single DIMM configurations and never seen an error.  Plus, these DIMMs have run flawlessly in an older Gigabyte motherboard for months.

Incidentally, a support ticket has been in the queue at http://ggts.gigabyte.com.tw for 2 days now and hasn't even been looked at yet.  Is that typical?

I'm hoping that someone here has the same or a similar combo, or can at least come up with a more avanced approach.  I'm an old hand at systems work but must admit I'm not what you'd call an overclocker, although I'm certainly open to that approach if I can get a stable system with 4 DIMMs out of it....

Thanks in advance.

[lsdmeasasp]

Please set your own tRD (Static tRead value) to a high value for now, try 8-9, 9 if you are using 400+ FSB or D multiplier on 400+ FSB.

Those beeps are caused by incorrect tRD often set by auto setting it to low, such as 6-7

If you are using 4GB please be sure to try out a few MCH Voltages, normally you need 1.2-1.24 or so, but sometimes less than stock such as 1.05 or 1.0 works better.   Please do be sure you set your own ram voltage manually to 2.15-2.2V as your ram is rated for 2.2V

Leave MCH Freq latch on Auto, disable XMP/EPP and set performance enhance to standard.  Then choose your own Memory multi, use ones with B if you are using less than 400 FSB, and ones with D if you are using 333-400.  

If you are not using a 333 FSB CPU, you may need to use the A or C multipliers, depending on your default FSB

Please feel free to PM me at Tweaktown, I am not sure if I have tried to help you yet or not because you are using a different screenname?

[widenet]

---

lsdmeasasp wrote:

Please set your own tRD (Static tRead value) to a high value for now, try 8-9, 9 if you are using 400+ FSB or D multiplier on 400+ FSB.

Those beeps are caused by incorrect tRD often set by auto setting it to low, such as 6-7

If you are using 4GB please be sure to try out a few MCH Voltages, normally you need 1.2-1.24 or so, but sometimes less than stock such as 1.05 or 1.0 works better.   Please do be sure you set your own ram voltage manually to 2.15-2.2V as your ram is rated for 2.2V

Leave MCH Freq latch on Auto, disable XMP/EPP and set performance enhance to standard.  Then choose your own Memory multi, use ones with B if you are using less than 400 FSB, and ones with D if you are using 333-400.  

If you are not using a 333 FSB CPU, you may need to use the A or C multipliers, depending on your default FSB

Please feel free to PM me at Tweaktown, I am not sure if I have tried to help you yet or not because you are using a different screenname?

---

Thanks for the ideas. No, I haven't created an account at Tweaktown yet, I've only read other posts exhaustively.

So, I've just tried forcing the tRD to 9 as suggested, with a 400MHz bus and 2.0D multiplier and 6x clock for the CPU ( to underclock to 2.4GHz).  I also looked around and decided to try forcing the profile to 800MHz, in case the motherboard was too dumb to read the SPD.  No good at 2.1 or 2.2 volts.  Tried MCH 1.1v as well.  Unfortunately this motherboard can only go from 1.0 to 1.4 in .1v increments.  I'm a bit wary of messing too much with that in the absence of some kind of concrete documentation, since I honestly have no clue what it is or does.

I also went back to leaving the latency timings set to Auto, as I don't know what these DIMMs are supposed to support.  The URL above says 4-4-4-12 but that's not the same exact part number for my kits so who knows.  Hopefully someone from Crucial can look up BL12864AA804 in their database and figure out what values they should or could be.

If I don't have any more luck I'll create an account at Tweaktown and PM you there....

Thanks again.

[widenet]

Also tried forcing 4-4-4-12 again, just for grins, along with 333MHz and a 2.4B multiplier. MCH was 1.1v and the DRAM itself was 2.2v. Still got the 23 beeps. What's interesting (to me) though is that sometimes a configuration will fail to even keep the CPU fan spinning and reset itself immediately before a 2nd attempt at post, then the beeps. Other times I'll get the beeps immediately. I have no idea if this means anything but it seems...significant? I'm probably wrong....

[lsdmeasasp]

Well you don't have to join up at TweakTown, I just mentioned it because I thought you already had by your comments.

Your memory is 444-12 2.2V correct?   I believe so, Crucial changed from those specs/chips is why you don't see it online anymore.

Sorry, you did not say if you are using 2x1 or 4x1 or 2x2, so I can't give you settings just yet.   Please let me know what ram amount/type you are using and what CPU you are using and I can give you a Full set of timings/settings to try out.   Please also let me know what FSB you have the CPU set at, then I will advise back

[widenet]

I've got 4x1GB, but even 2x1GB doesn't work yet.  (Obviously I'd like all 4.

I've been shooting for 400MHz x 2.0D but I also tried 333MHz x 2.40B and 2.0B.  Nothing works.

[widenet]

Oh, sorry.  It's a Core 2 Quad 9450 @ 2.66GHz.  So I've been trying it at everywhere from 400MHz x 6 to 333MHz x 8, plus the overclocked configuration 400MHz x 7 as well as underclocked to 333MHz x 7.

The DIMMs I'm doing at everything from 1.8v to 2.2v in 0.1v increments.  Still no luck with anything I've tried....

[lsdmeasasp]

Please fill this out with your current settings and I can help.

This is Just a template I use to ask people their settings, pay no attention to the numbers in it, replace with yours

CPU = Model #
Motherboard = Model, Revision #
BIOS Version =
Ram = Brand, Model#, Part#, And or Link

[code][b][u]MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)[/u][/b]
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto or Fast
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................:
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0
CPU Frequency ...........................:


[b][u]Clock Chip Control [/u][/b]
[b][u]Standard Clock Control[/u][/b]
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: Mhz
[B]PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:Set to 100[/B]

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


[b][u]Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter][/u][/b]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: <<< 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<<
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<<


[b][u]DRAM Performance Control[/u][/b][u][/u]
[B]Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD][/B]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............:
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............:
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

[b]Standard Timing Control[/b]
CAS Latency Time........................
tRCD .........................................
tRP'...........................................
tRAS..........................................

Set all Suggested below to highest Values first.  Then later you can lower, one at a time, testing as you go

[b][u]Advanced Timing Control[/u][/b]
tRRD...........................................
tWTR..........................................
tWR............................................
tRFC...........................................
tRTP...........................................
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

[u][b]Driving Strength Profiles[/u][/b]
Driving Strength ............................

[b]Channel A[/b]
Static tRead Value.........................:6/7-10 333/B MCH - 8/9-12 400/D MCH
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto <<< Leave for all below as well
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps

[b]Channel B[/b]
Static tRead Value.........................:6/7-10 333/B MCH - 8/9-12 400/D MCH
 tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto <<< Leave for all below as well
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
 tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
 tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto  ps

[b][U]Motherboard Voltage Control[/b][/U]

[b]CPU[/b]
CPU Vcore….……….........................:Auto if not overclocking, if you are overclocking please do find and set your own voltages

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: << If overclocking Please set to stock, Auto overvolts this way to much.  Optimal range for overclock would be 1.2-1.5 depending on Vcore, try to keep at least .1 under vcore.  Auto is fine if not overclocking

CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: << If overclocking Please set to stock, Auto overvolts this way to much.  Optimal range for overclock would be 1.5-1.65.  Auto is fine if not overclocking

CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: <<< .64% Of Vtt (Termination above) Auto Will set this correctly

CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......:<<< .67% Of Vtt (Termination above) Auto Will set this correctly

[b]MCH/ICH[/b]
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: <<
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........; <<< Leave
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: <<< Leave
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V............: <<< Leave
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: <<< Leave

[b]DRAM[/b]
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............:
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............: <<< Leave
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: <<< Leave
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: <<< Leave

[b][U]Advanced Settings[/b][/U]
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled] Enabled if you use Vmware/Virtual PC

[b][U]Integrated Peripherals[/b][/U]
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Disabled] *Note* Must be enabled to flash from USB[/code]

[Jody21]

try and force single channel. auto config not working for this ram