Problem with P5K Premium/Q6600/ATI3870

Werewolf

Werewolf

Werewolf

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Panting like a fiend
Hi

I've just got a new system which is based around an
Asus P5K Premium/wifi
Intel Q6600
ATI 3870
Crucial DDR2 800 2gb memory (as recommended on their site.

I did have windows installed successfully on it yesterday until I tried to add a second memory module at which point it went wonky.
I took the second memory module out after the Windows memory test suggested it was the faulty party - found after running the machine with one/both/other module.

Fine I thought until this morning when I have the same problem again, manage to run the windows memory test (after several abortive attempts) and it again tells me I have a hardware problem.

I'm guessing the problem either has to be the Motherboard, CPU, Videocard or ram, as i've disconnected both the hard drive and optical drive and am getting lockups in the bios (i've even changed the keyboard connected to the machine).
I haven't tried a bios update (although there is one available by the looks of it), as i'm not nuts enough to try flashing the bios on a machine that is locking up in it's bios and whilst running the "ezflash" utility to try to back up it's existing bios ;)

Thanks:)
 
have you just built this system ? if you can go to bios and check what volatge is going to the ram. sometimes the bios defaults to a to low setting. should be 2 or2.1v for that ram should say on the packet.
 
Thanks for the reply :)

Aye the system is a new build, I put it together yesterday and had windows installed quite happily for a while.
According to the crucial site the ram needs 1.8v, so i've tried it at 1.85 and 1.9 with no difference.

What I have just noticed (I turned off the boot logo and quick boot), it looks like it's stalling at times before/during the "initializing USB controllers" which I think means it's happening before the bios makes use of system ram.
 
It's Crucial
4GB kit (2GBx2)

Part #: CT2KIT25664AA800 • DDR2 PC2-6400 • CL=6 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-800 • 1.8V • 256Meg x 64

The stuff the Crucial site recommends for an Asus P5K Premium/wifi
 
H'mm have you tried the dos version of memtest?

Try upping the MCH by 0.1 although shoudnt have to with just 2 sticks of ram.
 
thanks:)
total noob question (it's been a long time since i played with bios settings), what's the mch setting? :p

Also it's only one stick at the moment, although i'm starting to doubt it's memory as when it crashes in windows (when it gets there) it looks almost like a video issue - the screen goes corrupt, and it looks a bit like it's gone out of range, although I guess a memory crash might do that?

I may have to try and borrow my nephews videocard - but if anything happens to it i'll be dead (he's addicted to WoW and gets very upset if he cannot play it).
 
Memory crash should just give the BSOD, restart or just a black screen, more likely blue screen though.

The screen going corrupt, i'd highly doubt that's memory. You mentioned USB. Try disabling Legacy drivers and such in BIOS.
 
thanks i'll try that next.

I tried the videocard in my nephews PC earlier and that seemed to be fine, so i'm guessing i've ruled that out.

it's really annoying, i've got a brand new, much faster system that I can't use :p
 
ok, the machine has been tried with
onboard raid
usb support (host controllers the lot)
firewire
wireless network

All off.

No difference.

So in brief (as much for my own benefit as anything else)
Machine built with one memory module and installed/ran fine.
After loading all the device drivers I turned it off and installed the second memory module
Problems getting to windows.
I try just the second memory module - problems.
I then run the windows memory test on the second module and it shows problems.
I try the first memory module again, and it runs fine.
I turn the machine off for the night and then find i'm having problems in the morning.

The problems include it loading to the windows desktop (only when it's been fully powered down), then crashing/locing up with screen corruption - sometimes you'll see an error message just as it locks up
It rebooting or locking up whilst loading into windows
It freezing at the bios screen after a crash/reboot.
It freezing in the bios

I've ruled out the hard drive and optical drives by the simple expedient of physically unplugging them.
I've ruled out a keyboard problem by trying a USB and a PS2 keyboard (I've known PS2 mice/keyboards to lock up systems if they have dodgy cables)
I've ruled out a short/problem with it mounting in the case by running it outside of the case.
I think i've ruled out a videocard problem by testing the card in my nephews PC.
I've tried running it with all but the essential motherboard features turned off (no usb, raid controller, wireless lan, firewire)
I've increased the ram voltage by 0.05 and 0.01 with no effect.
I've tried clearing the cmos.
I've reseated the CPU fan.

It looks like either:
The motherboard doesn't like the Crucial ram
I've got two faulty memory modules, one of which ran fine for several hours
I've got a faulty motherboard
I've got a faulty CPU
I've got a faulty PSU - although that seems unlikely as it's a fairly good make and it's letting the system boot up fully at least once.

My guess is it's something going out of whack as it heats up, as that would be the only reason I can think for it getting further on a cold boot than a restart, and it crashing about 60-90 seconds after being turned on - but that still doesn't help much :p
 
H'mm your something to do with OcUK right?? i.e. staff - why dont you let one of your OcUK experts look at it?? ;)
Werewolf said:
thanks:)total noob question (it's been a long time since i played with bios settings), what's the mch setting? :p
Click to expand...
Ahhh on Abit & Gigabyte its in the bios as MCH! I dont use Asus motherboards anymore so cant tell you off the top of my head but if their isnt a setting for mch it should be under Northbridge Voltage something or other.

EDIT: Have you just tried going straight into bios & leaving it there? check on the temps in the hardware monitor wherever it is in the Asus bios??
 
Last edited:
i'm not staff, and don't live anywhere near the store ;)
just a mug who helps on the forums.

I've found the setting for the northbridge voltage but don't know what the default is - i'll try and look that up later, as it's got "auto" or a whole range of voltages.
 
Have u tried re seating the ram module, the one which I assume u have in now that originally worked ok ? By reseating and purely getting the clips to click by pressure alone ?
 
Have you seen anyone else on these forums or on say xtreme using the exact ram your using with the P5K Premium?

I know it's supposed to work but I dont trust those compatability lists on crucials forums, but maybe try some different ram if you can from a friend etc - check out P5K Premium official threads to see what ram they are using.
 
A little update, probably premature.

It looks like Crucial have several slightly different modules with the same primary part number (but the revision/batch changing).

I received replacement ram earlier today which had two stickers per module and was made in Singapore rather than the US (the 3 digits after the full stop in the part number were also different), and this ram *touches wood* seems to be running fine.
I'm not going to move my personal files/settings over to it for a day or two though in case I do run into problems.
 
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