Random Hanging on ASUS Board

MrBoring · 16 Apr 2011 at 23:31

Hi, I really hope that someone can help me out here. I built this rig about three weeks ago and have had random hanging events ever since.

Motherboard: ASUS P7P55D-E
CPU: Intel i5 Quad Core 2.8GHz 8MB cache
RAM: OCZ Intel Extreme XMP 4GB DDR3 10666C7 1333MHz Low Voltage (x2)
Graphics Card: Saphire ATI Radeon HD 5770 Flex Eyefinity 1024MB GDDR5
Hard Drive: Intel SSD SA2M080G2GC
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB SATA 6Gbs 64MB cache
Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc AD-7260S DVD+RW SATA
Power Supply: Corsair CMPSU-600 CS
Case: Xigmatek White Knight Midgard

There does not seem to be any logic to it at all. I have tested the RAM overnight with Memtest and it's 100% Soetimes it'll run for days without problems and then all of suddent it just freezes. There's nothing I can find in the error logs apart from "windows shut down unexpectedly". Tonight it has froxen 6 times and will not let me perform a back up.

I have disabled the Marvell controller and am only using the SATA 2 ports
The SSD worked fine in another PC.

Sorry, typing fast in case it hangs again

Windows 7 Home 64

And now it's saying there's a back up in progress when there clearly isn't and this following a cold re-boot

No BSODS - just locks up and then I have to use the reset button to re-boot "normally from Windows"

Any ideas what I can try next?

MrBoring · 18 Apr 2011 at 11:05

Did I say something wrong? I'm new here and new to DIY PCs. This is my first build and I was hoping to get into overclocking after being inspired by what I've read on this forum but I could really do with a helping hand now and again. I always Google any issues before asking questions here and it's only by doing this that I've got this far. So, if the lack of response to my post is due to something I'm doing wrong on this forum then could someone please tell me what it is and what I need to do?

Anyway, the latest atempt to sabilise this board? I've taken two stickes of RAM out (leaving one pair / 4GB) - and - fingers crossed - so far so good.

This suggests to me that either: one or both of the two sticks that have been removed is faulty; or, that the board - as currently configured - does not like 8GB of RAM / all RAM slots occupied. I don't know enough about RAM voltages yet to go any further so I guess it's back to Google to try to find out how this all works - or doesn't work?

Thanks for looking

Martin

Atavist · 18 Apr 2011 at 22:56

If you suspect that your RAM is the cause this thread contains some general troubleshooting info: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18261596.

(Also, it's best to test RAM one stick at a time.)

Since you mention that you're getting no BSOD, just a lock-up, one random thought is whether this could be the problem some SSDs have with Intel Rapid Storage. This produces random lock-ups, although they only last 30secs to a minute and don't require a reboot. A very easy way to check for this is to look in Event Viewer for an error with source "iaStor".

MrBoring · 19 Apr 2011 at 19:26

Thank you very much for your reply. Well, there doesn't seem to be any problem with any of the four RAM modules. I can use any pair (4GB) and the PC is fine. The problem only appears if I try to use all four modules - ie 1 per slot (8GB) I would imagine that there is something that I need to tweak in the BIOS in order to run 8GB but I don't know what it is - yet. I will have to go away and do some reading.

Thanks again for your reply.

Angerer · 19 Apr 2011 at 19:39

Hello dude,

I had problems with my old 775 Asus board, found the freezing was something to do with Windows not updating older Asus motherboards or something along those lines.

I used to boot up then after afew minutes everything freeze, couldnt do anything.
My motherboard was an Asus P5N32-E PLUS SLi. I now own a Gigabyte mobo.

I am sorry i don't have anymore information for ya mate, hope you get it sorted somehow.

Mick-1965 · 19 Apr 2011 at 23:07

MrBoring said:
Thank you very much for your reply. Well, there doesn't seem to be any problem with any of the four RAM modules. I can use any pair (4GB) and the PC is fine. The problem only appears if I try to use all four modules - ie 1 per slot (8GB) I would imagine that there is something that I need to tweak in the BIOS in order to run 8GB but I don't know what it is - yet. I will have to go away and do some reading.

Thanks again for your reply.

You can try manually setting the IMC voltage. Stock is 1.1 try 1.2 Don't go above 1.35 though

In the DRAM TIMING CONTROL you can also try setting the TIMING MODE to 2N

MrBoring · 20 Apr 2011 at 19:42

Thanks for the tips guys. I think I've found the problem, The RAM modules say 1.6v but the BIOS says: "current DRAM voltage = 1.48v" The add for the RAM says "1.5v - 1.6v But I presume I need to manually adjust the voltage in the BIOS up to 1.6v? Could this be what was making it unstable with all four slots occupied? Would upping the DRAM voltage be all that was necessary or are there other setting s that have to be changed when doing this?

Thanks for all the help so far