Gigabyte GA-EP45T-UD3LR random freezes after bios update

[Denes Isti]

I have the following setup:
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45T-UD3LR
Processor: Intel Core2 Duo E8400 3.00GHz Wolfdale Box
Memory: Kingston ValueRAM 4GB DDR3 1333MHz CL9 DualKit
VideoCard: NVidia GeForce GTX 560

For a while now I was running the motherboard with Bios Update F6. I'm thinking on buying some extra RAM, and read that it is advisable to update the bios before installing extra ram. So I've updated to f12e. Now I have random freezes (must reboot afterwards), mostly in games, but also while running prime95. With bios f6, every hardware test gives ok. Ran memtest86 for hours and was no memory errors.

I think I need to set some bios values, but which? I have loaded the Optimized Default values and only set on the Integrated Peripherals page to use AHCI for the Harddisk.

Any ideas?

 

[smeezekitty]

Can you roll back?

 

[Denes Isti]

Can you roll back?

Yes, I can, then it works ok, but if I leave it with bios F6, then I will have the same problems with installing the extra ram as many others before me.

 

[cklaubur]

Which motherboard revision are you using? That can be found on the motherboard itself (near the PCI slots) or on the box. Gigabyte's website lists a Rev. 1.0, 1.1, and 1.3, and those could be slightly different, so I want to be sure I'm looking at the correct board for your problem.

However, I am finding other forum posts mentioning random freezes under load, and the usual fix was to lower memory speed slightly. There is no mention of motherboard revisions, so that may or may not work to fix your problem. It could be worth a shot though. Can't hurt anything.

Casey

 

[Denes Isti]

My motherboard has revision number 1.0. However it seems that the bios update file is the same for all revisions.

It seems a bit funny that for a bios update to work I need to lower my memory speed. Why is it then that it worked for F1-F6 and it doesn't work for F7-F12e.

 

[cklaubur]

They may be the same update file between revisions. I just wanted to be certain I was looking at the right one, since I've had a motherboard (Asus A7N8X Deluxe) that had different BIOS updates for different revisions.

You're right, it doesn't make much sense that memory speed would have to be lowered in order for the motherboard to work. However, that was just what I was coming across in my research into your problem. I have also seen that increasing the memory voltage slightly may help.

Apparently this motherboard can be very picky about the memory installed.

Casey

 

[Denes Isti]

I did some changes in the bios, set
MCH Voltage from 1.1 to 1.2
DRAM Voltage from 1.5 to 1.6
Disabled "CPU extended halt (C1E)" and "CPU EIST function"
Started some tests, same problem as before.

Than I lowered the frequency to 1066 and so far no freeze has occurred, although I tested for only a few hours.
I found this on the Intel P45 wiki site:
Support for dual channel DDR3 up to 1066 MHz (Officially), most motherboard manufacturers claim support up to 1333 MHz.
So it seams that it shouldn't have worked before, and it was some glitch that it actually worked.
Also I'm wondering, do I need to keep the first part of my changes, or changing only the frequency is enough?

 

[cklaubur]

A tenth of a volt each probably won't hurt either the MCH or the memory enough to matter, but the less stress you put on them, the better overall. The worst that could happen is that your freezing problem comes back, in which case, you know how to fix it.

I wish I could give you a better answer, but I haven't personally used that motherboard. I had the DDR2 version of that motherboard before my upgrade to the Core I5 I have now.

Casey