Seeing how Mushkin tech support is actually alive and kicking even on a Saturday night
... I figure I will post my MB-RAM issue here. I have been posting the entire story on Clunk's IT forums (http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/overclocking/9722-q9450-asus-striker-ii-extreme-raid0-oc-3.html#post31262, just in case anyone wants to read the whole ode ...But I will keep it short and to the point here.
Basically, I've a Asus Striker II Extreme, Intel Q9450 and a pair of 2gb 1600 Mushkin Ascent Extreme DDR3's. And the memory won't run at the stated numbers. Now ... I have tested the sticks with memtest86+ 2.01. They BOTH (seperately and togheter with all slot combinations) checked out fine at the manufacturer's rated specs (1600 / 7-7-6-18 @ 1.86v). The problem is, that I can get Prime 95 Blend stress testing done just fine when the CPU is at stock and the ram's at 1066 (auto settings) and 1333 (auto settings). When I try to run stress testing at the manually inserted numbers (1600 / 7-7-6-18 @ 1.85v-1.90v) and the cpu still on stock, Prime fails after 10-15 seconds. :/
I went to the store, and the guy at the counter told me, that I have to input even the ADVANCED settings manually. ... well, that is certainly beyond me. Here is my BIOS template:
Striker II Extreme
BIOS: 0901
-= Extreme Tweaker =-
CPU Level Up: [Auto]
Memory Level UP: [Auto]
Ai Overclock Tuner: [Manual]
CPU Multiplier: [8.0]
FSB - Memory Clock Mode: [Unlinked]
FSB (QDR), MHz: [1333]
MEM (DDR), MHz: [1600]
LDT Frequency: [x5]
PCIE Bus, Slot 1&2, MHz: [100]
PCIE Bus, Slot6 3, MHz: [100]
SPP <-> MCP Ref Clock, MHz: [Auto]
SLI Ready Memory: [Disabled]
-Memory Timing Setting-
P1: [Auto]
P2: [Auto]
tCL (CAS Latency): [7] -> 7
tRCD: [7] -> 7
tRP: [6] -> 6
tRAS: [18] -> 18
Command Per Clock: [1T] -> 1T
Advanced Memory Settings
tRRD: [Auto] -> 4
tRC: [Auto] -> 27
tWR: [Auto] -> 10
tWTR: [Auto] -> 14
tFAW: [Auto] -> 21
tRD: [Auto] -> 9
tRTP: [Auto] -> 4
tRFC: [Auto] -> 59
tREF: [Auto] -> 7,8uS
-Over Voltage-
CPU Voltage: [1.25V]
Loadline Calibration: [Disabled]
CPU PLL Voltage: [1.53V]
CPU VTT Voltage: [1.14V]
Memory Volatge: [1.85V] - [1.90V]
NB Core Voltage: [1.32V]
SB Core Voltage: [1.5V]
CPU GTL_REF0 Ratio: [Auto]
CPU GTL_REF1 Ratio: [Auto]
CPU GTL_REF2 Ratio: [Auto]
CPU GTL_REF3 Ratio: [Auto]
NB GTL_REF Ratio: [Auto]
DDR3 CHA1 Ref Voltage: [Auto]
DDR3 CHB1 Ref Voltage: [Auto]
DDR3 CHA2 Ref Voltage: [Auto]
DDR3 CHB2 Ref Voltage: [Auto]
-CPU Configuration-
CPU Type: Intel (R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU
Q9450 @ 2.66 GHz
CPU Speed: 2.66
Cache: 6144K x2
CPU Internal Thermal Control: [Auto]
Limit CPUID MaxVal: [Disabled]
Enhanced C1 (C1E): [Diasbled]
Execute Disable Bit: [Enabled]
Virtualisation Technology: [Disabled]
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep(tm) Tech. : [Disabled]
CPU Core 2: [Enabled]
CPU Core 3: [Enabled]
CPU Core 4: [Enabled]
-Spread Spectrum Control-
CPU Spread Spectrum: [Disabled]
PCIE Spread Spectrum: [Disabled]
SATA Spread Spectum: [Disabled]
LDT Spread Spectrum: [Disabled]
... now ... While I am itching to get the memory linked and synced, Windows won't boot with FSB set EVEN 1 MHz over stock! So ... I figure, although the issues could be many, it's most likely that either a) the MB is malfunctioning or b) The memory and the MB don't communicate too well. And I repeat, both the sticks passed memtests at their manufacturer rated values. But the system is unstable, osten getting the fatal 'paged_nonpaged_' bluescreen with XP's. Once running at 1600 7-7-6-18. Windows was however rock solid with 5 hours of Prime 95 blend at 1066 [all Auto] and 1333 [all Auto]. If you have any ideas please help.
Truly excellent.