F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK + GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P / R BIOS settings

[GSKILL TECH]

CPU Host Clock Control - Enabled
CPU Host Frequency - 333
Performance Enhance - Standard
Extreme Memory Profile - Disabled
System Memory Mulitplier - 3.20B
DRAM Timing Selectable - Manual
CAS Latency - 5
tRCD - 5
tRP - 5
tRAS - 15

Advanced Timing Control (submenu)
tRRD - 4
tWTR - 4
tWR - 8
tRFC - 68 (80 for 8GB or 4 sticks)
tRTP - 4
Command Rate - 2

Load Line Calibration - Disabled
MCH Core - 1.20V (1.40V for 8GB or 4 sticks)
DRAM Voltage - 2.10V


UPDATE:

All G.Skill DDR2 1066 memory module users can now enhance the stability and the compatibility on Gigabyte motherboards by using the new BIOS as below:

Motherboard Model Latest BIOS version
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3L

F9 for rev. 1.0(2010/1/18)
F9 for rev. 1.1(2010/1/18)

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3LR

F10 for rev. 1.0 (2010/1/27)
F10 for rev 1.1 (2010/1/27)

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R

F12 for rev. 1.0 (2010/1/18)
F12 for rev. 1.1 (2010/1/18)


Here is the test result after updating the latest BIOS version for GA-EP45-UD3R:

Platform 1
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8200
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R
BIOS version: F12
Memory: G.Skill F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK (DDR2 1066 5-5-5-15@2.1v)
OS: Windows 7 64bit
Test software: memtest pro 3.5

BIOS setting:










__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Pre-February 5, 2010

This guide is for the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P/R with the G.Skill F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK.

Note: Although the motherboard users manual, and generally you should always install memory in slots 1 and 3, this motherboard has a issue where the initial slots are actually 2 and 4. So if you have an issue with slots 1 and 3, try 2 and 4. (This is now solved with the latest BIOS above)

In BIOS, set Performance Enhance to [Standard].

System Memory Multiplier needs to be configured for 1066. If your CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) is 333, set System Memory Multiplier to 3.20B for DDR2-1066. If your CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) is 266, set System Memory Multiplier to 4.00A for DDR2-1066. The default CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) is dependent on your CPU.

[For people with CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) at 266]
You can also increase it to 333 from 266, as this proves to be much more stable for some motherboards, but also make sure to adjust CPU Clock Ratio accordingly. If not, you will be overclocking the processor without any CPU VCore (voltage) increase and that may cause instability. (If you want to keep the CPU overclock, simply increase CPU VCore to 1.30V and that should stabilize the processor)

Next, change DRAM Timing Selectable to [Manual] and set memory timings to tCL5 - tRCD 5 - tRP 5 - tRAS 15. Then enter Advanced Timing Control, change Command Rate CMD to [2].

Then look for voltages and change DRAM Voltage to 2.1V. If you are running 8GB, change MCH Core to 1.4V.

If you are running 8GB (4 sticks), you may need to raise tRFC in Advanced Timing Control to 80.

Save and exit and everything should be running smoothly.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

[jbauer]

I'm a little confused, are these screen shots supposed to reflect what we should have in BIOS. The actual screen shots don't match what you wrote.

[GSKILL TECH]

No, they are only there for reference. If you could post pictures of the settings I listed, that would be great. =)


Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

[jbauer]

Sorry for the doublepost, but this may help other people viewing this sticky.

Here are my specs

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R Revision 1.1 BIOS ver F9 LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor

G.SKILL 8GB F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model

SAPPHIRE 100225L Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

I'm having trouble running keeping my system stable. I get the BSOD, blue screen of death, when trying to install both 32 and 64 bit Vista with this message "irql_not_less_or_equal". I've tried using your settings to no avail.

I've also tried using memtest86+, 4x on each stick individually. Individually they all passed. When I used 2 sticks for a 4GB total, they passed. However, when I use 8GB it doesn't pass. Please help

[GSKILL TECH]

Did you change tRFC to 68+ and MCH Core Voltage to 1.4V for 8GB? Without that it won't work. Your error problem just sounds like you have not completed these steps.

Try the settings I listed and then let me know what issues you have. I will be able to further assist you then.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

[jbauer]

These are my settings, now it boots to the BIOS screen and then reboots over and over again.

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...[AUTO]
CPU Clock Ratio ...........9X
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.......0.0
CPU Frequency .............3.00 GHz (333*9)

Clock Chip Control
>>>Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control.......[Disabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ....333
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)..100>>AUTO

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

Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive..................[700mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive..........[700 mV]
CPU Clock Skew (ps)..............0ps
MCH Clock Skew (ps)..............0ps

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance..............[STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.)..[Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...........[Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ........[3.20B]
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..........1066
DRAM Timing Selectable ..........[Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time...5 [5]
tRCD ..............7 [5]
tRP'...............7 [5]
tRAS...............20 [15]

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...............4 [AUTO]
tWTR...............4 [AUTO]
tWR................8 [AUTO]
tRFC...............68 [60]
tRTP...............4 [AUTO]
Command Rate (CMD).0 [2]

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ......

>>Channel A
Static tRead Value........8
tRD Phase0 Adjustment.....0 [AUTO]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment.....0 [AUTO]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment ....0 [AUTO]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment.....0 [AUTO]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....8 [AUTO]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)....8 [AUTO]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)....7 [AUTO]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)....9 [AUTO]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control....[AUTO]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control....[AUTO]
DDR Write Training..........[AUTO]

Driving Strength Profile......[1066 MHz]
Data Driving Pull-up Level....[AUTO]
Cmd Driving Pull-up Level.....[AUTO]
Ctrl Driving Pull-up Level....[AUTO]
Clk Driving Pull-up Level.....[AUTO]
Data Driving Pull-Down Level..[AUTO]
Cmd Driving Pull-Down Level...[AUTO]
Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level..[AUTO]
Clk Driving Pull-Down Level...[AUTO]

>>Channel B
Static tRead Value..........8
tRD Phase0 Adjustment.......0 [AUTO]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment.......0 [AUTO]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment ......0 [AUTO]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment.......0 [AUTO]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)......8 [AUTO]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)......8 [AUTO]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)......7 [AUTO]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)......9 [AUTO]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control......[AUTO]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control......[AUTO]
DDR Write Training............[AUTO]

Driving Strength Profile......[1066 MHz]
Data Driving Pull-up Level....[AUTO]
Cmd Driving Pull-up Level.....[AUTO]
Ctrl Driving Pull-up Level....[AUTO]
Clk Driving Pull-up Level.....[AUTO]
Data Driving Pull-Down Level..[AUTO]
Cmd Driving Pull-Down Level...[AUTO]
Ctrl Driving Pull-Down Level..[AUTO]
Clk Driving Pull-Down Level...[AUTO]

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type
>>> CPU
Load-Line Calibration [DISABLED]
CPU Vcore...............1.3000v..[AUTO]
CPU Termination…........1.200v....[AUTO]
CPU PLL………….............1.500v....[AUTO]
CPU Referen............:0.760v....[AUTO]

>>>MCH/ICH
MCH Core.........1.100v...[1.300v]
MCH Reference....0.760v...[AUTO]
MCH/DRAM Ref.....0.900v...[AUTO]
ICH I/O..........1.500v...[AUTO]
ICH Core.........1.100v...[AUTO]

>>> DRAM
DRAM Voltage ........1.800v...[2.100v]
DRAM Termination.....0.900v...[AUTO]
Channel A Reference..0.900v...[AUTO]
Channel B Reference..0.900v...[AUTO]

[jbauer]

I forgot to mention that I have the F9 BIOS version on the revision 1.1 board.

[GSKILL TECH]

Try changing these:

MCH Core...... [1.400V]

MCH/DRAM Ref......[1.000V]

tRFC.............. [74]

Keep me posted on the results.

GSKILL SUPPORT

[jbauer]

I have 4 slots, and use all 4 because I have 8GB of this RAM in total. Thanks for the quick replies!

[jbauer]

Same result -=[ keeps rebooting.

[GSKILL TECH]

whoops sorry, forgot you are using 4 sticks. Increase MCH Core voltage to 1.4V. If that doesn't stabilize, try tRFC 80, otherwise we'll probably have to raise basic timings. 5-6-6-18 or so.

GSKILL SUPPORT

[jbauer]

Still not working..tried it with the higher MCH voltage, and increased timings.

[GSKILL TECH]

Try running 5-7-7-20 with Advanced Timings to AUTO. If it still does the same thing, try testing 2 sticks @ 1066 in slot 1 & 3, then in slot 2 & 4 to see if you get this prob. Many people have this issue, and RMA is usually the solution.

GSKILL SUPPORT

[jbauer]

The RAM has problems with DIMM 1 and DIMM 3 when trying to use the DDR1066 settings...I give up. I'm running all 8GB at DDR800 with no hassle. I blame the motherboard. I'm going to keep the RAM and wait for a BIOS update. Thank you for all your help GSKILL_TECH.

[GSKILL TECH]

Sounds good. It has been tested that DDR800 is very close in read speed, and sometimes even slightly higher than DDR1066 for certain speeds such as copy speed. You are not losing much if anything at all. Slot 1 + 3 is a hit or miss for these Gigabyte motherboards, so you either have no trouble at all or you need fine tuning.

GSKILL SUPPORT