Problem
We recived a complaint of memory problems with the K8NSNXP-939 with the Corsair XMS Pro memory modules.
We tested and we found this to be true with all DDR400 memory with the Nforce 3 motherboards when running RAID 0 or 1 through the Nvidia SATA RAID utility.
Symptoms
We have found the following configurations to be true to this problem.
K8NSNXP - Tested
K8NSPro - Tested
K8NS – Tested
K8NSNXP-939 – NOT TESTED (should exhibit the same problem)
Nvidia RAID set to 0 or 1
Any DDR400 memory module
When running the above configurations the memory tends to be unstable under these conditions. This problem can be tested by running Windows Memory Diagnostics or Memtest -86 memory test.
We tested for this in the following steps…
- Ran Windows Memory Diagnostics and Memtest-86 version 3.1a without SATA HDD’s – PASS
- Connected one SATA hard drive in and installed Windows XP\2000 – PASS
- Ran Windows Memory Diagnostics and Memtest-86 – PASS
- Connected 2 Hard Drives and installed on a RAID MIRROR on the Nvidia SATA controller and installed Windows 2000 only – PASS
- Tested Windows Memory Diagnostics and Memtest-86 - FAIL on test 3 in Windows Memory Diagnostics and takes about 35minutes to pass one loop in Memtest-86
- Tested with different DDR400 memory under RAID configuration – FAIL
- Tested another CPU under Nvidia RAID conditions – FAIL
- We then repeated all tests with the K8NSPro and K8NS in the RAID configuration with the memory tests – FAIL
The problem with the corruption of Windows is very difficult to replicate and we did not notice that in our initial report on the Nforce3 Raid setup procedure. We tested for this problem using 3DMark2001se and we found the system to freeze intermittently after +/- 6hours. We tried copying some software and data from an IDE HDD to the Nvidia RAID array and the data was sometimes corrupt. When trying to run and install the copied software, we sometimes got invalid memory address errors or corrupt file errors. Using Windows Memory Diagnostics is the easiest way to duplicate this problem.
We can assume that this is a problem with the CPU/Memory and the Nvidia RAID feature.
Solution
Right now, we have no solution to fix the problem. Gigabyte is still working on this problem and may fix this through a bios update.
For now, please ask customers to use the SILICON Images SATA RAID controller instead of the Nvidia SATA RAID controller, on the K8NSPro, K8NSNXP, K8NSNXP-939. For the K8NS, the RAID feature should not be used or another motherboard with the RAID feature should be recommended.
I will send out an update once I get more information from Gigabyte.
Product configurations affected…
K8NSNXP-939
K8NSXP
K8NSPro
K8NS
Nvidia RAID 0 or RAID 1 option selected
Reference:
QuintonV – RCT JHB
DanielK – RCT CT |