Hello. I have been using my 790i Ultra SLI board for about a year without any game-stopping issues. It's always been a bit grumpy about the memory I had put in it(OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Memory Model OCZ3G16004GK). But most of the time it did boot up at 1600 speed (they were in the black channels). Today I updated my drivers for my graphics card to 195.39, restarted, and tried the new dragon origins game on full detail, so I imagine it got a workout, but there's nothing unusual about running high-end games on my machine. Later in the day I restarted my computer again and that's when I started having problems.

Basically, whenever I try to boot up, I'm seeing the C1 error code on the motherboard and nothing on the monitor. It also beeps loudly. The motherboard manual says C1 is base memory detect, therefore my thought is that something has gone wrong with my RAM sticks. So I took them out, put them back in, put one stick in the first slot, switched the sticks around, and tried just about every combination.  Always the C1 code. I don't have any other DDR3-using machines lying around, so I can't test whether it's for sure the memory or perhaps the motherboard somehow?

I would be extremely grateful for any assistance with this, please. Do I need to get some new memory? If so, what are some recommended ones for this board? How can I be sure it's not the motherboard? Is there anything more I can describe that will be of help in shedding light on this?

Motherboard: EVGA 790i Ultra SLI 132-CK-NF79
RAM: OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Memory Model OCZ3G16004GK
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569Q9550
GFX: PALiT NE/960TSX0202 GeForce 9600GT SONIC 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Video Card
Power: COOLMAX CUG-950B 950W
OS: Vista 64

I had previously set my memory to correct timings and voltage, but right now I can't get into the BIOS to do anything or check the settings. It doesn't get to that point in bootup.

I am still getting the C1 error code after following your instructions. The same thing happens. I tried with both sticks. I will order some new RAM online. What are some RAM that are known to work well with this board?

I have put in one stick of RAM, powered it on, and repeatedly pressed delete, but the computer doesn't get to BIOS. All I have to go on is the motherboard error code. Nothing at all appears on the monitor. This isn't due to my graphics card, I switched it out and retested and got the same result. The OCZ RAM has worked in the past, so I'm not saying it's bad, but that I think the RAM has developed a hardware defect of some sort. Else the motherboard has failed in some way. So I'm still interested in what memory would be good?

Yeah I use the Patriot Viper 2000 now too cause I couldn't pass 1800 being stable on my OCZ. I got the OCZ in my server in my basement!


Here ya go, our ram...
http://www.newegg.com/Pro...amp;Tpk=PVS34G2000LLKN

That's cool. Thanks for the recommendation.  I'm more concerned about stability than speed right at the moment, but after reading that they were designed to be compatible with 790i, I'm hooked. Plus, if it turns out that the motherboard is at fault, I'll have some nice sticks to put in a replacement.

How can I test my RAM if I can't get to BIOS? I tested it with memtest when I originally got it a year ago and it was fine at that time, but I went ahead and made a memtest floppy boot disk, stuck it in, powered it on with one stick in the first black channel, and I run into the C1 error code as I've described earlier. I don't have any other DDR3 systems to test my memory with. I'll just see what happens when I plug the new RAM in once it gets here.

Alright, I went ahead and made a bootable memtest CD and tried that. No change. As far as I can tell, it is hanging way before getting to the part of POST that checks for boot devices, but this is a guess because the monitor is not displaying anything.

Absolutely nothing shows on the monitor for the entire process.

I have another graphics card that I tried, with no change. I am nearly 100% certain it is not the monitor. Bad monitors don't make motherboards go beep in the night. And I have had no problems with my monitor.

Awesome. With that new Patriot RAM I booted up into BIOS with no problem. Am now flashing to P08 and setting things up. It's hard to remember how I had everything. What settings do you recommend for a Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core (E0) Processor? And is there anything special I need to do to set up the Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Dual Channel RAM Model PVS34G2000LLKN?


Thanks a lot for the help btw.

These settings let me boot into windows and do stuff without any obvious problems. But I ran memtest and got an error last night. I'd like to increase my memory speed a bit, but when I set the fsb/mem speed to 1800 it wouldn't boot. Not sure what settings to change for that.

Thanks

BIOS Version: P08
**System **
CPU Freq, MHz: 3612.5 GHZ
FSB Reference Clock, MHz: 425
CPU Multiplier: 8X (8.5x)
PCle x16-1 & 16-2, MHz:  [100]
PCle x16-3, MHz:  [100]
SPPc->MCP Ref Clock, MHz:  [200]
nForce SPP --> nForce MCP:   [5X]
nForce SPP c-- nForce MCP:   [5X]
**Spread Spectrum**
CPU Spread Spectrum: [Disabled]
HT Spread Spectrum: [Disabled]
PCle Spread Spectrurn(SPP): [Disabled]
PCle Spread Spectrurn(MCP): [Disabled]
SATA Spread Spectrum: [Disabled]
**FSB & Memorv Config**
FSB - Memory Clock Mode: linked
FSB - Memory Ratio: synced
FSB (QDR), MHz: 1700
Actual FSB (QDR), MHz: 1700
x MEM (DDR),  MHz: 1700
Actual MEM (DDR), MHz: 1700
P1: [AUTO]
P2: [AUTO]
**Memory Timing Setting**
Memory Timing Setting: expert
tCL (CAS Latency): 8
tRCD: 8
tRP: 8
tRAS: 20
Command Per Clock: 2T
** Advanced Memory Settings **
tRRD: [Auto] 7
tRC: [Auto] 52
tWR: [Auto] 12
tWTR: [Auto] 19
tFAW: [Auto] 40
tREF: [Auto] 7.7uS
tRFC: [Auto] 94
**System Voltages**
CPU Core: Auto 1.30v
CPU FSB: 1.30v
Memory: 1.80v
nForce SPP: 1.40v
nForce MCP: 1.55v
GTLVREF Lane 0: [Auto] 
GTLVREF Lane 1: [Auto]
GTLVREF Lane 2: [Auto] 
GTLVREF Lane 3: [Auto] 
**CPU Configuration**
Limit CPUlD Maxval: Disabled
Intel Speedstep: Disabled
xPPM Mode: [Native]
CPU Thermal Control: [Disabled]
C1E Enhanced Halt State: [Disabled]
Execute Disable Bit: [Enabled]
Virtualization Technology: [Disabled]
CPU Core 0: [Enabled]
CPU Core 1: [Enabled]
CPU Core 2: [Enabled]
CPU Core 3: [Enabled]

Stray_Bullet

That ram is fine... I had OCZ 1600 RAM first. Everyone was saying bad things about OCZ ram & I got my 1600 sticks stable @ 1800 easy. I will work with you with your ram do not spend anymore money on ram

Listen when you press the power button on the comp, continuously press delete & you will get into the bios...

Then set 8-8-8-23-2T 6-40-12-17-23-7.8uS-110 @ 1.9v

If you overclock you can probably get 1800 easy with same timings @ 1.95v to your memory! 




Then when in bios fill out a bios template. get it here...
http://forums.evga.com/tm.aspx?m=5276

That ram suck's with this chipset.How can you tell him that the ram iis fine when he is having mad issue's that all seem ram related.I'm sure he needed some voltage adjustment's to become stable but that ram is crap!!

rlynn23

Stray_Bullet

That ram is fine... I had OCZ 1600 RAM first. Everyone was saying bad things about OCZ ram & I got my 1600 sticks stable @ 1800 easy. I will work with you with your ram do not spend anymore money on ram

Listen when you press the power button on the comp, continuously press delete & you will get into the bios...

Then set 8-8-8-23-2T 6-40-12-17-23-7.8uS-110 @ 1.9v

If you overclock you can probably get 1800 easy with same timings @ 1.95v to your memory! 




Then when in bios fill out a bios template. get it here...
http://forums.evga.com/tm.aspx?m=5276

That ram suck's with this chipset.How can you tell him that the ram iis fine when he is having mad issue's that all seem ram related.I'm sure he needed some voltage adjustment's to become stable but that ram is crap!!

LMFAO. I have OCZ 1600 RAM running on my server in my basement on a 790i ultra board @ 1800. I had them in this comp till I wanted to pass 1800 FSB stable. How is it crap?

I mean it says his memory voltage should be 1.9 on the OCZ site, what you think overclocking them to 1700 is gonna do when he has less then recommended voltage.

I am just trying to help the poster out with getting his comp right without having to spend more money... Geez


Here ya go proof...
http://www.ocztechnologyf...showthread.php?t=50310

VistaHead
If you ran Memtest, and received an error, then you probably have a bad stick of RAM.  Did you test each stick individually in the first black slot (the one closest to the CPU)?
Try the below settings for 1700Mhz:
P1: [AUTO] (ENABLED)
P2: [AUTO] (ENABLED)
tRAS: 20 (22)
Execute Disable Bit: [Enabled] (DISABLED)
What are the numerical values for the below settings in your BIOS?
GTLVREF Lane 0: [Auto] 
GTLVREF Lane 1: [Auto]
GTLVREF Lane 2: [Auto] 
GTLVREF Lane 3: [Auto]

As for the OCZ RAM comments, I don't have any issue with the OCZ RAM except that it apparently developed some sort of hardware failure and sometimes didn't boot up. Anyway, I'm done with them.

I did run a quick memtest of each stick of the Patriot RAM in the first black slot, but it wasn't a long test, just enough to see that it could read all the addresses. I changed the settings as suggested, and will leave memtest running tonight to see if I get any error again. Once I'm satisfied I'm getting no errors, I'd like suggestions on what to increase to get to 1800 Mhz. I noticed on official site it says it's rated for 2.0 voltage, so perhaps I should set it to that?
GTLVREF Lane 0: [Auto]  -50mv
GTLVREF Lane 1: [Auto]  -50mv
GTLVREF Lane 2: [Auto]  +00mv
GTLVREF Lane 3: [Auto]  +00mv