970M Pro 3 Problems
Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: AMD Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock AMD motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1298
Printed Date: 22 Dec 2024 at 4:04pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 970M Pro 3 Problems
Posted By: Akirareturns
Subject: 970M Pro 3 Problems
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2015 at 10:07pm
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I just put this computer together for my son as a Christmas gift. I want to get everything set up so he can just boot it up on Christmas morning. I'm having a few problems with this motherboard. ASRock 970M Pro3 - latest BIOS flashed AMD FX-8150 @ Stock 3.6GHz - 4.2GHz Turbo, Cool-N-Quiet, APM on - CPU-NB @ 2200, HT @ 2400 (board doesn't support stock 2600 HT?) G.Skill F3-12800CL9Q-16BRL 1600 MHz (2 sticks only / 8GB) - 9-9-9-24-33 (XMP reads, settings don't stick) Radeon HD 6870 Win 10 x64 Home Seasonic 2TB HDD EVGA 550W Gold PSU I have full screen logo disabled so I can see BIOS POST. I'm getting an error for the system not booting previously. I had to remove a USB stick, but the message persists. Using HWiNFO64 v5.10-2700 to read sensors, will try AMD Overdrive after a reboot. The FSB is reading at 194 MHz when it is set to 200 MHz in the BIOS. RAM frequency is sitting lower than expected @ 777.3 MHz instead of @ 800 MHz because of this, also with loose timings @ 11-11-11-28-39 instead of @ 9-9-9-24-33 I have it set to in the BIOS. I thought the system might be having trouble with the RAM and tried overvolting it slightly to 1.525v with no luck. Voltage control seems to have no effect on CPU or RAM at all, even with Turbo Core off, CNQ off, and APM off. CPU voltage sits high in BIOS, CPU runs hot because of this. I tried with 1.0, 1.2, and 1.3 versions of BIOS, same problems. How do I get the FSB to stay at 200MHz? How do I get voltage settings to keep? How do I clear the boot error? How do I get RAM timings to stay?
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Replies:
Posted By: Akirareturns
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2015 at 11:00pm
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Turbo Core, Cool-N-Quiet, APM, Spread Spectrum are off. Voltage set to 1.2625, seems to be staying there. CPU set to 200 MHz FSB , x18 multiplier for 3600 MHz. CPU reads 194.3 MHz FSB, x18 multiplier for 3497.7 MHz. Manually set frequency and timings in BIOS for RAM at 9-9-9-24-33. Timings go to loose 11-11-11-28-39 timings, but multiplier goes to 4x correctly.
Boot error persists despite changing settings. Have set Windows Boot Manager, HDD, and UEFI as first boot device, only getting boot errors. No other drives connected. UEFI is able to boot after a dialog in POST with current config. |
Posted By: PetrolHead
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 5:56am
I checked my BIOS settings and the board doesn't indeed seem to support HT speeds beyond 2400. The plus side is that this shouldn't affect performance noticeably, as memory speed doesn't really matter apart from synthetic tests and some specific tasks. Btw, are you using the stock AMD cooler?
On paper that EVGA unit should be enough (and I remember hearing good things about EVGA), but you have a power hungry CPU as well as a power hungry GPU, so have a more powerful PSU lying around, I'd try to plug that in and see if it helps.
I couldn't find your memory is listed in the supported memory modules list: http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970M%20Pro3/?cat=Memory Maybe the modules just don't agree with the motherboard? Just a guess, though. My memory modules aren't in that list either and they're working fine AFAIK.
Check the values with CPU-Z, just to make sure the values aren't program dependent.
Just to make sure: Did you populate the A2 and B2 banks? I believe those are the ones the manual says you should populate first (and you need to pair an A bank with a B bank to get dual channel mode working. Also check that your memory is running in unganged mode. You'll find that info with CPU-Z at least.
If you can, try some other set of modules to see if the same thing happens. If possible, use modules that are listed as supported.
I'm not sure I understand. Do you get a new boot error every time you boot, or does it show the old boot error again and again? I'm not sure if this would help, but at least for future reference if you at some point want to reset the BIOS and try updating it again: http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=630&title=how-to-clear-cmos-via-battery-removal ------------- Ryzen 5 1500X, ASRock AB350M Pro4, 2x8 GB G.Skill Trident Z 3466CL16, Sapphire Pulse RX Vega56 8G HBM2, Corsair RM550x, Samsung 960 EVO SSD (NVMe) 250GB, Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500 GB, Windows 10 64-bit |
Akirareturns wrote:Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 10:56am
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No, the 970 chipset does not support 2600 HT. That's another reason I frown upon 970 boards that the manufacturers magically via BIOS update can say AM3+ support. Plain and simple, they don't. Limited to 2400 on a 970. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_chipsets" rel="nofollow - HERE . Stay with BIOS 1.30 You state "I'm getting an error for the system not booting previously." . Is this persistent and the reason posting here an attempt to clear this? Or generally the whole 1st post contents? The error is probaly caused by not having gone into the BIOS and correctly setting the Boot Order. You had to pull the USB stick, so I'm guessing it's prolly still trying to boot from it. Have you set the CR(Command Rate) at 2N/2T as req'd for this memory. < id="kpm_plugin" ="application/x-KPMPlugin">
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Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 11:02am
 And my hat's off to you Sir. Seasonic 2TB HDD. Impressive :p And that's cool you building your son a computer for Christmas. Seasonic HDD or not. Cool! Hang in there. Well get ya going there Dad. < id="kpm_plugin" ="application/x-KPMPlugin">
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Posted By: Akirareturns
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 2:33pm
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PSU's fine, same results with the Corsair 860W PSU in my main rig. I ran that processor and 2 6870's in Crossfire on the 860W a while back. I'm reusing parts for his build. I'm using the stock AMD cooler for the moment. I have a Corsair H60, but I want to get a fan on the VRM heatsink before I install that to reduce noise. I didn't expect to get much, if any overclocking done on this motherboard since it has a 4+1 design.
I'm aware the memory isn't on the supported modules list. I would expect the timings to stick when I manually set them in BIOS, but they didn't. Even if the timings won't hold, the RAM running in single-channel mode is the bigger problem. Only part of the RAM is available in Windows as well. All 4 DIMM slots are filled with the kit at this point, so it's not slot specific. I did put the memory in A2 and B2 when I was only running 2 sticks. Command rate has been at 2T the whole time. HT is set at 2400 in BIOS, but running at 2000 as well. Values were checked in CPU-Z and they match. I'll link at the end of the post. I cleared the CMOS as the link suggested, but there is no change. Setting things manually doesn't seem to have an effect on a number of things in the BIOS. The HDD is a Seagate, not Seasonic. It's a 500GB, dunno why I thought it was a 2TB . I pulled it from my wife's previous PC.  Here's a screenshot: http://imgur.com/gqIFKZg" rel="nofollow - http://imgur.com/gqIFKZg CPU-Z shows RAM in dual channel, but BIOS is reporting single channel on POST. Weird.
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Posted By: PetrolHead
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 7:37pm
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According to the memory list, the availability of dual-channel with 4 modules may depend on the modules - or then it's just that ASRock hasn't tested with four modules and thus can't guarantee anything. In any case, I'd run MemTest86 and see what it says. ------------- Ryzen 5 1500X, ASRock AB350M Pro4, 2x8 GB G.Skill Trident Z 3466CL16, Sapphire Pulse RX Vega56 8G HBM2, Corsair RM550x, Samsung 960 EVO SSD (NVMe) 250GB, Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500 GB, Windows 10 64-bit |
Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 9:02pm
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Set the sticks timings manually, including a CR of 2 If that's an XMP Profile that is being set that produced those timings in the pic, it isn't setting the CR to 2. In CPU-z, if a CR isn't shown it is assumed CR is 1. Or if it is an XMP Profile, if there is another to choose from choose it and look at the CR. < id="kpm_plugin" ="application/x-KPMPlugin">
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Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 9:10pm
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And while my head's still clear this morning ......... I'm wondering if your 970's VRM's/BIOS is throttling itself due to heat. That would go a long way in explaining no changes you make are "sticking" properly. Try manually lowering the CPU MHz wise to cool things off and retryy manually making some changes in the BIOS that stick. < id="kpm_plugin" ="application/x-KPMPlugin">
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Posted By: PetrolHead
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 9:36pm
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From what I understand, Akirareturns _has_ tried to set the timings manually. In any case the CR value has nothing to do with his issues. The timings are a lot looser than stock and even at stock settings the modules (as well as the IMC) can probably handle 1T. If not, that would result in instability, not changed timing values or lower-than-normal FSB clock speed. ------------- Ryzen 5 1500X, ASRock AB350M Pro4, 2x8 GB G.Skill Trident Z 3466CL16, Sapphire Pulse RX Vega56 8G HBM2, Corsair RM550x, Samsung 960 EVO SSD (NVMe) 250GB, Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500 GB, Windows 10 64-bit |
Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 10:01pm
Thanks. I'm fully aware of that. I've been using AMD solely for over a decade now. What say you on the possibility that the board is throttling itself, thus keeping his changes from becoming static? < id="kpm_plugin" ="application/x-KPMPlugin">
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Posted By: Akirareturns
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2015 at 2:49am
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This isn't throttling. This is going on at idle. CPU package temps read less than 20C (AMD weird temps, I know). Motherboard temps all read less than 30C except the CPU socket, which is at 35C. There are 2 120mm fans blowing down on the motherboard. BIOS settings for CPU Throttling are off. If I use the ASRock overclocking software in Windows, I can get settings close, but I don't trust an 8 year old to not mess with that while he's on the computer. That RAM has run at the XMP profile timings at 1T with no problems on another motherboard.
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Posted By: PetrolHead
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2015 at 3:09am
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Also, if it was throttling, then the motherboard would definitely be faulty. The motherboard is supposed to support that processor, so at stock speeds there should be absolutely no issues - especially since Akirareturns is using the stock cooler that blows air downwards towards the motherboard, thus cooling also the socket and providing air flow over the VRM heat sinks. There should also be some headroom for overclocking even without those two 120 mm fans and despite that 4+1 power phase design. ------------- Ryzen 5 1500X, ASRock AB350M Pro4, 2x8 GB G.Skill Trident Z 3466CL16, Sapphire Pulse RX Vega56 8G HBM2, Corsair RM550x, Samsung 960 EVO SSD (NVMe) 250GB, Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500 GB, Windows 10 64-bit |
Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2015 at 7:10am
parsec and Xaltar excuse me yet I'm chewing a hole in my tongue in attempts at not replying to all that's wrong in the quoted above. I'll bow out of this thread with a personal recommendation that the OP RMA or return to the retailer their system as faulty. < id="kpm_plugin" ="application/x-KPMPlugin">
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Posted By: PetrolHead
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2015 at 8:42am
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All that's wrong? Let's see... -"The motherboard is supposed to support that processor, so at stock speeds there should be absolutely no issues" Officially supported? Check. (http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970M%20Pro3/?cat=CPU) Also, if a processor is officially supported, the motherboard has to be able to cope with running the processor at stock speeds and with the stock fan. Otherwise ASRock is guilty of false advertising (it already kind of is, since the correct HT Link speed is not supported). -"Akirareturns is using the stock cooler that blows air downwards towards the motherboard" Correct and "required" for the processor he has by ASRock ("For cooling the CPU and its surrounding components, please install a CPU cooler with a top-down blowing design."). -"thus cooling also the socket and providing air flow over the VRM heat sinks" Correct, although the air flow over the VRM heat sinks is not huge. -"There should also be some headroom for overclocking even without those two 120 mm fans and despite that 4+1 power phase design." Correct based on my experience with this motherboard and my own processor, which has the same TDP as the FX-8150. The only thing holding me back on overclocking my processor is the socket temp, which gets to around 72 C during Prime95 when I overclock to 3.5 GHz from 3.2 GHz, but this is only because I don't have a top-down blowing CPU cooler at the moment. Also, this: "I
manage to overclock my AMD FX8350 up to 4700MHZ@1,45V! Still the
motherboad was okey with it, temps was under the ''danger zone'' I
tested to overclock my RAM, and that worked out great! I manage to OC
my G.Skill 1600MHZ 9-9-9-24 RAM to 1866MHZ with 10-9-10-27 Timings with
T1 ofc :)." http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=933&title=asrock-970m-pro-3-best-matx-for-am3 Although I'm very sceptical of that actually being stable, that's a long way from 4.0 GHz. As far as I can see, the only debatable point is the overclocking headroom, but I had it and clearly someone else also had it. Of course, YMMV as always. ------------- Ryzen 5 1500X, ASRock AB350M Pro4, 2x8 GB G.Skill Trident Z 3466CL16, Sapphire Pulse RX Vega56 8G HBM2, Corsair RM550x, Samsung 960 EVO SSD (NVMe) 250GB, Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500 GB, Windows 10 64-bit |
Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2015 at 12:01am
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My opinion and some facts (specifications) about this board. Given the price, this is an entry level board, so we cannot expect ultra high performance. Over clocking? I would not recommend that on this board, with any AMD FX-8000 series processor. 140W processors are pushing it with this board even at stock speeds. Memory specs show any memory speed above 1333 is a memory over clock. The G.Skill F3-12800CL9Q-16GBRL memory does not include the 970M Pro3 in G.SKILL's QVL list. Yes, it does show two ASRock 970 boards, but while several G.SKILL memory models are listed in this board's Memory Support List, the BRL model is not list. So IMO, memory compatibility is questionable. That it seems to run in single channel mode on this board is not a good sign. IMO, ASRock is quoting AMD's overly generous specs regarding processor compatibility. While AMDs stock cooler is a down-blowing type of cooler, the small fan it uses is inadequate. An aftermarket down-blowing cooler is required for the higher TDP processors. ------------- http://valid.x86.fr/48rujh" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: PetrolHead
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2015 at 9:08am
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I wouldn't say I recommend overclocking either due to the power phase design. However, since overclocking at stock voltages causes less power drain and heat load than increasing the voltage, and since the board needs to have some sort of safety margins to officially support a 125W TDP processors, I'd still say there is some headroom for those who are willing to venture into those safety margins. Much naturally depends on the CPU. If the CPU can't be pushed further on stock voltages, then the headroom's pretty much gone. Btw, a small note: None of the FX-8xxx processors are officially rated as 140W processors (TDP), only 125W and 95W. If TDP wattage is what you meant, that is. Regarding the cooler, I don't think only AMD can be blamed here. Sure, the stock cooler is not hugely efficient and due to the small fan it's also quite noisy. I've also read some people having temperature issues, even though the stock cooler should in principle be guaranteed to be enough. Maybe the stock cooler wasn't properly installed or the case was poorly ventilated, who knows. What I know of my own experience is that a stock cooler from an FX-8xxx series kept my CPU in practice as cool as my current aftermarket CPU cooler does, and my current cooler is recommended for 130W TDP. Thus, a 125W TDP shouldn't be a problem, but maybe the FX-8xxxs aren't really 125W TDP? The way I see it is this: Regardless of what AMD says the TDP is and what sort of stock cooler it provides with its processors, ASRock must have tested all the processors listed in the supported processors list and those tests must have been performed with stock coolers at the very least. If ASRock just says a certain CPU is supported, then it should work using the stock cooler. If an aftermarket cooler is required, then this should be stated very clearly. If no such requirements are stated and a supported CPU runs into problems using the stock cooler, then either ASRock's testing procedure is flawed or they just don't care if components get cooked. Either way, it's on them, not AMD. I'm about to go off on a tangent here, so apologies in advance. It's interesting to note that ASRock doesn't list a top-down CPU cooler as a requirement for my current processor, but it is required for the FX-8150. Both processors have a 125W TDP and both processors actually have identical stock coolers (or so I've been told - I got mine used and it came with a newer CPU cooler from an FX-8xxx processor, which I've since "upgraded"). Although the socket temperature stays below the "safe" limit of 70C during stress testing at stock speeds, it still maxes out somewhere above 60C (69C with CPU-NB/HT @ 2200 MHz and RAM @ 1600 MHz), which is less than ideal. Also, I worry about the VRMs, so I've been planning on switching my current aftermarket cooler to a top-down model. The problem is that there aren't many around that are designed for efficient processors. Last time I checked the best I could find (that fits my mATX case) was Noctua NH-C14S, which has a maximum recommended TDP value of 140W and only a low OC potential according to Noctua. Thus, as far as CPU cooling goes, it's not a big improvement over my current - or the FX-8xxx series stock - cooler. The socket, RAM and VRMs are hopefully another matter. ------------- Ryzen 5 1500X, ASRock AB350M Pro4, 2x8 GB G.Skill Trident Z 3466CL16, Sapphire Pulse RX Vega56 8G HBM2, Corsair RM550x, Samsung 960 EVO SSD (NVMe) 250GB, Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500 GB, Windows 10 64-bit |
Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2015 at 3:57pm
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Na. The FX's 125w AMD claims is wee shy of reality. < id="kpm_plugin" ="application/x-KPMPlugin">
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Posted By: PetrolHead
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2015 at 8:28am
I have to correct myself a bit, as I've made an error here: HT Link speed doesn't affect memory performance, CPU-NB speed does. HT Link speed is the speed with which the CPU communicates with the NB chip (not the CPU-NB) and thus affects things like PCI-e performance, but as 2600 MHz should provide enough bandwidth even for a multi-GPU setup, a speed of 2400 MHz should not be a bottleneck in most systems. ------------- Ryzen 5 1500X, ASRock AB350M Pro4, 2x8 GB G.Skill Trident Z 3466CL16, Sapphire Pulse RX Vega56 8G HBM2, Corsair RM550x, Samsung 960 EVO SSD (NVMe) 250GB, Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500 GB, Windows 10 64-bit |
Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2015 at 10:08am
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Akirareturns, sorry for us haggling between ourselves. My apologies for me and PetrolHead. How's things going? Christmas is approaching and I'd like to know you have this ready and running for under the tree Christmas Day. |