Weird RAM Issue

[neogramps]

Had a weird RAM issue which has so far had everyone scratchin their heads - I spoke to Lewis and Chris so far and they were stumped.

Basically I have 1GB of OCZ RAM (2x512 DDR 3200 2.5-3-3-7) installed on my A8N SLI Premium. I had a wee bit of money so I decided to get a second kit identical to this.

When I got it, and put it in my machine wouldn't boot - no POST, no BIOS, no BEEPS. Machine was receiving power (fans, HDD). Took new ram ou - machine ran fine. Tried ram in all combinations (single sticks, old + new, different banks); reset my CMOS etc - no luck.

RMA'd my ram and they found no problems with it - so I'm totally stumped - I'd like 2GB but I don't have the cash to spare on a 2x1GB kit.

Any ideas?

[CaNNoN_FoDDa]

Have you tried resetting your CMOS? (here's why (http://www.webapper.net/index.cfm/2007/1/2/Asus-A8NSLI-RAM-Upgrade-Problems))

Looks like this board has some RAM issues, so youre not the only one.

You could also try updating your BIOS (if it's under 1009) (here's why (http://www.planetamd64.com/lofiversion/index.php/t30130.html))

[neogramps]

yup, I tried the CMOS clear (actually read that article already);

And my bios is 1011, so no luck there. Cheers tho

[Bluepixie]

have you tried any other RAM in it yet? Arse forgot you had DDR. :(
I take it you've fiddled with the BIOS setting for the memory and stuff yeah?

[YegaDoyai]

Except of course that your DDR2 memory wouldn't work anyway Niall ;)

Back to the original, I assume you have done the following:
1. Turned everything to default settings, no overclocking anywhere.
2. Tried your new RAM WITHOUT your old RAM
3. Tried the RAM in every configuration you can think of in the 4 slots available?

If you've not done the above then do so and get back to us if you have done all the above and it only doesn't work when 4 sticks are installed then try unplugging your CD/HDD or taking out unneeded addin cards, it's unlikely but it might be that you are not giving the MOBO enough juice to power the memory sticks.

[CaNNoN_FoDDa]

Have you tried your old RAM in the other slots? I think it's a design fault with the board (by the look of the volume and content of posts on it), but if it's a problem with the slots you might be able to RMA.

[neogramps]

yega - it was on auto - only thing I checked was T2 was set
tried it on its own, in all slots - no joy
PSU is a 580R Hiper so no problems there.

The OCZ techs thought it was a faulty kit - i mean the old stuff is identical to the new stuff so it should just work,cos the old stuff works? maybe a different revision of ram?

[Muppet]

PSU is a 580R Hiper so no problems there.

/me covers ears waiting for explosion.

[Hex]

PSU is a 580R Hiper so no problems there.


580 isn't that big a power supply, I use a 700W supply in my machine and its only an Athlon XP 2400+, 1GB ram, Geforce 6600

also check if the new ram is actually faulty or if its a motherboard problem.

[Muppet]

580 isn't that big a power supply, I use a 700W supply in my machine and its only an Athlon XP 2400+, 1GB ram, Geforce 6600

also check if the new ram is actually faulty or if its a motherboard problem.

I would of thought 700w would be overkill unless you're running 20 hard disks or SLI/crossfire GFX cards.

[Sid]

580 isn't that big a power supply, I use a 700W supply in my machine and its only an Athlon XP 2400+, 1GB ram, Geforce 6600

A quality ~500w PSU eg. PC P&C, would probably run an SLI 8800GTX setup.

[LastChanceHotel]

Bloody fiddlers. 4 PSU paranoia posts already. And you wonder how Tagan manage to take all your money?!
If you're worried, either buy or borrow one of these...
http://uk.theoildrum.com/uploads/465/cv_powermeter437.jpg
and then postulate "oh, is my power supply running near it's limits or am I only drawing 200 FUCKING WATTS from it?" :mad:

[neogramps]

yes indeed that sounds like overkill - my machine uses about 280w, so plenty of overhead.

and no the ram apparently isn't faulty (RMA'd and they said it's fine);
Must be a motherboard problem of some kind, but no idea why it'll run one kit, but not another identical one. I think I'll admit defeat and wait till my birthday rolls around.

[Hex]

Keep searching around hardware forums for issues with your motherboard, you may yet find a fix. As for my PSU, I will admit the main reason for the upgrade was to do with cooling - I was running a 500W PSU but the beast was still running as hot as 60 degrees so I bought the cheapest triple fan PSU i could find, which happened to be 700W.

[neogramps]

mine runs really cool - in fact my system has been quite cool overall - 30C CPU and system, 50C for GPU. All done with 3 Akasa 80mm, 1 cheap LED 80MM and the 2 fans in my PSU.

of course if the PSU does explode, the temps may increase sharply. :)

There does seem to be plenty of problems with my MB, but none of the fixes i saw worked, and since the RAM has been returned (and they automatically refunded me without me asking), I think I'll wait and stump up for 2x1GB and then hawk my old ram. Birthdays in two and a bit weeks anyway, so should have the cash by then

[CaNNoN_FoDDa]

The interweb seems to suggest tho that it doesnt really matter what you chage your RAM loadout to - just that youve changed it. So it's likely that 2x1 Gig won't work either. Do you want to see if you can borrow some off someone before you buy any, or just keep your receipt? (I don't have any, or i'd offer)

[Phizz]

I know this might not be technical enough for some but.... have you tried switching your working RAM into the other socket on your MB. Perhaps it's a problem with that?

[YegaDoyai]

Phill, read all the posts before the last one before posting, I asked him to do this in my post and he says he has. He still hasn't said if his new RAM actually works or not, he just keeps telling me that he RMA'd it and they said it works fine, not that it DOES actually work fine. Infact his reply to me suggests that his new RAM dois not work PERIOD in his machine.

Sooooooo, RMA the MOBO.

[neogramps]

well the RAM didn't work in my machine - period.

RMA mobo means no machine for a while - and I'm not that hungry for the extra performance right now

[YegaDoyai]

Who did you buy it from, Niall managed to get ebuyer to take back the RAM he bought on the premise that it failed a memtest.

Anyhoo I has memory like what you does. So if you want you could try your mem in this machine or try my memory in your machine, which seems to be the only other option available.

[Sideshow]

I wouldn't advise option 2, unless you odn't care about the possibilty of his MB wrecking your memory

[neogramps]

lol

well the stuff has now been returned and refunded so the mystery will never be solved unfortunately - but now I've learned more about RAM and got my current RAM tweaked to run as it should (timings were off).

hopefully when I upgrade to 2x1GB at the end of the month, I won't have so many problems. but I probably will :|

[Hex]

buy a new mobo tbh :P

[neogramps]

yeah but if I buy a new mobo, then I might as well get c2d capable, and that means a whole new core system - i only built my current PC 8 months ago - i'm not looking for the big overhaul yet

mmm, maybe i should stick with my current ram. but OC my CPU a bit; and spend my birthday money on the 8800GTS 320...

[neogramps]

right, spent all day reading up on OC'ing.

let me see if i get this straight - to OC my CPU i increase the FSB, but if i increase my FSB i need to either stop when my ram can't cope OR change the the multiplier so that my FSB is proportionally higher than my RAM clock speed?

ideally i'd like to clock my 3800x2 to around 2400 or 2500(alot of people go much higher on air cooling, but i'm happy to start small and minimise risk), but I know from reading up that my ram won't go much beyond 210 so do i need to do some maths and get a good ratio - and yes I know to increase slowly, i already run prime95/superPI, monitor my temps regularly and have a bootable memtest CD so i understand the importance of testing for stability. i understand the basic idea of overclocking, but as for actually doing it, i am a complete n00b

[YegaDoyai]

Ok, first you need to establish the boundarys you are working with.

First your memory.
Increase your FSB by 5mhz per step and see when your machine will not post/memtest, increase voltage and/or reduce CAS settings as required to get the best speed possible. Mark down the highest speed at cas 2, 2.5 and 3 (preferably with 1T timing) remember to also jot down the voltage required to get this running stably.

Next, reduce your memory divider to something really low. Now increase you FSB until you reach the fastest FBS for your northbridge/CPU. You might be able to increase the northbridge and cpu voltage.

From these two settings you should be able to work out what is your best overall overclock.

[neogramps]

cool - btw any experience of using ntune to automatically finding a rough OC then going from there?

[Strings]

Hehe, don't use ntune.

Tbh, I would do what I did when I first started overclocking. Invest a good few days into reading all about the system you'll be clocking. Print some stuff out, carry it with you, just get really really familiar with the components you will be working with. The mobo, memory, CPU, heatsink etc.

I really dont recommend using any 3rd party apps to do the work for you, because if problems arise, you will have no idea how to diagnose them.

The general theory is find the max OC of each component, and then balance.

Just delve into forums matey, then take your time doing it. Get a nice stable overclock of 100MHz or some such, test the shit out of it. Then keep going.

I'd offer more practical advice like Pete is doing, but you won't learn anything that way, and every setup has it's own little quirks, so your best reading and finding out for yourself.

Good luck ;)

[YegaDoyai]

yeah like the man says above it's best to do it yourself hence why i say what not how to do it. So long as you make sure you only change one setting at a time and move in small increments you should be (relatively) safe. The dual core chips aren't as clockable as single core (if memory serves) but for what you are looking at doing should be fine. No to nTune it is shit and a waste of time not to mention the argument above.