775Dual-VSTA DDR2-667 memory problems

[jogiba]

I tried the two matching Corsair TWIN2X2048-5400C4 1gb sticks (2GB total) in DDRII slots and it's not compatible. It shows single channel mode and 1536mb in bios screen. When I put in two 512mb DDR333 sticks in the DDR slots it works great and shows dual channel mode with 1gb . I updated to the latest 1.50 bios and it still doesn't work and XP or Vista beta 2 won't install so I installed with the DDR333 without a problem. ASRock says DDRII667 should work.
ASRock FAQ

How could it show 1.5GB from a matching pair of 1GB sticks ? I swapped the two in the DDRII slots with no change in the error. The 775Dual-VSTA is not yet listed here: Corsair

Anyone know the correct bios settings to get it to work in dual channel mode ?

 

[Lord Evermore]

It's entirely possible you got a bad module. It may also be that the mainboard does not support the particular configuration of "banks" or "sides" on the modules. ASRock doesn't specify any limitations, but it certainly sounds like it's limited so that you can only have 3 total banks. Do both modules work one at a time? Do you get the same 1.5GB no matter which slot each one is in?

Given that Corsair does list several DDR modules, but no DDR2 modules, it seems likely that they've determined that none of their DDR2 modules are of a specification which will work on this board. I don't think they necessarily test ever board with every module that they list as compatible, they just go by specifications. I think the bank layout may be what's biting you in the ass here, unless one of the modules is actually defective.

 

[Mr Vain]

My Asrock 775Dual-VSTA rocks!

I have a 3 GHz 530Prescott in at a max stable (234FSB = 3510 MHz) on
Geil DDR2 667Mhz 2GB dual channel value ram

WOW (510 MHz Overclock) with no voltage increase! (Happy Happy.)

GUY'S this 667 MHz DDR2 Ram is incredible! No compatibility issues and runs out of the box by SPD at 3-3-3-9 1T Wow!
http://www.geilusa.com/proddetail.asp?linenumber=52

Pity that Anandtech did not try this ram out on their 775Dual-VSTA tests!
Tom?s hardware speaks highly of it. It achieved the highest overclocking margin of all their rams 41% and maxed out at DDR2 942Mhz :Q
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/04/11/live_memory_test/page20.html

I have it now on 3-2-2-5 1T on auto voltage with no stability issues at all.


I hope its not late and that Gary can chuck in a couple of these Geil slabs in, for his last Asrock roundup and be very surprised by its performance.

 

[Gary Key]

I do not have the 5400C4 to try. I did try the 6400C4 and 8500C5 this morning without an issue. Did you set the memory to dual channel in the bios or leave it at Auto? What are your memory settings?

 

[jogiba]

Gary I left the memory settings on Auto except for the dual channel DDR2-667 setting with the 2GB Corsair but it runs great with my old 1GB DDR333 (two 512mb sticks) showing 1GB in dual channel mode with the 1.50 bios set to auto in memory. Someone on the Corsair forum said to try setting the memory voltage to high but that also did not work. I have since RMA'ed the Corsair back before the 15 day return period ended and plan on getting another pair of 1GB DDR2 memory after I see what is compatible with 775Dual-VSTA /C2D users.