A8N-SLI Premium memory issues and more

[acidtsunami]

Hey there!

Im having issues with my recently purchased A8N-SLI premium.

1. I have 4x512mb 2.5 Cas Corsair memory which is said to be supported in the manual. The memory will only run at max 266mhz, anything higher and the machine will not boot. I've tried upping the voltage all the way to 3v and still no change/

2. My old PSU wasn't ATX 2.0 supported so I quickly bought another from a local shop. This other PSU I bought is ATX 2.03 compliant but it still only has the 20-pin connector isntead of 24. Everything seemed to be going fine, but now for some reason when the hard disk (or memory) is being accessed the PSU makes a kind of buzzing noise. It's a 530w PSU with 2 HDD and 1CD (will be 2 with power extensions), 6 fans, 3 USB devices (others on powered hub), water cooling, this is less than I would normaly plug-in because of power cable limitations. I had just as muched plugged in on old system with 480w PSU on A8V deluxe. Oh and the GFX card im using is 7800 GTX Extreme.

I've tried all sorts to fix these problems, only come close by using a 1gb stick to be able to get to 400mhz memory speed, but obviously this is not a solution because I have 4x512 to use.

Thanks in advance for any help

Kind Regards

Dann Rees

 

[Capt Caveman]

Welcome to AT!

What bios are you using? I'm going to assume with 4x512mb, the command rate is set at 2T. Can you run 2x512mb at 400mhz? All sticks memtest'd? How many amps on the 12v rail on your new psu? And you have the 4pin power connector also attached? Sorry for so many questions but it may help with troubleshooting.

 

[wanderer27]

Welcome aboard.

I'd really think about a different PSU. A 20 Pin even with the adapter just makes me leary.

Hopefully you're not OC'ing yet. Get things going stable first.

With 4 sticks, you're in good hands with Capt Caveman. I think he's got as much experience/luck with that as anybody else on here

 

[acidtsunami]

Thanks for the prompt replies!

Im using the latest Bios from the asus web site, and yes command rate is set to 2T. 2x512 seemed to work fine and so did 1x1gb. Not a clue how many amps on the 12v rail. THe 4pin is attached. Hopefully I will have another PSU by the end of the day, just about to contact a local store to see what they have in stock. I will only settle for 24-pin now.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Try running your 2x512 sticks in both sets of dimm slots. I wonder if one of the dimm slots isn't up to spec or something. But as Wanderer mentioned, it could be a power issue. It's usually recommend to have at least 20A on the 12v rail(if dual 12v rail, the combination of the two should be over 20A).

 

[openwheelformula1]

Just for you reference:

I can run 2 sticks of CMX3200C2 rev. 4.2 (Samsung TCCDs) with 2 sticks of CMX3200C2 rev. 5.1 (Mosel ICs). They can run 400hmz 2t prime stable. However overclocking ability took a big hit with 4 sticks.

 

[acidtsunami]

I've just installed a 500w PSU with 24-pin connector. The buzzing has gone at least but still no luck with clocking memory any higher than 266mhz.

 

[wanderer27]

Do you have all your CPU and Memory settings on "Manual" and not "Auto" ?

 

[acidtsunami]

yes their all on manual

 

[wanderer27]

Okay, let make sure I'm on track here.

Your System will only boot when your Memory Divider is set for DDR266, correct ?

I'm just wanting to make sure you're not setting the Buss speed to 266 MHz, as that would be DDR533 speed.

Also, what is you CPU VCore and Memory voltage set at ?

 

[acidtsunami]

vcore is hovering around 1.5, Memory voltage currently set to 2.9. My memory is PC3200 whatever the bus speed needs to be for that.

 

[wanderer27]

Okay looks like your VCore is fine, maybe a little high, but no problem.

In BIOS, three things to look at.

First, in DRAM configuration your Max Memclock should be set for DDR400.

Second, your Memory Timing should be 2T.

Finally, CPU frequency should be 200 MHz.

Is this how things are set and giving you problems ?

 

[wanderer27]

What is the model of your Memory ?

The only Corsair Memory that is in the Manual that is close to what your using is VS512MB400C3, which has a CAS of 3. The timings for this Memory are 3-3-3-8. I'm not sure if that's what you have or if it's something else, as you mentioned a CAS of 2.5. I would think you would be able to do better than 266 even if it is CAS 3 and you're set to CAS 2.5, but maybe not.

A few other things you may want to check in BIOS.

Hypertransport at 5.
Overclock Profile to Manual.
PCI Clock Synchronization to 33.33MHz.
Overclock Options to Disable.
NOS to Disable.

I don't know what your CPU is, so I can't tell you what the Muliplier should be - not too worried here as you can't set it over what the CPU is locked at.

Memory Timings are still an unknown until I find out what your Memory actually is.

 

[acidtsunami]

Once again thanks for the help.

All the settings you specified I changed. Here is my exact DRAM settings from the Bios.

Memory Voltage - 2.9v

Timing Mode - Manual
Memclock Index Value - 266mhz <-----Any higher causes boot failure
CAS# Latency - 2.5
Min RAS# Active Time - 5T
RAS# To CAS# Delay - 2T
Row Precharge Time - 2T
Row Cycle Time - 7T
Row Refresh Cycle Time - 9T
Read To Write Time - 3T
Write Recovery Time - 2T
1T/2T Memory Timing - 2T
S/W DRAM Over 4gb Remapping - Enabled

My memory I believe is ...

Corsair VS512MB400 PC3200 512MB 64Mx64 184 DIMM

ooh btw my CPU is Athlon64 3800

Thanks again for your continuing support

Kind Regards

Dann Rees

 

[wanderer27]

Okay, I finally found that Memory on the Corsair Site. Your timings should be 2.5-3-3-8, so it looks like you've got a few of them set too tight.

CAS @ 2.5
tRCD (RAS to CAS) @ 3
tRP (Row Precharge) @ 3
tRAS (Row Cylce Time I believe) @ 8

With just two sticks you should be able to set Memory Timing at 1T, but it's okay to leave it at 2T now until we get things working.

When you say "Memclock Index Value" I hope you're meaning the Max Memclock value, and that by 266 MHz (in reference to this) you actually mean DDR266. That's what it should say in BIOS anyway. Otherwise you've got me concerned that you're actually setting your Bus speed to 266 MHz. All these settings should be in the DRAM menu configuration.
Also in this menu set your HyperTransport Frequency to 5.

Okay, under the "JumperFree Configuration" set your CPU Frequency to 201 and the CPU multiplier to 10. Your OC options here should be set to Disabled and PCI Sync at 33.33 MHz.

I pretty much expect you'll be able to up your Memory speeds with these changes. Either way, you should probably run Memtest and see if anything shows up.

 

[acidtsunami]

Well were half way there.
With the settings you suggested I can run the memory at DDR333 with no problems. Settings the CPU Frequency to 201mhz and Multiplier to 10 lost me 400mhz (1.4-1ghz). Although it still works fine with DDR333 and the original CPU config.

You'll have to excuse my lack of knowledge on memory configurations, it's not something I've really looked into.

Thanks for your continuing support

Kind Regards

Dann Rees

 

[wanderer27]

My bad, I was thinking you had an 3800 X2 (2000MHz). You should set your Mulitplier to 12 (for 2400 MHz).

Do you have NTune installed ? I believe it's on the CD that came with your MB. If you do, open it up and click on the " i " at the bottom. In your Memory information it should list the Vendor and Part number. Get that and post it.

At this point I'm really starting to suspect that you have VS512MB400C3 Memory, which of course has even looser settings than what you just set everything to. This is the Memory that I have listed in my ASUS manual, the other Corsair Memory listed are higher performance ($$$).

If you have this Memory, then the timings are 3-3-3-8, which it sounds like would get you to DDR400.

If all else fails, you can set your CAS to 3, and your timings to 2T and see if that does the DDR400 for you. I'd hate having to do this if your Memory really is CAS 2.5, but right now I'm a bit puzzled.

I'll have to think about it for a bit.

 

[acidtsunami]

"If you have this Memory, then the timings are 3-3-3-8, which it sounds like would get you to DDR400" - Sorry to be a div but what does the 3-3-3-8 stand for, im guessing the first is cas latency? :-/

On the information panel on nTune the details are... curious...

DIMM 0 & 4 - Unknown Vendor, Part Number not reported
DIMM 1 & 3 - Corsair, VS512MB400

I've run various benchmarking tests but the memory seems fine. Benchmarks include, 3DMark05, Sandra 05 and all games seem to play fine.

 

[wanderer27]

3-3-3-8 = 3 CAS - 3 RAS to CAS - 3 Row Precharge - 8 Row Cycle Time

Sorry about the Multiplier thing, I've been working a couple other threads and got my wires crossed
I also forgot that your initial problem was with four sticks of Memory, I've been thinking two.

I've seen people have some issues with four sticks ending up at DDR333. Capt Caveman has had more success getting different mixes of four stick combos to work at DDR400 than anyone else I've seen on here. We've got your voltage at 2.9v and we're still only up to DDR333.

Short of going to CAS 3 to see if that works I'm kind of stumped right now. Higher voltage may be an option, but I'm not really comfortable telling you to do that.

Maybe Capt Caveman has some more ideas for this situation I'm not aware of ?

 

[Fishpup]

Ok so maybe you can help me with my issue. This system runs everything flawlessly save for 2 games. Nascar racing season 2003 will allow me to start out on the track then the system emits a screetchy sound and freezes. I have run memtest and a few other goodies. Also my memory set it auto reads at 333 but can manually run 400. Seems this has occured since I have put in the other 2x512. All sticks match.

 

[wanderer27]

Memory type and speed ?

Also Memory timings (rated and what you're using) might be helpful.

Do you have a Sound Card, and if so, what is it and in which PCI slot ?

Also - Welcome aboard !

 

[Fishpup]

Thank you. The timings are set to auto in bios, also I removed 2x512 and still same issue. Sound card is Audigy 2zs. As mentioned this has only occured with 2 games all other games and progs run great. The error I get is the 09c.

 

[Fishpup]

Bingo found the problem. It's the Audigy 2 zs platinum pro. Unplug it and use onboard audio and no 09c error and games play great. Of course creative has no fix for this and soooo many peeps have had same issue.