- Jun 24, 2001
- 24,195
- 857
- 126
OK, this is definitely a memory-related issue even though I've left it looping Memtest86 on the problem configuration for hours without error.
Here's the drill:
When I use two 1GB CL3.0 OCZ modules at stock/SPD settings, I get serious issues. When I use my two 512MB CL2.5 Corsair ValueRAM PC3200 modules at stock/SPD settings, I don't.
Before updating to the latest BIOS, I could not boot or even install Windows with the 2GB of OCZ. The system would simply turn entirely off with nothing but the SLED lit as soon as the Windows logo was shown. Even Safe Mode would do it. Installation would do the same thing as soon as it said "Starting Windows Setup" (After the automatically copied files). My attempted installs were to a new drive so I could continue experimenting. I could only get back into Windows if I:
1) Switched back to my old Corsair memory or
2) Removed one OCZ gig module and booted in single-channel with the remaining 1GB OCZ module or
3) Set a 2T command rate with the two 1GB OCZ modules or
4) Underclocked the OCZ modules at DDR200 speeds
5) Put in all 3GB of Corsair + OCZ memory (Automatically sets a 2T command rate but has graphical corruption in the POST data!).
No amount of CMOS clearing or CPU underclocking helped (Though it was required numerous times during testing
).
AMD Cool 'n Quiet is also not a factor (Disabled)
After the BIOS update (July release to November release), I could then boot Windows but the system would do the exact same thing it did before as soon as I launch F.E.A.R. (As in, the VERY FIRST screen with copyright info). Instant power-off with nothing but a lit SLED. When using one of the work-around configs above, I noticed that F.E.A.R. was an order of magnitude better than it was before even with single-channel higher latency RAM meaning the BIOS update fixed something. I went from having ~40% in the 25-40FPS, remainder under 25FPS to ~80% being over 40FPS with the remainder between 25-40 FPS.
Of course, nothing is solved. I still can't run 2GB of memory on this damn system even though Memtest86 is totally stable.
The setup is:
2GHz AMD Athlon X2 3800+ CPU (Also tested at 2.4GHz/240FSB)
Abit AN8-SLI motherboard
XFX 7800GT SLI video cards
400GB Hitachi 7k400 (PATA) hard drive (New install attempted on a 400GB WD SATA drive)
Plextor (PATA) DVD burner (Unsure of model... Benq-based 16x)
510+ watt PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 510 Deluxe power supply
Antec P180 chassis
Windows XP X64 Edition (Exclusive 32-bit XP Professional install attempted on new drive)
This PC has had my brother's FIC Condor-based SFF Media Center PC sitting on top of it connected to the same Dell 2005FPW display. It was a waste to leave the 2GB CL3.0 OCZ value RAM in the 6600GT-base Media Center PC (Ti4200 for now... I took my video card back). We decided to switch memory until I could get 2GB of my own.
What should I try next? I've seemingly exhausted every avenue I have. I don't have any other memory to try so I don't see how to pin it on the board or the OCZ modules. OCZ's website takes you straight to the AN8SLI when searching for compatible motherboards! Something seems clearly wrong with Memtest86 if it can't detect a memory problem so severe that you can't even boot so should I make some sort of report to them despite not knowing conclusively what to blame for the problem? Clearly, the BIOS update fixed something major that was limiting my F.E.A.R. performance but it's only allowed me to get a little farther with the memory issue. Just booting is not enough!
Here's the drill:
When I use two 1GB CL3.0 OCZ modules at stock/SPD settings, I get serious issues. When I use my two 512MB CL2.5 Corsair ValueRAM PC3200 modules at stock/SPD settings, I don't.
Before updating to the latest BIOS, I could not boot or even install Windows with the 2GB of OCZ. The system would simply turn entirely off with nothing but the SLED lit as soon as the Windows logo was shown. Even Safe Mode would do it. Installation would do the same thing as soon as it said "Starting Windows Setup" (After the automatically copied files). My attempted installs were to a new drive so I could continue experimenting. I could only get back into Windows if I:
1) Switched back to my old Corsair memory or
2) Removed one OCZ gig module and booted in single-channel with the remaining 1GB OCZ module or
3) Set a 2T command rate with the two 1GB OCZ modules or
4) Underclocked the OCZ modules at DDR200 speeds
5) Put in all 3GB of Corsair + OCZ memory (Automatically sets a 2T command rate but has graphical corruption in the POST data!).
No amount of CMOS clearing or CPU underclocking helped (Though it was required numerous times during testing
).AMD Cool 'n Quiet is also not a factor (Disabled)
After the BIOS update (July release to November release), I could then boot Windows but the system would do the exact same thing it did before as soon as I launch F.E.A.R. (As in, the VERY FIRST screen with copyright info). Instant power-off with nothing but a lit SLED. When using one of the work-around configs above, I noticed that F.E.A.R. was an order of magnitude better than it was before even with single-channel higher latency RAM meaning the BIOS update fixed something. I went from having ~40% in the 25-40FPS, remainder under 25FPS to ~80% being over 40FPS with the remainder between 25-40 FPS.
Of course, nothing is solved. I still can't run 2GB of memory on this damn system even though Memtest86 is totally stable.
The setup is:
2GHz AMD Athlon X2 3800+ CPU (Also tested at 2.4GHz/240FSB)
Abit AN8-SLI motherboard
XFX 7800GT SLI video cards
400GB Hitachi 7k400 (PATA) hard drive (New install attempted on a 400GB WD SATA drive)
Plextor (PATA) DVD burner (Unsure of model... Benq-based 16x)
510+ watt PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 510 Deluxe power supply
Antec P180 chassis
Windows XP X64 Edition (Exclusive 32-bit XP Professional install attempted on new drive)
This PC has had my brother's FIC Condor-based SFF Media Center PC sitting on top of it connected to the same Dell 2005FPW display. It was a waste to leave the 2GB CL3.0 OCZ value RAM in the 6600GT-base Media Center PC (Ti4200 for now... I took my video card back
). We decided to switch memory until I could get 2GB of my own.What should I try next? I've seemingly exhausted every avenue I have. I don't have any other memory to try so I don't see how to pin it on the board or the OCZ modules. OCZ's website takes you straight to the AN8SLI when searching for compatible motherboards! Something seems clearly wrong with Memtest86 if it can't detect a memory problem so severe that you can't even boot so should I make some sort of report to them despite not knowing conclusively what to blame for the problem? Clearly, the BIOS update fixed something major that was limiting my F.E.A.R. performance but it's only allowed me to get a little farther with the memory issue. Just booting is not enough!
Facebook
Twitter