AMD X2 5200+ ECS & NFORCE 4M-A Problems Please Help!

[guht]

System Setup:

AMD X2 5200+ stock heatsink
ECS Nforce 4M-A motherboard v3.0
2x1GB of patriot PC800 RAM 5-5-5
XFX Geforce 8800 GTS 320GB Extreme.
Thermaltake 750W PSU

Problem: System will not get past windows booting. Displays a BSOD error that disappers to quick to read.

Steps Taken:
1) I hooked everything up and tried to boot off an existing windows xp drive. It gave me BSOD and immediately rebooted. I didnt even have a chance to see the message. I even tried hitting pause button, but it is simply to quick.

2) I tried to install fresh copy of windows xp, it made it through the copying setup files, but after rebooting it did same thing.

3) I tried a different drive. Same BSOD..

4) I tried manually setting the RAM timings to 800 with CAS Latency of 5.

5) I downloaded latest BIOS from ECS website from 3/08/2007 and then loaded optimized settings (this made things worse, now it wont reboot it just sits there powered on. I can turn it off and it will boot back up, but once it hung during countdown for booting into windows normally, once it changed the video into gibberish barely readable text, and everytime it stills goes to same BSOD and reboots.)

Im unsure what to do at this point. I dont have any other ram, cpus, mobos, or video cards to test with and error out possible problems. All the stuff is brand new, and I dont know where problem lies.

Im wondering what other steps I could/should take. What you guys think most likely problem is. Also, Im wondering as a last resort suggestions on a foolproof motherboard and ram setup that will work out of box with athlon x2 and my geforce video card. Im not trying to build an overclocking system. I just want something that is ROCK SOLID STABLE! Preferences this time would be SLI capable board so I can add on another 8800, and SATA 3, which my current ECS board doesnt offer.

Thanks for your advice in advance!

 

[Rottie]

Patroit memory sucks try different memory brand name like kingston or OCZ. I had problem with Patroit memory.

 

[guht]

Well I actually researched memory before I bought, and patriot has pretty good reviews. There were also good reviews with it supposedly working in my motherboard. Who knows if it was the same stuff though since there seems to be a million different types of RAM these days!?

I find it kind of ironic you list OCZ or Kingston, but have PQI memory in your signature, which is generally a budget memory?

More thoughts welcome please!

 

[grooge]

first, reset the BIOS with the jumper and by removing the battery and unplugging it from the wall for some time. Try to restart it, then, in BIOS, bump the memory voltage a bit. this may help to stabilize thing a bit.

Usually, when windows fail to install, it is because of memory problem. Flashing the BIOS in these condition may prove risky. Maybe there is a recovery bios feature with your board. best thing to do is to check ECS manual or better, check for latest information on their website.

 

[guht]

I dont see anywhere in the BIOS to set the voltage for the ram. It only allows me to change the timing, ie.. 533, 800, etc.. And also the CAS latency, but no voltage? Is that possible - meaning do some BIOS/motherboards not allow you to change volatge of RAM? I know I have seen it on some of my other motherboards, but Im not a clocker, so never messed with it?

Here is link to manual - maybe im missing something?

Link to motherboard manual

Seriously why is sh*t so incompatible these days! It use to be a few good companies making product, and everything just kinda worked, now everyones got hand in cookie jar and nothing works! Frustrating.

 

[Rottie]

Originally posted by: guht
Well I actually researched memory before I bought, and patriot has pretty good reviews. There were also good reviews with it supposedly working in my motherboard. Who knows if it was the same stuff though since there seems to be a million different types of RAM these days!?

I find it kind of funny you list OCZ or Kensington, but have a low end memory such as PQI in your signature?

More thoughts welcome please!

I had Patroit memory on my laptop and they always crash all the times I have to get Kingston memory soon.