Asus A8v deluxe (newest bios 1009.007) wont post in dual channel

[anyholm]

My Asus A8V Deluxe came with 1008bios

Installed Athlon64 3500+ winchester (90nm) and Installed 2x 512 OCZ PC3200 Platinum Dual Channel kit Rev. 2 into the 2 blue slots (DimmA1+B1) but no signal to monitor. What I find strange, is the fact that the HardDisk LED lights up in 30 seconds approx. And then it turns off (during that period, no signal at all to monitor)

After some testing i learned that system would only boot with 1 stick in DimmB1 (first blue slot, counting from CPU) I tried switching the stick's, and either works. But at that point only in one slot (which could mean that the problem isnt in the OCZ-ram, unless one of the sticks "drag the system down", when running in dual?!)

The board came with 1008 bios, but I flashed to 1009.007beta

Now the mobo accepts sticks in DimmB1 and B2 (3rd and 4th slot counting from CPU). But its running in single channel now (of course) as they should be in the 2 blue slots (A1+B1) for dual...

I cleared Cmos and reinstalled cpu, gpu, battery (which has helped one guy, with same problem) But unfortunately, it did nothing for me.

I have now installed XP on the system, running with 1024mb single channel. I would very much like to run dual, though... what to do? Would it help downloading and running some memory-tests? (i have access to the internet through this pc, only. And im using the same graphic card between these 2 pc's, so unfortunately the testing will be a bit slow, untill i get my new graphic card 3-4. januar '05.

On occasion, bios comes up with : failed due to cpu overclocking, which is another strange thing, as I have placed 'overclock'-settings in bios on standard not auto or adaptive - since day one.


What to do? Is it the ram or the mobo - or something 3rd... btw - the hardware monitor in BIOS doesnt like the Powerfan-RPM. The value (approx 1260rpm) is in red. Maybe its not a major issue - just wanted to report it. The Voltage-report looks fine (1.456Vcore * 3.30v @ 3.360v * 5V @ 5.08v * 12v @ 12.096v) right?


Best regards and looking forward to any input or advice,


- a.

 

[phr0m]

i actually had that same exact problem the way i fixed was to reset the cpu and clear cmos (take battery out), but then once i fanally posted a got a hole bunch of hd errors and otehr things, and then i changed my psu to a better quality one (ocz) and all was fixed and had no prblems after that. So if the stuff i sadi earlier doesnt work try for a better psu

 

[anyholm]

Interesting. It was actually you and your 'solution' i were refering to in my first post

I have been wondering whether the psu could be a problem, also because the powerfan seems to be running a bit slow? (according to the bios hardware monitoring)

Its the PSU that came with the Chieftec Dragon DX-01-B-D-U.

I would be happy if the PSU is the solution. Which ocz-model did you buy, phr0m

Looking forward hearing from you - and getting even more input on this issue.


- a.

 

[phr0m]

well when i got all those errors for my hard drive i got worried for a bit that my raptor had crashed and brunned up, but i asked about my psu (i had an allied 500watt) and i didnt think that could really be the problem its 500 watts....., but it was. i bought the ocz 420w powerstream...... i probably would have gotten the modstream but didnt think that was as good (dont trust that moduler stuff) and i do thinks it is your psu beacsue if it came with the case its most likely a crapy one thats only worth 30 dollars..... also noticed the low rpm fan..... i hear those can mess with some mobos.....

 

[mlaguitan]

I am having the same problem as well. The PSU that I am using is a PC Power & Cooling Turbo Cool 600W. I think that this PSU is ok. Are the ways of checking? Do I need to setup something special in the BIOS to work with this PSU? I would like to know if it's just a matter of getting a PSU that is supported to get my system to work under dual channel.

 

[Skoop]

Get control of the situation. Stop changing multiple variables at one time.

Reflash to 1008 and leave the memory and CPU settings at default. Disable all on-board peripherals that you're not using. Start with one stick RAM in B1. Test it with Memtest. Run CPUz and see what the SPD timings are. If the stick tests OK, then hard set the SPD timings in the memory settings in the BIOS. Then, test again. Run 3dMark or something else that stresses the system. If it doesn't crash, then try the other stick in A1. If it does crash, then relax TRCD by one, for example 2225 to 2325. Another solution is to up the voltage to the RAM; try 2.7 if it crashes.

Note this: If your RAM is not a matched pair, you'll likely not get dual channel anyway.

Your RAM may be OK anyway, but you have to rule it out as factor. You may indeed have a weak PS, too. You'll never know what the problem is though, if you keep trying fixes randomly.

 

[npapanik]

I suggest to flash to latest BIOS 1009. BIOS 1009 final

Set the overclock option to auto so everything is default.
Download memtest from www.memtest.org and run it with both sticks in A1 & A2, then with B1 and B2 etc.
Do things ONE STEP at a time. Write down your current settings and results (failure, OK etc.)
BE PATIENT.

It would be very useful if you added your EXACT config in your signature.

 

[anyholm]

As english isnt my prime languagei can very well have giving you the impression, i have changed alot of things at the same time... Fact is, though, that i never changed more than one variable at a time, everytime i tested the system/memory.

I tried the memory after installing all components without flashing (mobo came with 1008) i flashed to 1009.007 - and tested. I tried to clear cmos - and tested. I changed one timing/voltage - and tested etc


I havent been able to give you update on this issue, as Im in the middle of moving to a new address - and havent had internet access in the last days...

Newest development is, that I posted on OCZ public support forum, and tested the memory with OCZ-memtest86. First stick came through many passes, with no errors at all.

Second stick, though, had over 400 errors in the first pass, over 600 errors in second pass, and i rebooted after getting 2200 errors over 3 passes... Immidately after this, XP gave me BSOD a couple of times - and the system werent stable untill i switched stick.

I got a RMA number yesterday from OCZ, and are sending the kit back tomorrow.

Quite interesting, how i could install xp and run various programs with both sticks in singlechannel, even with a stick with so many errors. But in dualchannel the system collapsed heh.


Skoop- as i mentioned in my post it was not possible to boot up with a single stick, unless it was placed in B1. Furthermore, as stated, it is a kit, so OCZ guarantess dualchannel. I thank you for your time and concern, though

Also thanks to the rest of you, who replied on my problem. For now, I hope its the memorysticks that have been causing the problems. I will give you a conclusion anyway, when i get a new kit from OCZ (Denmark ---> US -----> Denmark will take a few days heh)


- a