ASUS P5Q Pro - can't use 4 sticks of RAM

[therealnickdanger]

Like the title says, I'm using a new ASUS P5Q Pro with the latest BIOS update. I am using 4x2GB OCZ PC2 6400. The sticker on the RAM reads OCZ2G8004GK, but CPU-Z says that it is OCZ2G8002G.

I have booted the system testing EACH stick in EACH slot individually so I know that EACH stick works perfectly. I can only boot with three of the four slots filled - it doesn't matter which three.

So if this is just a RAM compatibility issue that can be solved with a BIOS update, I'll wait with 6GB RAM, but this really sucks. Why won't it work? I've read TONS of other similar problems reported by other users with this exact board.

 

[Termie]

I'd be curious what you find out - I had the exact same problem with an Asus p5E (x38). Could boot with 3 sticks of 2GB Corsair ram with voltage tweaks, but 4 sticks wouldn't even POST. I called Corsair and they suggested that 8GB puts a big strain on the system and suggested tweaking voltages (which I did), but I never got it sorted out. Have you tried increasing voltage to your front side bus (0.1-0.2)? I think that people have been recommending that here. Have you tested the memory for errors using MemTest? I didn't find any problems doing that either, so I gave up on 8GB...

 

[o1die]

I was told to enable "memory mapping" to get 4 sticks stable in my asrock board.

 

[therealnickdanger]

"Memory mapping"? Hmm, I'll look into that right now. Thanks for the tip.

Termie, I'll try not to be one of those douchebags that only posts problems and not the solution... ;-) That is, IF I find a solution.

 

[therealnickdanger]

Hmm, I've been doing some digging regarding "memory mapping". Since I'm at work, I can't immediately test it, but it will be very curious to what the setting does for me.

My problem is that the board won't POST with 4 sticks (at least not THESE 4 sticks). The BIOS accurately counts all 2GB, 4GB, or 6GB and Vista-64 also sees the correct amount.

According to the manual:

3.5.3 Chipset
The Chipset menu allows you to change the advanced chipset settings. Select an
item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.

North Bridge Chipset Configuration
Memory Remap Feature [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the remapping of the overlapped PCI memory
above the total physical memory. Enable this option only when you install
64-bit operating system.
Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

So if it is already enabled, disabling might restrict my memory usage to 3328MB in the BIOS and Vista-64. I'll give it a shot when I get home. Thanks again.

Oddly enough, the memory count always pauses for a second during POST when it reaches 3328MB... hmmmm...

I want to leave early and go try it right now!!

 

[Termie]

nick - I hope it works (can't try now, also at work), but my understanding is that the remap function only affects how much memory the operating system can address. I doubt it will help us get the board to POST, since it's not even getting to the point of booting the OS.

 

[n7]

Always post all your system specs in troubleshooting threads like this...i have a P5Q board, & i've successfully run 8 GB since i got it, but it really helps to know what other components are involved.

What BIOS are you using?
If you haven't updated to at least 1406, get things working with 2 GB & update your bios.


Memory remapping needs to enabled if you run an x64 OS; disabled if you are on x86.


Go into your BIOS @ stock speeds no OCing with 2 GB only & set these settings; then assuming those work, put in all 8 GB & see if it works with the same settings:

AI Overclock tuner: AUTO
CPU Ratio Setting: AUTO
FSB Frequency: AUTO
PCI-E Frequency: AUTO
FSB Strap to North Bridge: AUTO
DRAM Frequency: 800
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A1: AUTO
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A2: AUTO
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel B1: AUTO
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel B2: AUTO

1st Information:
CAS# Latency: 5
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay: 5
DRAM RAS# Precharge: 5
DRAM RAS# Activate to Precharge: 18
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 4
Row Refresh Cycle Time: 65
Read to Precharge Time: 4

2nd Information :
READ to WRITE Delay (S/D): 9
Write to Read Delay (S): 4
WRITE to READ Delay (D): 6
READ to READ Delay (S): 5
READ to READ Delay (D): 7
WRITE to WRITE Delay (S): 5
WRITE to WRITE Delay (D): 7

3rd Information :
WRITE to PRE Delay: 15
READ to PRE Delay: 6
PRE to PRE Delay: 2
ALL PRE to ACT Delay: 7
ALL PRE to REF Delay: 7

DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
DRAM Read Training: Disabled
MEM. OC Charger: Enabled
AI Clock Twister: Light or Lightest
AI Transaction Booster: Manual
Common Performance Level: 12 (Tighten later)
All Pull-Ins: Disabled

CPU Voltage: AUTO
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (0/2): AUTO
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (1/3): AUTO
CPU PLL Voltage: AUTO
FSB Termination Voltage: AUTO
DRAM Voltage: 2.02 - Your board overvolts by 0.08v, so 2.02v = 2.1v
NB Voltage: 1.3 - Lower this later if you don't OC
NB GTL Reference: AUTO
SBridge Voltage: AUTO
PCIE SATA Voltage: AUTO


Auto settings aren't really your friend.
The less auto you use, the better.

The settings i've posted above are very loose for memory timings, which may very well be what you need, as defaults are a bit tight on the subtimings i've found.

 

[therealnickdanger]

I GOT IT!

Wow, this is weird, so this is what I did in this order:

Booted with 6GB (3x2GB)
Entered BIOS
[DISABLED] the Memory Remap Feature
Save Settings and Exit
Vista64 was hung up on the loading screen
TURNED OFF COMPUTER
Installed 4th stick
Booted with 8GB (4x2GB)
BIOS counted ALL 8GB of RAM (woot!)
Vista64 was hung up on the loading screen (failblog!)
REBOOT
Entered BIOS
[ENABLED] the Memory Remap Feature
Save Settings and Exit
BIOS counted ALL 8GB of RAM (woot!)
Vista64 LOADED SUCCESSFULLY!

I have now rebooted the computer several times, loaded updates and programs, tested sleep modes and hibernation. I even turned off the computer completely and deprived it of all power. It still counts all the RAM in the BIOS and boots into Vista64 and shows all 8GB working.

I don't know if the stars aligned or if this is a genuine work-around, BUT mark this as a success! Hooray! Thanks to all for your support.

n7 - FYI, I manually changed my memory settings the other day to 800-5-5-5-18 @ 1.9 and that's what I'm still running with no issues. I haven't run Prime95 yet or anything, but I'll keep this thread posted on that. Just out of curiosity, would you mind suggesting a good method to bring my Q6600 G0 up to 3.0GHz? I was thinking of just upping the FSB to 333... should I undervolt the CPU to keep temps down? I don't have much OC experience.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

 

[Termie]

nick - that sounds crazy, but I'll have to try it - definitely worth a shot. Glad you got it up and running.

 

[Assimilator1]

If you want to o/c your Q6600 to 3GHz you don't want to undervolt it! , you might get away with default vcore for 3GHz, only way to find out is to try it & carry out stability tests.
I've got a P5Q Pro with a Q6600 @ 3.35 GHz, can't remember the vcore setting but its 1.376v idle & 1.344v (from CPU-Z) loaded with SETI & DPAD across the 4 cores.
All other voltages apart from DRAM are at auto (which I need to look into).

Current ambient is 24C ,CPU core temps are 54,56,49 & 54C loaded.

 

[pcswig09]

I just purchased a P5Q Pro board this month, and I can't get it to boot with 8gb (4sticks of 2gb OCZ PC2 6400, #OCZ2P8004PK). It boots with 2 sticks in either the yellow or black slots, but won't boot with 3 sticks (2 yellow slots + 1 black slot).

I am going to play with the settings suggested by n7 and see if that makes a diff.

system setup is:
P5Q Pro
OCZ PC2 6400 (running on 4gb hoping to get 8gb working)
Q6600 stock settings
eVga 8500GT
Thermaltake 550W PSU
Seagate 250gb 7200.10
Vista Home Prem 64 bit
Lightscribe DVDRW/CDRW

 

[Painman]

Hmm. I have 2 of these El Cheapo Corsair kits stuck into my P5Q Pro's RAM slots, running my FSB @ 400 with 1:1 RAM, and all seem to be happy as pigs in poo. No voltage bump to the NB, VDIMM is at 1.8.

Could be the slack SPD timings on the RAM; Corsair may have spec'd it that way in order to make it more widely compatible, but I'm surprised (and quite pleased) that I didn't have to futz with timings or my NB voltage to keep it running after tuning the FSB up to 400.

Maybe that's unusual, but I'm not complaining.

 

[pcswig09]

I tried the settings n7 recommended and followed therealnickdanger's steps, but my build loaded Vista64 instead of hanging. I did a shutdown, installed the extra 4gb of OCZ sticks (2 of them) in the black slots, and fired it up....almost. It still won't POST with all 4 sticks in the mobo.
I thought OCZ would be very compatible with an ASUS board. Seems to be a very, very cantankerous board.

 

[Jessica69]

Personally, you couldn't pay me to run OCZ memory, but I'm still stuck with the memories of the "old" OCZ that rebadged used sticks as new and branded some memory as a faster speed than what was really on the board......hard to forget being lied to by a company, despite OCZ being a "new" company now.

I use these brands pretty much exclusively now......Mushkin and Corsair......and have had zero issues getting them to run on any board in any configuration. Guess I should count my blessings.

 

[Assimilator1]

Not had a problem with OCZ yet, seems to be good memory so far .
Although I haven't tried installing 8GB.

pcswig09
What voltage did you set the RAM & NBv to?

 

[pcswig09]

Assimilator1 - I set the RAM voltage to 2.02v, and NBv to 1.3.

While following n7's specs above, there were a few options that I did not see on my build:
I did not see DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A1 or A2, nor on B1 or B2. These options did not appear on the AI Overlcock screens.
I also did not see a setting for the Row Refresh Cycle Time.

I've never used OCZ memory, but my impression from reviews and advertising (and pricing!) was that it is a good product.

I have used many ASUS mb's but I usually build low-end PC's for general small business office use. I have also used MSI quite a bit, but I like ASUS' documentation better.

 

[Lenster]

pcswig09

There is much discussion in the OCZ memory forum about 4 sticks of ram.
http://www.ocztechnologyforum....e3b47cd6ecae82ae3&f=46

The short version of the solution is:
The stock timings don't work for 4 stick.

Set the CAS to 5, so run 5-4-4-15 (or 18 with 8GB) Set the Trfc on the board to 54 and try 2.0V.
Rated timings apply to one kit, two kits will probably work at 5-4-4-15 timings. Set the DRAM voltage to 2.0V


Also you will probably need to up the NB voltage up to 1.4 in small increments until stable.

Check the OCZ forum and you will see multiple post on this tiopic.

 

[n7]

Hmm, seems to be an OCZ issue...somehow i'm not surprised.

 

[RallyMaster]

I would make sure the memory is in the Asus QVL before buying it. I got lucky with my 4GB Corsair Dominator PC8500 that I originally got for a Phenom II build and it actually showed up in the QVL. The P5Q Pro seems to be extremely picky with RAM.

 

[Assimilator1]

Last time I looked, (a few days ago) Asus didn't even have a QVL list for the Pro version! :roll: (they did for other versions though), I must remember to pester them about this!

Originally posted by: Lenster
pcswig09

There is much discussion in the OCZ memory forum about 4 sticks of ram.
http://www.ocztechnologyforum....e3b47cd6ecae82ae3&f=46

The short version of the solution is:
The stock timings don't work for 4 stick.

Set the CAS to 5, so run 5-4-4-15 (or 18 with 8GB) Set the Trfc on the board to 54 and try 2.0V.
Rated timings apply to one kit, two kits will probably work at 5-4-4-15 timings. Set the DRAM voltage to 2.0V

Also you will probably need to up the NB voltage up to 1.4 in small increments until stable.

Check the OCZ forum and you will see multiple post on this tiopic.

Thanks for the info , but your link is dead .

 

[ELopes580]

Originally posted by: Assimilator1
Last time I looked, (a few days ago) Asus didn't even have a QVL list for the Pro version! :roll: (they did for other versions though), I must remember to pester them about this!

Actually the info is in the manual pages 2-12 to 2-15. I wouldn't call it a complete list though.

 

[Assimilator1]

Yea I know, but it's out of date when you get it, so it's useles for newer RAM, that's why I didn't bother mentioning it.

I've just emailed Asus about the missing Pro QVL list.

 

[dajeepster]

my board has 8 gigs of corsair dominators DDR2-1066 and boots with no problem. It originally had only 4 gigs, but I threw another 4 gigs in after having it for a month. I was really surprised in that it recognized the memory at 1066 speeds with no bios adjustments. I'm also running the latest bios.

 

[Assimilator1]

Asus have given the Pro a QVL list now .

 

[pcswig09]

It works! Thanks N7 for the info.
The first couple of times I must have fat-fingered some of the entries. The third times the charm!

Thanks!