CORSAIR Vengeance not running in dual channel mode

dafuzzbudd

Senior member
Feb 7, 2004
258
6
81
Hi anandtech,

I just bought a new pair of 2x4 corsair vengeance and like the title says I am having a problem getting these to boot at 1600 in dual channel. When I put them in dimm slots 1&2 (single channel) they run perfectly at 8-8-8-24 1600mhz.

For dual channel I've tried raising timings, setting timings to auto and letting them select whatever, all while raising dram voltages from 1.5 to 1.6. Whichever slots I choose the effect is the same. They wont boot or stay in windows for more than a few seconds at 1600. BUT, when I lower my fsb to 333, they boot fine, and pass tests at 1.5v and 8-8-8-24 1333mhz.

I've checked my power connections. Tried these tests with 2nd hdd unplugged. Oddly, booting the system with one stick in dimm slot 3 or 4 gives me an unstable system.

What else can I test to see if it's my RAM or DIMM slots?

PSU Cool Master 600w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ter-_-17171039

RAM 2x4 Corsair Vengeance
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820233185

MOBO Gigabyte p775
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2955#ov

CPU 2.93 Core 2 Duo (Currently 9.5 x 333 @ 1.31v)
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-E7500-Pr...uct/B001OVBXIC
 
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SolMiester

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2004
5,330
17
76
At 1st glance, I would say the board max memory at 16Gb is made up of 4 x 4GB Dimms, not 2 x 8Gb, given that the board is older than the memory!

Edit - How much RAM is it, post says 2 x 8, link is 2 x 4?
 

dafuzzbudd

Senior member
Feb 7, 2004
258
6
81
oh, and i just found something out. i've been bumping up my fsb in random increments and found that around 385 it's stable, at 390 i get prime95 errors. This is all while my cpu is at the same voltage that it's been stable at for the last year.
 

Rifter

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,522
751
126
sounds like the memory slots. Can you find some known good sticks to test in the 3 & 4 slots?
 

dafuzzbudd

Senior member
Feb 7, 2004
258
6
81
ill try my good 2gig. is it possible the mobo is not supposed to work correctly only one stick in 3 or 4?

I realized I am not utilizing a ground screw hole near the RAM. there is no screw slot in my case at that position, although all other grounds are in. Could this be a cause to the problem?
 

Rifter

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,522
751
126
ill try my good 2gig. is it possible the mobo is not supposed to work correctly only one stick in 3 or 4?

I realized I am not utilizing a ground screw hole near the RAM. there is no screw slot in my case at that position, although all other grounds are in. Could this be a cause to the problem?

the screw is not the issue, i have run system swith no screws and no case and it works fine.

The system should boot with one stick in any slot.
 

dafuzzbudd

Senior member
Feb 7, 2004
258
6
81
I'd crank the RAM to the 1.65 and see what it does.

just tried 1.66 with advertised timings. pc blue screened right after showing me my desktop.

i'm going to RMA the ram tomorrow because of a loose heatsink. i guess i'll find out either way.
 

Quiksilver

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2005
4,725
0
71
Did you install the RAM into the correct slots?
It could be a silly question but for dual channel to work apparently you need to install the RAM into slots 1 and 3. (The green ones)

See page 16 (section 1-4) of the motherboard manual thats available to download.
 
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dafuzzbudd

Senior member
Feb 7, 2004
258
6
81
RMA took about 8 days. Ram works perfectly now. i have it at 1.52v 8-8-8-24 1600 dual channel.

For a while I was scared it was my mobo because i've had bad luck pairing ram with it.

Thanks for the help everyone.