DDR500 RAM not working on DFI LanParty nf4 Ultra-D

[prayforMOJO]

Last night I assembled a new system. Here's a basic rundown of the parts:

DFI LanParty nf4 Ultra-D mobo
A64 3200+ Venice core
OCZ Gold Series PC4000 (DDR500) (2x1024MB) (3-4-3-8)
eVGA GeForce 7800GT
Western Digital Caviar 250GB SATA3Gb/S 16MB cache
OCZ ModStream 520W power supply

When I turned on the system, all the fans turned on but nothing, not even a BIOS screen, would display. Looking at the diagnostic LED's allowed me to figure out that it wasn't detecting the RAM, so to test it I switched in an old stick (DDR400). All of a sudden, everything was working.

So here's the question: How do I get the faster RAM to work? Is it even possible? And could those extra power connectors (the molex-looking one and the fdd looking one) not being plugged in possibly have anything to do with this?

Possibly pertinent info: everything is running at stock, out-of-the-box frequencies and settings and voltages. I wasn't able to even get into a BIOS screen to try to change anything. The RAM was installed in slots 1 and 2. The RAM voltage jumper on the mobo is set to allow voltages up to 4V, but whatever voltage it is actually applying is just stock/automatic. I have the 24-pin BTX and the 4-pin 12V connecter both attached, but no other power connecters plugged into the mobo (IIRC there's a 4-pin Molex-looking connector on the board but none of the documentation says what to do with it. And I keep reading that there are 4 power connectors but can't find te 4th.).

Other question: which RAM slots are the best to use, and which slot combinations correspond to a dual-channel configuration? I'm guessing that "closer to the cpu = better," but that doesn't help you know how to set up dual channel. The paper documentation doesn't have any of this info.

 

[crownjules]

I have the same mobo as you. You want to have the RAM in the same color slots, which I believe is 1-3 and 2-4 for dual channel. I don't think this is a reason why you're not able to get to a BIOS, but it will help later on.

You might just have one of those incompatible setups of mobo/RAM. It's obviously not a problem with any of your components being dead or incorrectly setup because you plugged in another type of RAM and it ran fine.

 

[Big Lar]

It could be you need to get in bios with the old ram, and pump your Dram voltage up to 2.8 or so.

 

[Shimmishim]

honestly...

the mobo is fickle with ram. just move it around a bit. try with 1 stick first. boot up. then stick in the 2nd stick.

that seems to work for me often.

 

[rise]

first off, set the 4v jumper back to normal and set your put your ram in 1 & 3 as noted. unless you plan on using more than the 3.2v dram, don't use the jumper as it will cook your board.

also, plug in all 4 power connectors.

if you still can't get a post, use ne stick in the orange slot furthest away from the cpu.

 

[Tweakin]

That ram should be fine...it is on DFI's list. I would also make sure the 4v jumper is set to normal and boot with one stick in slot 1 to start off.

 

[xelpmoc]

I see what you did there.