Dual channel memory isn't working correctly (I think)

[MichaelD]

Everything was working fine until I added the second stick of memory today.

8RDA+ (1/29/2003 BIOS)
XP2100 @ 10.5 x 200/1.700 V (temps are low 40s, stressed)
GF3 (latest WHQL NVidia Dets.)
Two 512mb sticks of Corsair XMS3200C2 (CAS2, 9,4,4 (the 944 is what it defaults to, I didn't touch it) at the 8RDAs stock 2.65 voltage)

Memtest shows no errors at 5,000% coverage. SANDRA memory test runs fine. 3DMark crashes halfway through...but the screen turns monochrome or does like a split screen thing with the shapes all skewed. Only tried one game, IGI-2, which was running fine beforehand. That locks up after about 5 minutes.

On top of that, I'm getting random blinking of the display! PS is fine. Antec Trupower 430.

I'm using slots 1 & 3.

Any ideas, please?

 

[Lord Evermore]

And if you remove the new module? Or try it with only the new module and remove the old one? Try them in varying slots?

Of course...you've got a rather massive overclock if you're running an XP2100+ (stock 1.73GHz) at 2.1GHz. The chipset should be able to handle it, but technically you are outside of specs. What happens if you downclock it?

9-4-4 is pretty horrific settings by the way. 2-3-3-6 is the rating for Corsair's C2 memory. (The 6 being what your 9 should be.)

 

[Viper96720]

Yeah run cpu at stock speeds first.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks much. I will try changing that 9 to a a six first. I honestly don't think it's my overclock as I've been running it at this setting for months now w/o a hiccup at all, and the probs didn't start until I put that second stick in.

Thanks again, I'll report back later.

 

[MichaelD]

I set the timings to CAS2, 6,3,3 and the 3DM prob happened again. I changed the CAS to 2.5 and it ran fine. All memory benchmarks are still higher than they were running single channel memory.

I'm going to run memtest all day long and see what happens.

Thanks.

 

[Viper96720]

Shouldn't you eliminate as much variables as possible?

 

[arcenite]

Glad you've worked it out! Overclocking is always the number one thing that causes problems, because no two electronics are the same ^^

Bill

 

[Jeff7]

If the POST screen says "Dual Channel Enabled" then it is; if that is not there, it's running normal.
What happens if the sticks are in slots 1 and 2 instead? Some RAM doesn't seem to play nice in Dual Channel mode, like the stick of Buffalo RAM I got from Newegg, at least not at 200MHz. But Corsair...I'd expect that to work. There's a BIOS out for the 8RDA+ from May 8th I believe it is. Maybe give that a try?

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
If the POST screen says "Dual Channel Enabled" then it is; if that is not there, it's running normal.
What happens if the sticks are in slots 1 and 2 instead? Some RAM doesn't seem to play nice in Dual Channel mode, like the stick of Buffalo RAM I got from Newegg, at least not at 200MHz. But Corsair...I'd expect that to work. There's a BIOS out for the 8RDA+ from May 8th I believe it is. Maybe give that a try?

WHOA! TIME OUT!


What do you mean that the post screen has to say "dual channel enabled?" Mine does NOT say that. I looked in the bios for a setting to enable for dual channel, but being that I didn't see a setting, I just assumed that it engaged itself automatically when the proper DIMM slots were filled.

Anyone care to elaborate, please?

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Jeff7
If the POST screen says "Dual Channel Enabled" then it is; if that is not there, it's running normal.
What happens if the sticks are in slots 1 and 2 instead? Some RAM doesn't seem to play nice in Dual Channel mode, like the stick of Buffalo RAM I got from Newegg, at least not at 200MHz. But Corsair...I'd expect that to work. There's a BIOS out for the 8RDA+ from May 8th I believe it is. Maybe give that a try?

WHOA! TIME OUT!


What do you mean that the post screen has to say "dual channel enabled?" Mine does NOT say that. I looked in the bios for a setting to enable for dual channel, but being that I didn't see a setting, I just assumed that it engaged itself automatically when the proper DIMM slots were filled.

Anyone care to elaborate, please?

No setting for it as far as I know - it just goes on by itself when there's RAM in slots 1 and 3, or rather, it SHOULD go on. I'd say the line that reports this is just a bit below the middle of the screen, and it should say it in bolded white text, maybe a line or two under where it gives the memory speed - Memory Speed is 200MHz (DDR400) or something like that, and under that, Dual Channel Enabled.

I'd say to leave one stick in slot 1, set the motherboard to default speeds and voltages, and try out that new BIOS.

 

[MichaelD]

Hmm, I'll have to wait until tonight to see if it says "Dual Channel Enabled." I've rebooted several times, but I have BIOS password enabled, and the password box covers the center of the screen.

I need to look. Dual channel operation should be possible with ANY bios on this board though, I'd assume, since dual channel capability is built into the chipset.

 

[MichaelD]

Bump for more info. Am I running at dual channel or not?

 

[XBoxLPU]

I think it only shows "Dual Channel Enabled." if you are using the latest bios.

I Have tried updating my bios to the latest release but I when I did, my system became unstable. So I am using the 1/29 bios also

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: XBoxLPU
I think it only shows "Dual Channel Enabled." if you are using the latest bios.

I Have tried updating my bios to the latest release but I when I did, my system became unstable. So I am using the 1/29 bios also

Thanks for the reply, XBoxLPU. My memory scores did go up a bit, so I'm thinking that it's running in dual-channel mode.

 

[pelikan]

All nforce 2 boards will run stable at higher FSB with a single stick of memory than with two running dual channel. And 3D apps are where stability will be lost first. It sounds like your board won't do 200 FSB in dual channel mode. That is very common.
Like the other guy said, only the latest bios shows "dual channel mode" or not at post.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: pelikan
All nforce 2 boards will run stable at higher FSB with a single stick of memory than with two running dual channel. And 3D apps are where stability will be lost first. It sounds like your board won't do 200 FSB in dual channel mode. That is very common.
Like the other guy said, only the latest bios shows "dual channel mode" or not at post.

That's interesting stuff. Where did you get your info that the NForce boards don't like 200MHz FSB in dual channel mode?

 

[pelikan]

The new revisions of nforce2 boards all seem to "like" 200 FSB or more in dual channel mode. Most of the older ones don't, unless voltage to the chipset is increased (the VDD mod). All nforce2 boards clock higher in single channel mode. This is general information from various forums including this one.

 

[Brian48]

Yeah, my 8rda boots up with that message "Dual Channel Enabled" also. Hope you get your problem squared. I've been hearing a lot of stories about nForce2 boards (regardless of make) having problems with 512mb sticks running in dual-channel mode. I just ordered a second stick of 512mb myself, but haven't installed it yet to try.

 

[MichaelD]

Hmm. I'm going to check when I get home, but I"m pretty sure I don't get a "Dual Channel Enabled" message.

There is no newer OFFICIAL bios than the 1/29/2003 bios I'm running now. I won't use anything but what's put out by Epox.

 

[Viper96720]

Run benchies with 1 then 2 sticks if the score goes up. It has to be running dual channel. Try running 166:166 with both both ram and compare them to the single stick at 200:200.