Dual Channel problems

[PaulProe]

I am setting up a new system and running into problems and uncertain which component is the culprit.

MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EP35C-DS3R F2
Processor: E6750
Memory: 2 gig (1g x 2) Crucial Ballistic 1066 DDR2
Video: EVGA GeForce 7600GT

Using MemTest+ and Ortho as test vehicle.
Board and Memory running at standard speed settings

If I put the system together with memory in slots 1 & 3, I get memory errors.

put either stick in slot 1 and system runs fine
put either stick in slot 3 and system runs fine
put sticks in slots 2 & 4 and system runs fine

Run Ortho and MemTest with sticks in slot 2 & 4 and no problems show up

I swapped out the motherboard and same problems appears on new board.

Not getting any processor errors, not getting any memory errors, as long as using slots 2 & 4

Put sticks back into slots 1 & 3 and the SKY FALLS

If it were the processor, you'd think the problem would show up in 2nd pairing also.

Haven't seen any posts about GigaByte boards having problems with Dual Channel.

Don't think it is the memory since the problem goes away as soon as I move out of 1 & 3

Does anyone have any ideas??

Thanks

Paul

 

[myocardia]

Paul, welcome to anandtech. The 2nd and 4th slots are the preferred slots on your (and my) motherboard. The DIMM's (sticks of RAM) seem to require less voltage in slots 2 & 4, hence they also overclock better, when placed there. If for some reason, you want to use slots 1 & 3, just give your RAM more vDIMM. My PC8000 Ballistix required +.3v of vDIMM, to be able to run in slots 1 & 3, but they overclocked higher, with less vDIMM, once I put them in slots 2 & 4.

 

[PaulProe]

Myocardia,
I appreciate your input, I was about to pull my hair out.

Does this mean if I put two more sticks in, I will again have dual channel problems?

Is there anywhere that identifies 2 and 4 as preferred? No mention is made in the owners manual.

again, thanks for your help

Paul

 

[toadeater]

This kind of thing happens with more than just Gigabyte boards. Unless you really do have a defective board, raising the voltage, or loosening the timings in the case of four sticks, usually works. Why don't you raise the voltage and put them back in slots 1 & 3 to find out for sure? Personally, the first thing I do is raise vDimm to at least 2.0v, no matter what the RAM claims it can run at. If it's high performance RAM, then you may need to raise it to 2.2v when overclocking.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Paul, welcome to anandtech. The 2nd and 4th slots are the preferred slots on your (and my) motherboard. The DIMM's (sticks of RAM) seem to require less voltage in slots 2 & 4, hence they also overclock better, when placed there. If for some reason, you want to use slots 1 & 3, just give your RAM more vDIMM. My PC8000 Ballistix required +.3v of vDIMM, to be able to run in slots 1 & 3, but they overclocked higher, with less vDIMM, once I put them in slots 2 & 4.

oh damn i didn't know that, does that apply to the p35-DS3P also

i'm planning on going 3 x 1gb or 4 x 1gb soon (when my RMA comes back) is it okay to run my Ballistix over 2.2v? like 2.25 or 2.3v?

when i set my vDimm to +0.4 in my MB (2.2v) my Bios hardware monitor says DDR voltage: FAIL, but when i set it to +0.35 (2.15v) my Bios monitor says PASS