Help -- New IP35 / E2160 Installation, What's Wrong?

[ToLive]

Got new Abit IP35 (Not IP35-E or IP35 Pro), E2160 retail and 4GB PATRIOT Extreme Performance DDR2 (2 * 2x1GB Kits) this afternoon, just installed 1 hour ago, but now problems come:

- When having 4GB RAM installed, I cannot install Windows XP Pro, nor Vista Business (both 32 bit versions). Under Windows XP Pro. installation, after the hard drive gets formatted, during the file copy process, an error pops-up saying "IRQ not less than or equal to..." something like that; under Vista, it just gives out an error message, no details. I tried to take out 2GB RAM and re-install again with 2GB memory, this time I got XP Pro. installed, now it's running with no problem...

I'm just wondering: does this mean at least one of my 4x1GB RAMs have problem? or I just cannot install 32-bit Xp/Vista to 4GB RAM machine directly? or the problem is on the IP35 motherboard's support on 4GB memory?

Thanks in advance for all your advices!

 

[hokiealumnus]

You probably need to raise your RAM voltage to spec. Please give a part number or even better a link to your exact RAM. Some of those patriot chips require 2.2Vdimm to operate properly.

FYI, 32bit WinXP (not positive about Vista 32bit) cannot use all 4GB of RAM, it will only see about 3.25G of it.

 

[ToLive]

Thanks for your quick reply!

Here is the memory I use:

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/5283387"><a target=_blank class=ftalter...om/product/5283387</a></a><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://shop1.outpost.com/product/5283387">https://shop1.outpost.com/product/5283387</a>

The part number is PDC22G6400LLK. current default voltage is 1.8v in BOIS. Also before I tried to install OS, I tried to OC the bus to 333MHz and raise memory voltage to 2.0v, CPU core to 1.525v, but I couldn't boot after that change, just blank screen...

This is the 1st time I try to OC (after reading Tom's hardware regarding the E2160 OC), I don't want too much, just want 3GB, it should be easy, right?

Originally posted by: hokiealumnus
You probably need to raise your RAM voltage to spec. Please give a part number or even better a link to your exact RAM. Some of those patriot chips require 2.2Vdimm to operate properly.


FYI, 32bit WinXP (not positive about Vista 32bit) cannot use all 4GB of RAM, it will only see about 3.25G of it.

 

[ToLive]

Now I added the 2GB memory back, the PC can boot normally, and I can see 3.25GB memory... hopfully this is the memory voltage issue, I'll try to rise it to 2.2v.

 

[hokiealumnus]

Per Newegg, that memory requires 2.2Vdimm to operate properly. Raise it to that and you'll be good to go.

After making sure that stabilizes your system, you can try setting your specified timings as well. In "Advanced Chipset Options", change the first four timings to 4-4-4-12 respectively.

If the lower timings make it unstable, just change the timings back to auto, but it should be just fine. Good luck; I'm going to sleep!

 

[ToLive]

Thank you very much hokiealumnus!

I raised the memory voltage to 2.2v and set the bus to 333MHz, now it's 3G...

One more question: should I keep the memory speed at 800MHz (CPU:RAM=1:1.2), or I can just leave it as default (then the memory speed will also be 1333MHz)?

Originally posted by: hokiealumnus
Per Newegg, that memory requires 2.2Vdimm to operate properly. Raise it to that and you'll be good to go.

After making sure that stabilizes your system, you can try setting your specified timings as well. In "Advanced Chipset Options", change the first four timings to 4-4-4-12 respectively.

If the lower timings make it unstable, just change the timings back to auto, but it should be just fine. Good luck; I'm going to sleep!

 

[MooMooCow]

Just remember that with Windows XP or Vista 32 bit you will not see all 4 GB of RAM. It'll most likely be in the ball park of 3.3 GBs plus or minus a couple hundread MBs depending other components of your computer.

 

[hokiealumnus]

I doubt your RAM will like running at 667MHz (DDR2-1333). It's only rated to 400MHz (DDR2-800). While it may overclock some, it's highly unlikely to make it that far. You can ease up on your timings (make them 5-5-5-15) and see what it will let you do. When overclocking memory you always run the risk of no POST when you go too high...so don't freak out if it doesn't do anything when you restart...just clear CMOS and try another setting.

 

[ToLive]

So that means I must change the memory speed (CPU:RAM ratio) while I change the bus speed from 200 to 333 or higher?
Currently, I set the bus speed to 333 and CPU:RAM ration to 1:1.20 so the memory speed is still about 800 MHz, is this how I should do?

 

[wittangamo]

I have the same board and the same memory. You're on the right track.

Leave the voltage at 2.2. Less may not be stable and more won't help. My 2x1gb set will hold 4,4,4,12 timings until about 440 fsb, any higher and you need to move back to 5,5,5,15. I didn't really test the top end because my cpu has a 9X multi, but I did get to 480 at CAS5.

The easiest way to isolate the cpu when experimenting with overclocking is to leave it at 1:1 and let the timings be auto set "by spd." Then when you have figured out how high you can push the fsb, you can try increasing the memory divider or decreasing the timings to tweak memory performance.

CPU speed trumps memory speed. You can measure performance against comparable systems using Sisoft SANDRA to see what combo of settings works best for you.

If you don't overvolt, the worst thing that can happen is that the system won't boot and you'll have to clear the CMOS. My jumper got a workout, but I'm happy with the results.