I need help - Cant run 800 FSB

[PraetorianX]

Hi,
I have an ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, and Cosair CMX512-3200C2 memory, and Intel P4 2.8C GHz. It seems that I cant run the DDR400 in dual-channel mode, or I'll get blue error screens when installing windows. The error msgs are stuff like "MEMORY_MANAGEMENT","REGISTRY_ERROR",etc. It seems when I tweaked the timings for the memory, it would get futher, but ultimately still crash. The only way so far to get the computer to even work is to set the CPU external frequency down from 200 to 100. This makes my CPU run at 1.4GHz, and my memory at 266MHz. It works at these speeds, Windows was able to install and run without crashing. But how am I supposed to run it at the 400MHz and the 2.8GHz that I paid for???

- PraetorianX

 

[MDE]

Try different memory in there, the Corsair might be bad.

 

[redhatlinux]

Have you tried increasing your Vdimm voltage to say 2.7 ?? Also, your mobo should have memory settings async to your CPU e.g. a 5/4 memory ratio which would still allow your CPU to run at full speed. Do you get failures while running single channel mode ??. Try a few experiments to pin down the problem further.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: redhatlinux
Have you tried increasing your Vdimm voltage to say 2.7 ?? Also, your mobo should have memory settings async to your CPU e.g. a 5/4 memory ratio which would still allow your CPU to run at full speed. Do you get failures while running single channel mode ??. Try a few experiments to pin down the problem further.

^ Good advice. That's what I was thinking too - it could very well be the memory. Put more voltage in the memory (ie 2.7V) and if that doesn't work try "relaxed" timings: 2.5-3-3-7 . And if it's still not working try dropping the memory speed by using the 5/4 or 4/3 dividor (as long as it's running below the FSB speed of 200Mhz, not above it 😉 ).

 

[PraetorianX]

Yeah, Originally I was using two modules at 400MHz dual-channel mode. Now, I'm just using one module to see if I can at least get that up to speed. I haven't tried 2.7V yet (i think the closet setting is 2.65V or 2.75V). As for the ratio setting, I don't remember seeing that in the BIOS. Will have to wait till I get home before I can check that out.

 

[PraetorianX]

Alright, I checked out the CPU ratio option. Apparently my CPU is "locked" so I can't adjust that. Its always going to be 14. I tried running the DDR voltage at 2.75V. Still crashed when set to 400MHz and 2.8GHz. For now, it seems to be able to run at 266MHz and 2.8GHz. Guess thats the best I can do for now, until i try out other memory chips. Will have to wait till my next paycheck...sheesh

- PraetorianX

 

[RalfHutter]

Download yourself a copy of Memtest 86 and install it on a floppy. Reset your memory to DDR400 speed at default Vdimm and reboot with the memtest86 floppy in the drive. It will automagically start checking your RAM. This test loops forever but with your problem you'll probably see errors pretty quickly. If you don't see errors right away, just keep running it for a few hours and see what pops up. That'll tells you if your RAM can run at it's rated speed. If it can't, RMA it.

 

[egale]

First, turn off usb legacy support in your bios, raise the voltage to 2.75.

Set the memory to SPD.

See if it works then. If not, you can change memory timings. I have the same mobo but with the Corsair 3200LL memory and it took some time to get it running stable. The order of the memory settings in the bios are also not in the same order that the rest of world seems to list them. So, if you see 2-3-2-6 anywhere else, it has to be set on this mobo as 2-2-3-6. The two middle settings are switched for whatever reason.

Also too, make sure you have the latest bios 1011.

If this fails too, there is a good chance you have bad ram.

 

[PraetorianX]

I tried running the memtest86 with USB legacy off, 2.75V at 2.5-3-3-6, 266MHz. Got a bunch of errors running the memtest86. I then set the voltage to auto, and timing to 2-3-3-6, 266MHz and so far memtest86 didn't report any errors. Right now I'm doing this all single channel, or one 512MB memory module.

As for the updated BIOS - v1011. I flashed that and it was ok. But a couple times already, after I changed some settings and reboot, I"ll get a "Bad checksum in BIOS" error and end up having to re-flash the original version. Already happened 3 times over the past 4 days.

 

[redhatlinux]

Your CPU maybe 'locked' but the Ratio of the CPU FSB to the Memory Controller is not. In fact, this option specifically allows the use of slower memory with C type CPUs. A 5/4 ratio would slow down the memory interface to 200*5/4 or 160mhz double pumped 320mhz very close to PC2700 specs. Check further in your BIOS, you should have options.