My o/c does not work anymore (changed RAM)

[BangoO]

Hi everybody,

I have an Asus P4C800-E DLX with a P4C 2.8 overclocked to 3.22 (FSB 230) since more than a year now, with 512Mb of Infineon PC3200 at FSB 230.
This configuration had been tested with Prime95 and memtest and was rock stable.

I needed 1Gb of RAM, so I bough 2*512Mb of A-Data Vitesta DDR500.
I just replaced my Infineon with my A-Data, and launched Prime95 and OCCT to verify that it still works fine.
Both of them give errors, at FSB 230.

Then, I tested the A-Data with memtest, and it does not give me errors, even at FSB 240.
So I retested my Infineon and neither Prime95 nor OCCT give me errors.

I also tried to change the bios (1014 -> 1019), but it still get errors.

I tried OCCT with both A-DATA sticks in single channel (one after the other), and I still get errors.

Appart from this, my PC is running fine, I can play HL2 or run 3DMark2k3 without any problems (untill now...).

So... the A-Data works fine with memtest, that would imply that the problem is somewhere else.
But my PC does not give me any error with Prime95 or OCCT with my old Infineon RAM, and that would imply that the A-Data has a problem !

If anyone has any idea... thx a lot !

 

[The Green Bean]

how about reducing those latencies on the RAM?

 

[FlameDeer]

how about increase VDimm a little?

try reinstall windows using A-Data ram in a newly formated harddisk & run Prime95 or OCCT.

 

[BangoO]

I can't really reduce the timings as I already test at 3-4-4-8.
I can't increase VDimm as 2.85 is the max I can use with this motherboard.

You think reinstalling XP with the A-Data could really change something ?

Thx for the answers

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Using cheap memory will definately hinder your OC.

 

[BangoO]

Since when the A-Data Vitesta PC4000 is cheap memory ?

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Since always, when getting memory try to stick with the big boys

Crucial
Kingston
Geil
Corsair

There are a few others like OCZ that I've heard good things about, but I'll recommend it once I've used it.

 

[BangoO]

That's bullshit.

Anyway... my PC is not stable, as Prime95 and OCCT could let me think...

 

[Zebo]

RMA that crap. it's not even running @ defaults. Those can't be hynix sticks on there. Are you passing mem tests 5 and 6?

 

[BangoO]

I did one pass at 230Mhz and one pass at 240Mhz withtout any problem.
I'll try more passes today, I'm still testing other things...

 

[BangoO]

And by the way, the Hynix chips are on the A-Data PC4800, not on the 4000.
But with the PC4000, almost everybody can do 2-3-3-6 at 200Mhz, 2.5-3-4-6 at 250Mhz, and 3-4-4-8 at 280Mhz, so... it should be able to do 3-4-4-8 at 230Mhz

 

[Zebo]

memtest aint prime. But looping 5 and 6 about 3x is a start. What's your PSU?

This is certainly strange.... that chipset is good for 275...that chip OC is'nt very high..I'm stumped.

 

[BangoO]

I thought about the PSU as I have 4 HDDs plugged in, I tested with only 3 of them and I still get errors...
The PSU is a Tagan 480W, supposed to be very good.
But I noticed that my 3.3V is a bit low (SpeedFan says it sometimes goes as low as 2.9V), but the RAM uses the 12V right ? And this one is perfect...

As I said it works perfectly by just swapping the A-Data with the Infineon... but they need a lower voltage (2.55V instead of 2.8V) so...

Of course, the A-Data sticks could be defective, but I can't believe that both of them are ! (as I tested them separately with the same errors)

Thx for your help Zebo !

 

[Zebo]

Ya that's a real good PSU. but I'm not sure of it's 3.3 which ram uses on that board. What it rated at the 3.3 volts rail...should be listed on the side? But then again you're only using abotu 20 more watts with x/tra 512...

Also what chips are on a-data 4000?

 

[Zebo]

did some checking..

Only 92 W on 3.3....kinda low and your speed fan results seem to verify this. I'd hate to advise you getting a new PSU w/o second opinion.

Try this. unplug all PCI cards. All drives but boot drive... What's your vid card? underclcok if possible. Then run prime95 torture and blend.

 

[BangoO]

The documentation says 235W for the 3.3V and 5V combined, and 28A for the 3.3V, and it seems good to me.
I know 1Go consumes more than 512Mo, but then again my PC works perfectly with 2*256 Infineon, but not with a single 512Mo A-Data...

I just did 2 passes of memtest at 230Mhz withtout any error.

I just have a video card (Radeon 9700Pro), no PCI card.
I will try another PSU to be sure ASAP...

 

[BangoO]

I'm testing with an Antec 350W, Prime95 is running since approx. 30mins without a single error... I guess I have to RMA the PSU

 

[FlameDeer]

Originally posted by: BangoO
The PSU is a Tagan 480W, supposed to be very good.

Really unfortunate that your PSU is the main culprit.

As stated about Tagan in THIS page as "some bad experiences with Tagan power supplies".

 

[Zebo]

That sucks. But at least you found the problem.

 

[BangoO]

I bought it when it just came out, and I know the new models fixed some issues.
I should get a new one on monday so...
Untill monday, I use an Antec 350W which can be described in one word : NOISY !

The only issue left on my PC is that my Pioneer 105 does not recognize my UDF DVDs anymore (all the other DVDs/CDs work without any problem) !
I have to remove it from the system and then "re-discover" it and it works instantly.
I have this problem since I added a 4th sata HDD to my system, so if anyone has any idea about that... thx in advance !