Need answer concerning RAM not running in dual channel.

crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
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What could cause a system I built to fail to run in dual channel mode. I have tried all DIMM configurations.

AMD 64 3800 Venice
Gigabyte GA-K8N-SLI Nf4
OCZ Platinum PC3200 400 mhz. 2 x 1 GB
EVGA 7600 GT Fatality
Coolermaster 500 watt PSU 18/16 dual rail 12v.

CPUZ reports the system RAM is running SINGLE channel. I have tried all the DIMM combinations with 2x1 MB. Any help appreciated. Would boosting the voltage to the RAM make any difference? The system runs fine, but in single channel only. TIA.
 

Bob Anderson

Member
Aug 28, 2006
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Originally posted by: crossrode
What could cause a system I built to fail to run in dual channel mode. I have tried all DIMM configurations.

AMD 64 3800 Venice
Gigabyte GA-K8N-SLI Nf4
OCZ Platinum PC3200 400 mhz. 2 x 1 GB
EVGA 7600 GT Fatality
Coolermaster 500 watt PSU 18/16 dual rail 12v.

CPUZ reports the system RAM is running SINGLE channel. I have tried all the DIMM combinations with 2x1 MB. Any help appreciated. Would boosting the voltage to the RAM make any difference? The system runs fine, but in single channel only. TIA.

I have no trouble running dual channel 2x512 , Chaintech VFN4, AMD64 3500+.

Don't fool with the voltage; that is not the problem. It SHOULD run dual channel if you put the two DIMM's in two slots with the same color code. The two DIMM's should be identical, which I assume they are. All I can suggest is to read once again the motherboard manual. If you don't have it, contact Gigabyte.

It is possible that one of the DIMM's is defective. Test them one at a time.

If no luck, I'd say the MB is defective.

-Bob

 

crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
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Yeah, I tried to download the manual and can't. Technical problem apparently. Both DIMMS are identical. The RAM controller is on the chip, so I wonder if the chp is defective. Everything runs perfect. Just can't get dul channel memory to work? I need some help with this one. I was thinking maybe I should default the BIOS. Maybe a BIOS setting or something. I built the system for a friend. All he had was the MB, CPU and RAM. No manuals or MB disk.
 

Bob Anderson

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Aug 28, 2006
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I downloaded the manual.

Here are the dual channel instructions:

"Dual Channel Memory Configuration

The GA-K8N Ultra-SLI/GA-K8N Pro-SLI/GA-K8N-SLI supports the Dual Channel Technology. When the
Dual Channel Technology is activated, the bandwidth of memory bus will be double the original one.

Due to CPU limitation, if you want to operate the Dual Channel Technology, please follow the guidelines
below for Dual Channel memory configuration.

1.
Dual Channel mode will not be enabled if only one DDR memory module is installed.
2.
To enable Dual Channel mode with 2 memory modules (it is recommended to use memory
modules of identical brand, size, chips, and speed), you must install them into DIMM sockets
of the same color.
3.
To enable Dual Channel mode with 4 memory modules, it is recommended to use memory
modules of identical brand, size, chips, and speed.
If two memory modules are to be used to achieve Dual Channel mode, we recommend
installing them in DDR1 and DDR2 DIMM sockets."

---------------------------

The DDR1 and DDR2 sockets are the ones closest to the back of the computer.

The manual says the BIOS will automatically detect the two DIMMs and run in dual channel mode. If that doesn't work, can you try two different DIMMs? That way you will be able to rule out memory if it still doesn''t run in dual channel, and conclude the MB or memory controller on the MB is defective.

-Bob

 

acole1

Golden Member
Sep 28, 2005
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It could be a BIOS setting...

Also, check on the motherboard or OCZ's site to see if they have any problems working together. (I can't think of any reason why there would be, but it's a possibility.)

And remember, it's not a huge deal if you can't get it to work. Dual channel only helps preformance by about 3%, so it's not likely you would tell any difference between single and dual channel modes anyways.
 

crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
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The guy gave me only the MB, CPU and RAM...no manual, no CD. I got drivers from Nvidia and Gigabyte websites. The RAM was installed in slot 1 and 3 when I got it. Single channel turns out. Shoud have been slot 1 and 2 (same color). I put it in slot 1 and 2, but the kid wanted me to add his 2 512's in 3 and 4 slots for 3 gigs. I did. Came up with a divider and running at 166 x 2 mhx., about 332 mhz. with PC3200. I set the timings to 2-3-3-6 and left it. Still in single channel mode.

The board was overclocked slightly when I installed it. I should have reset to default and started from there. I didn't have time. I'll have to get the system back and use the 2 x 1 GB in slots 1 and 2. Forget the two 512's. I want to keep a 1T, 400 mhz. setting. Then I want to overclock from stock 2.4 to 2.6. I believe the OCZ RAM will do better than 400 mhz. I already took it to 2.5 at 322 mhz with 2-3-3-6 with the tree gigs. I should have just used the 2 gigs in slots 1 and 2 an forgot about adding his 2 512's he wanted. the system should run in dual channel with all four dimms occupied anyway?

Thanks for your help.
 

acole1

Golden Member
Sep 28, 2005
1,543
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Originally posted by: crossrode
The guy gave me only the MB, CPU and RAM...no manual, no CD. I got drivers from Nvidia and Gigabyte websites. The RAM was installed in slot 1 and 3 when I got it. Single channel turns out. Shoud have been slot 1 and 2 (same color). I put it in slot 1 and 2, but the kid wanted me to add his 2 512's in 3 and 4 slots for 3 gigs. I did. Came up with a divider and running at 166 x 2 mhx., about 332 mhz. with PC3200. I set the timings to 2-3-3-6 and left it. Still in single channel mode.

The board was overclocked slightly when I installed it. I should have reset to default and started from there. I didn't have time. I'll have to get the system back and use the 2 x 1 GB in slots 1 and 2. Forget the two 512's. I want to keep a 1T, 400 mhz. setting. Then I want to overclock from stock 2.4 to 2.6. I believe the OCZ RAM will do better than 400 mhz. I already took it to 2.5 at 322 mhz with 2-3-3-6 with the tree gigs. I should have just used the 2 gigs in slots 1 and 2 an forgot about adding his 2 512's he wanted. the system should run in dual channel with all four dimms occupied anyway?

Thanks for your help.

He will see more benefit from the extra 1GB than he would from the better timings, speed, and dual channel....

but do what you want.
 

crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
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I think I will get it back and set the BIOS to default. I want to run it with the two gigs in slot one and two and see if I get dual channel working that way. I'm thinking two gigs in dual channel at 1T, 400 mhz at 2-3-2-5 (timings on the OCZ dimms) will be more efficient thatn 3 gigs at 2T, 332 mhz., 2-3-3-6.

I just want to get dual channel working. My thinking is should run dual channel with the 4 DIMMS occupied. That would be the way I left it...2 x 1 gB OCZ Platinum is slots 1 and 2 with 2 x 512 Kingston in slots 3 and 4. All PC3200 400 mhz, but ocz is 2-3-2-5 and Kingston is 3-3-3-8.
 

Bob Anderson

Member
Aug 28, 2006
188
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Originally posted by: crossrode
I think I will get it back and set the BIOS to default. I want to run it with the two gigs in slot one and two and see if I get dual channel working that way. I'm thinking two gigs in dual channel at 1T, 400 mhz at 2-3-2-5 (timings on the OCZ dimms) will be more efficient thatn 3 gigs at 2T, 332 mhz., 2-3-3-6.

I just want to get dual channel working. My thinking is should run dual channel with the 4 DIMMS occupied. That would be the way I left it...2 x 1 gB OCZ Platinum is slots 1 and 2 with 2 x 512 Kingston in slots 3 and 4. All PC3200 400 mhz, but ocz is 2-3-2-5 and Kingston is 3-3-3-8.

If you want to use four DIMM's, they should ALL be the same timeings for dual channel. That is what the Gigabyte manual implies. If you can get it working in dual channel with four DIMM's, two of which have different timings in slots 3 and 4 than the DIMM's in slots 1 and 2, I would like to hear about it!

-Bob

 

crossrode

Senior member
Oct 9, 2006
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Yeah, I took the DIMM form the thrid sot and instaled it in the two slot (same color). I started to boot up and the kid ask for the other two dimms for 3 GB total. I believe if I use just the two OZC Platinum PC3200 1 GB modules in slots 1 and 2 I can get dual channel. It threw me off the id said the guys who He got the stuff from knew a lot about overclocking and such. The first thing I though when I booted up and got single channel was that second DIMM in the third stot. Then I noticed the FSB was set at 205. I wonder how high they had gone with that before giving it to the kid.

I can tell you the system will not work in dual channel with the four DIMMS I have, two being OCZ at 2-3-2-5 and two being Kingston 3-3-3-8. I have tw socket 939 systems myself and they both run in dual channel with four IDENTICAL DIMMS. This is the first time I tried to run dual channel on an Nf4 board with non-matching, different timming DIMMS.

Thank you for your help.