Need Some Help Getting Memory Right On New Build....

[practal]

I just built my first Intel system in years, Petium D 820, and Im having some issues with my memory. I am using an ECS P4M800PRO-M(1.0A) motherboard and have tried both G.Skill PC4000 and Corsair 3200LL, individualy. Ive got everything up and running but it seems my memory is running on a divider, 5CPU:3RAM. Ive tried just about every ram bios setting and have not been able to get rid of the divider. Is this possible a memory compatability issue, a bios setting Im overlooking, or just a cheap POS motherboard?

The board supports DDR and DDR2, I bought it to keep the good RAM I already had. Im not certain where to look and when I contacted ECS they said I have to contact the memory makers becuase memory dividers are controlled by the memory itself:/ That answer was news to me.

 

[zest]

My 1st thought is that you should really be using DDR2 with a Pentoum D.

Get some decent 5300 sticks Mushkin,OCZ or Cosair low latency.

Altough latency is nt such a major factor with Intel systems..

 

[practal]

Ive been looking in to ddr2 but I want to know if this board is going to run it at its rated speed. This is a budget build so I dont care about features but I would expect any motherboard should be able to run ram at its rated speed. I make sure its going to run ddr2 at its rated speed other wise Ill purchase another budget board.

The second time I contacted ECS I didnt mention memory brands and said I wanted to know if it would run ddr2 at its rated speed since I could not get DDR running at without a divider. I got the same response back that the board does not regulate this its the memory manufacturer, what BS.

 

[zest]

ECS P4M800PRO-M(1.0A)

MEMORY
- Single-channel DDR memory architecture
- 2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM socket support up to 2 GB
- 2 x 240-pin DDR2 DIMM socket support up to 2 GB
- Support DDR400/333 DDR SDRAM or DDR2 533/400 DDR2 SDRAM

The memory you have should be working fine!

Check your BIOS settings again.
Are you running with 2 sticks.

 

[practal]

Yeah I know. I am currently running 1 stick but I can do 2 with the G.skill if you think that would make a difference, I only have 1 stick of the other. The G.SKill is the 1GB HZ sticks that claim they are designed for amd but one boots just fine.

I also noticed that my ram timings I set in the bios do not take affect. Everest is saying my ram is running as 1.5-2-2-5 cr2 even when I have it set to the rated speed. Everest is reporting that speed as the chipset timing also and the divider is listed under the chipset information.

Ive tried adjusting the RAM frequency, like AMD's dividers, but that didnt change anything. I also tried Turbo and Ultra in the ram settings but it didnt change a thing either. Is there any other label for memory dividers on an intel system?

 

[zest]

Very strange.


Have you tried reseting c mos.

 

[practal]

Yeah Ive cleared the cmos and tried to flash with the newest bios on their site, which is older then the one it shipped with:/ Ive built numerous systems so I have a good understanding of what Im doing but this one just baffles me.

 

[zest]

The only thing left is you maybe get a csome cheap Pc4200 DR2 and give that a go,
Maybe the board prefers DDR2!!!

I

* I just ppilled half a can of coke on my keyboard an' it is becoming impossibe to type..
Not lol

 

[practal]

Well I ended up getting some Corsair DDR2 533, model that was listed in the motherboard manual. It is still booting it as ddr400 with 1.5-2-2-5 and it wont change no matter what the bios settings are changed to. Im still getting the same crap answers from ECS so Im just getting a different board. Hopefully someone looking into buying this board will see the post and avoid it!