Need to ditch nForce4 chipset.. any suggestions?

[MDesigner]

I'd send you one of those pizza-sized cookies if possible..but it would probably break in transit

OK, another update. It's not so much the timings as it is the clock rate. I set my clock rate to 333MHz, and set everything else to auto. The system chose 2.5-3-3-7 as the timings. I'm going to check out the GIF now with these settings & see if it's stable. THEN, if it is stable, I'm going to go ahead and put my dual-core CPU back in my system to see if that's stable, rather than continue w/ the RMA process and waste time/effort.

 

[MDesigner]

I just noticed all this time I've been in single channel mode. Weird. The RAM sticks are next to each other, but according to cpu-z, the two sticks are in slots #1 and #3. What the heck? And it says single channel. Maybe that has something to do with it?

I checked the manual.. it's not really clear to me. DIMM_A1 and A2 are next to each other, and B1 and B2 are next to each other. But A1 and B1 are both blue, while A2 and B2 are both black. I'm going to switch my RAM around to A1 and B1 as the manual states, and see what happens.. i'll clock back to 400MHz and see if the system locks up.

 

[LordGestle]

Originally posted by: MDesigner
I'd send you one of those pizza-sized cookies if possible..but it would probably break in transit
....

I'll pay for insurance. Either case can you still return the memory? You could also contact PQI if your out of the return policty to see what they can do. I'm not to familiar with PQI customer support so I'm not to sure what they will offer.
However if it's a compatibility issue I'm not to sure if an exact exchange will help you.

 

[MDesigner]

Duh, I found the problem. This RAM is dual channel, but it was in single channel mode. I made the silly assumption that for dual channel, you always put the RAM in adjacent sockets. Not so.. with the ASUS A8N32, for dual channel, you put the RAM in opposing banks. It's the slot COLOR that you have to watch for.

Duh, duh, duh. I'm now at full 400MHz, dual channel mode, no lockups whatsoever. Sheesh..

I'm gonna shut down now and put my Athlon64 X2 4400+ CPU back in.

 

[MDesigner]

I'm back on dual core.. everything is solid so far.

 

[LordGestle]

Odd thing is that single mode should actually be more stable. It's pretty common to run in single compared to dual when you are pushing your system to the max.
Either case hopefully that should be the end of your issues.

 

[MDesigner]

Well, the ASUS manual clearly states..if you have 2 sticks of RAM, put them in banks A1 and B1.. which I did not. It's probably best to follow instructions..

I'm running on my dual core CPU still..cooking with gas.

 

[warbean]

congrats

Do you need to enable something in BIOS to change from single to dual channel, or is it just a matter of physically putting the memory in the corresponding slots?

 

[MDesigner]

Nope, no BIOS settings. it's purely physical.