problem with my memory

[LoungeAct404]

Alright, I saw a good deal on NewEgg for some Corsair Value RAM (1GB PC3200 2x512) and bought it without really thinking. It arrived today, and upon installing it, I remembered that my CPU is only 333FSB (AMD Athlon XP 2800+ Barton), so it won't really support PC3200. Then I talked to a few of my friends, one of which said that there was a way to set the PC3200 to be read as PC2700, another saying that if I put my current stick of Kingston 512 ValueRAM in with a 512 stick of the Corsair PC3200, it would be forced to be read as PC2700.

I tried doing what the latter one said, and it worked, however, I'd like to have all 3 sticks of RAM (the Kingston 512 PC2700, the Corsair 2x512 PC3200) in all at the same time. I tried doing this and it got to the motherboard screen (shows the logo of whichever motherboard you have) and froze. It also froze when I had both Corsair sticks in. I tried messing with the BIOS and setting the RAM stuff to 166 (it was at 100) but that didn't really change anything.

I'm in my BIOS right now so I can read off to you what kind of stuff it says or you can ask me to look for something specific in the BIOS that might solve the problem.

Thanks for your time,
Greg

 

[LoungeAct404]

does anyone have any advice at all? Does anyone know how I might be able to get just the 2 Corsair 512's in so I can at least sell the Kingston? Anyone? I really need some help here :\

 

[furballi]

Perhaps the Corsair will not downclock properly to PC2700.

 

[LoungeAct404]

Ah, I really hope that's not the case. It's the processor that causes this, right? If the processor is 333 then the RAM has to be 333, right?

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: furballi
Perhaps the Corsair will not downclock properly to PC2700.

Why shouldn't it? It's being fed the proper volts and is merely getting bumped down a speed grade. LoungeAct, what motherboard are you using? If you're using dual channel mode for the RAM, it will not work with 3 DIMMs of the same size. Also, 2 DIMMs will then only work in slots 1 and 3 or 2 and 3. If you have a single channel DDR motherboard then it should all work... hope that helps.

 

[n7]

Well, here's my ideas.

I currently have that Corsair VS kit running @ DDR266 (PC2100) in one of my PCs, so i doubt its ability to run at a lower speed is an issue.

I am guessing that you will not be able to run all three dimms, since your mobo is likely dual channel.
BTW, next time pls. list your entire rig specs, & at least let us know which mobo you are using.

However, it should run with the two Corsair.

Maybe it set itself at very tight timings since it was running downclocked.

In your bios, look for RAM settings, & make sure it's not running tighter timings than 2.5-3-3

It may have auto detected improperly at 2-2-2 or sumthin', which would prevent it from booting.

 

[LoungeAct404]

Thanks so much for the replies, and I'm sorry for not listing my rig (I'm kind of new ;x)

CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2800+ Barton
MoBo: SoYo KT600 Dragon Plus
RAM: used to be 512MB PC2700 DDR333 Kingston ValueRAM, but now it will hopefully be 1GB Corsair Value PC3200 DDR400
Video Card: FIC Radeon 9600 Pro 128 MB (Soon to be upgraded to an eVGA GeForce 6800nu)
Hard Drive: Maxtor 120 GB
Case: cheap NewEgg case that came with a 350w PSU. (Soon to be changed to a 400w Fortron)
Sound/Lan=OnBoard

Once again, thanks a lot for your help.

 

[LoungeAct404]

Okay, I'm transferring everything it says in the RAM section of my BIOS to here:

([] = What is currently being used, i.e.) DRAM Clock: By SPD, 133 MHz, [166 MHz], 200 MHz, the 166 MHz is in [] so it is what's currently being used. If this doesn't make sense to anyone, please let me know and I will try my best to further elaborate.)

Current DRAM Frequency: 166 MHz (Was 133 MHz earlier, but I switched it to 166 thinking it would bring down the PC3200 to PC2700)
DRAM Clock: By SPD, 133 MHz, [166 MHz], 200 MHz
DRAM Timing: [Manual], By SPD
DRAM CAS Latency: 1.5, 2, [2.5], 3
Bank Interleave: [Disabled], 2 Bank, 4 Bank
Precharge to Active(Trp): 2T, [3T], 4T, 5T
Tras Non-DDR400/DDR400: 6T/8T, [7T/10T], 5T/6T, 8T/12T
Active to CMD(Trcd): 2T, [3T], 4T, 5T
DRAM Burst Length: [4], 8
DRAM Command Rate: [2T Command], 1T Command
Write Recovery Time: 2T, [3T]
tWTR for DDR400 ONLY: 1T, 2T, [3T]
DRAM Access Time: 2T, [3T]

 

[Le Petomane]

I have a problem with my memory also. Did I really do that lastnight? Or was it just the alcohol... I don't know...

 

[LoungeAct404]

lmao

 

[LoungeAct404]

bump from yesterday: I couldn't figure out what my timings were, n7, so I just copied everything in the BIOS for you/anyone who reads this. Maybe it will make sense for you, but it doesn't for me :\

 

[Valkerie]

Originally posted by: ariafrost

Originally posted by: furballi
Perhaps the Corsair will not downclock properly to PC2700.

Why shouldn't it? It's being fed the proper volts and is merely getting bumped down a speed grade. LoungeAct, what motherboard are you using? If you're using dual channel mode for the RAM, it will not work with 3 DIMMs of the same size. Also, 2 DIMMs will then only work in slots 1 and 3 or 2 and 3. If you have a single channel DDR motherboard then it should all work... hope that helps.

DDR400 Corsair sticks are not very good at being backwards compatible with DDR333. I've tried it before. In fact, you are likely to get backwards compatibility with a less known name brand than with corsair vs DDR400 & DDR333. Even on very good south bridges, you're not guaranteed to have Corsair sticks backwards to 2700.