troubleshooting RAM upgrade problem

[imported_navboy]

I've got a Gigabyte Technology "GA-8IG1000 Pro-G" ATX Intel 865G 800MHz Dual DDR (ATX Intel 865G chipset, socket 478) mobo, with P/S 350W NSpire NSP-350P4DL

Recently upgraded from 2x512MB Kingston budget ram running in dual channel to a 2 GB "KHX3200AK2/2G" kit - 2 x 1GB Kingston Hyper CL2 PC3200. Slots 1 and 3, runs fine in dual mode, shows 2GB in BIOS.

Since i'm trying to run as much of an orchestra as i can in sampler software, i really need the extra ram, so i tried to take it to 3GB by putting my original Kingston budget 512 sticks in slots 2 and 4, but it won't POST. When i power up it checks a drive or two, shows the drive indicator light for several seconds, then nothing. If i hit the reset button, i get a beep code that sounds like an electronic telephone ringing many short beeps, followed by a break, then more of the same. Depending on whether this is "continuous short beeps" or "continuous long beeps" the mobo is reporting a power error or a DRAM error, respectively. It sure sounds like lots of short beeps (Power error), but i suppose if the short beeps could be considered to make one long beep with a pause afterward, then maybe, it could be the DRAM error.

I've got 2 IDE drives, 2 SATA drives, and 2 optical drives. Could it be that running 4 sticks of RAM takes more power than i've got, or that a change in the default BIOS settings is needed?

Finally, i initially thought it wasn't working with 4 sticks because of some sort of incompatibility between the older 512 Kingstons and the new 2GB kit Kingstons, so i ordered another identical 2GB Kingston kit - same part number, same price, same vendor (MWave), since i wanted to take it to 4GB ultimately anyway, figuring that would for sure resolve the incompatibility. But now that i have them, it's exactly the same. Either pair in slots 1 and 3 will run as a total of 2GB in dual channel, but as soon as i fill out slots 2 and 4 i get the same non-POST situation as above.

CPU-Z shows they are running at 3-3-3-8 at 2.5V when the BIOS uses SPD to set the params and verifies that the sticks are indeed what i was buying. I notice the sticks say 2.6V on the label, so i set the DIMM voltage in the BIOS away from auto to +0.1V thinking that taking it to 2.6V from the 2.5V reported in CPU-Z might be the thing to do, but it had no effect, and i've set that back to Auto.

I just upgraded the Award Modular Bios v6.00PG Intel 865G AGPSet BIOS for 8IG1000P-G from F5 to F6, but that didn't change anything.

I've run out of ideas, please help.

 

[nefariouscaine]

One thing you might want to make sure when trying to run 4 sticks of DDR is that the command rate is set to T2. Many DDR based boards won't post period with 4 sticks at T1. After rereading it looks like you might have but did you try only 1 kit in slot 2 & 4 by itself. Another thing you might want to keep in mind that if the memory just won't work period in 2 & 4 that one or both slots is "broken". Another thing you might want to try for kicks is a voltage bump on the northbridge if you can adjust that. I'm at a loss as I never used that board but give it a shot...

Another thing before I get back to work - are you manually setting your ram timings or are you letting everything default? I'd just set it to 3-3-3-8 manually when you check what command rate you have it set up for. Auto is not a bad thing but in trouble shooting manually setting it assures what its at. Just my 2 cents

 

[imported_navboy]

Originally posted by: nefariouscaine
One thing you might want to make sure when trying to run 4 sticks of DDR is that the command rate is set to T2. Many DDR based boards won't post period with 4 sticks at T1. After rereading it looks like you might have but did you try only 1 kit in slot 2 & 4 by itself. Another thing you might want to keep in mind that if the memory just won't work period in 2 & 4 that one or both slots is "broken". Another thing you might want to try for kicks is a voltage bump on the northbridge if you can adjust that. I'm at a loss as I never used that board but give it a shot...

Another thing before I get back to work - are you manually setting your ram timings or are you letting everything default? I'd just set it to 3-3-3-8 manually when you check what command rate you have it set up for. Auto is not a bad thing but in trouble shooting manually setting it assures what its at. Just my 2 cents

Breakthrough - i took the frequency down to 333 from 400 without changing anything else (voltage still at 2.5V) and now all 4 sticks are registering and system appears to be stable (haven't done anything rigorous yet). As far as changing T1 setting i'm not even sure where to look for that ... What else might it be called? And the fact that all four will run at 333 - does that change the analysis of the T1 setting or might it be possible for me to run back at 400 with a T2 setting?

So, how much of a performance hit am i realistically taking by dropping to 333? CAS timing in CPU-Z shows 2.5-3-3-7 at this speed. I never did try increasing voltage to 2.7V (i'd previously tried 2.6V with no joy) and keeping frequency at 400 - not sure if that's a safe idea or not.

Also, CPU-Z shows SPD says 2.5V, yet package is labeled as 2.6V. Which one should i believe and how much does it matter?

thanks so much

 

[Martimus]

I'm not sure about Intel chips, but it is more important to have 1T settings on AMD chips than it is to have a higher clock speed. You may just want to run it at 333MHz, and not worry about putting it at 400MHz. I doubt you will see a real performance drop as is, but you may if you change the timings to 2T.

 

[imported_navboy]

I guess my main question now is how safe is it to try upping the voltage on the DIMMS from the auto SPD read of 2.5V to manual +0.2V = 2.7V to try to get all 4 to run at 400MHz (originally tried +0.1V = 2.6V with no luck)?

The datasheet on the Kingston HyperX KHX3200AK2 chips says they're rated at 2.6V for 3-3-3-8 at 400MHz and yet my BIOS and CPU-Z reads SPD at 2.5V - not sure i understand that. The power supply info for the chips in the datasheet says 2.6V+/-0.2V ... Does this mean i'm safe running them at 2.7V and 2.8V at 400MHz?

 

[imported_navboy]

Actually, i got a response from Kingston t.s. which gave me PSD timings that differ from the 3-3-3-8 that they have on their datasheet and product pages and that my BIOS and CPU-Z read from SPD. But their [non-published?] 2.5-3-3-8 did the trick and all 4 are posting at 400MHz and "Normal" voltage.

Now, if i could figure out what DIMM voltage i'm actually running at, i'd be in business - have no idea if i'm over or under 2.6V. Doesn't show anywhere in BIOS, CPU-Z, PC Wizard, mobo manual, or Google search. But, if i double the reported CPU core voltage i get 2.592V, which is damn close to 2.6V. Is it possible that by definition DIMM voltage is always double the CPU core voltage?

 

[Mondoman]

Originally posted by: navboy
... Is it possible that by definition DIMM voltage is always double the CPU core voltage?

Nope, sorry.

Standard DIMM voltage for DDR is 2.5V, and for DDR2 is 1.8V. Thus, since you said you set your DIMM voltage to +0.1V, it should be at 2.6V.

 

[imported_navboy]

THANKS