Very curious memory problem.. compatibility?

stardust

Golden Member
May 17, 2003
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I just recently finished my new rig here and started testing it.

Since it's an A64 system I needed to get everything stable b4 I start pushing that FSB and dropping those multipliers. When all seemed stable at stock 200FSB, I ran into a very weird problem. After pushing my Geil Ultra Platinum PC4000 past 220fsb (DDR440) I started getting an unstable system. At first, I thought it must have been a crappy CPU, but after going through CPU-Z, I found that my motherboard was running the memory "auto" at 2-4-4-8 timings when the ram was rated 2.5-4-4-7 timings. After spotting this, I tried loosening the timings manually to 2.5-4-4-8, the system wouldn't POST with lotsa beeping errors. I then took out one of the sticks of memory and it booted up just fine at 2-4-4-8 "auto" settings @ DDR440.


What could be the problem? Why would the SPD detect the memory timings to be 2-4-4-8 when the ratings of the memory was in fact 2.5-4-4-7? I can understand why a single stick of memory would be more stable than 2, but I don't understand how my motherboard won't let me loosen the timings! It absolutely refuses to boot with CAS latency of >2.0!!! I even maxed out the vdimm!

HELP!!!!

Sys specs for those who didn't click the link:

A64 3000+
Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro
2x512mb Geil PC4000 (2.5-4-4-7 @ 2.6-3.1V)
TT Purepower 420W w/ PFC

Harddrives are SATA but are run seperately on a promise controller, so it can't be the PCI bus.

TIA
 

myocardia

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2003
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You realize that you didn't exactly buy the best motherboard for overclocking, right? I would flash the latest bios, since that may or may not fix your problem. Of course, an even better idea would be to send the motherboard back, and get an Asus K8V, the motherboard you really should have gotten to start with, since you were planning on OCing.;)
 

stardust

Golden Member
May 17, 2003
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Originally posted by: myocardia
You realize that you didn't exactly buy the best motherboard for overclocking, right? I would flash the latest bios, since that may or may not fix your problem. Of course, an even better idea would be to send the motherboard back, and get an Asus K8V, the motherboard you really should have gotten to start with, since you were planning on OCing.;)

The K8V would not be an ideal choice for me as it will not reach 300+ fsb due to the lack of agp lock. VIA chipsets are not for overclocking even though the K8V showed mediocre overclocking results with standard multipliers.

Does anyone have any solutions for my problem instead? I will not be returning this motherboard, please give me some more workable advice.
 

Margalus

Member
Oct 28, 2003
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there is no good motherboard for overclocking the a64 yet

btw, it seems that your motherboard is very picky about the memory it uses. You need to do some research and find out what brand is being used by others. I have seen quite a few people go thru several brands of memory with that board until they find some that actually works well.
 

stardust

Golden Member
May 17, 2003
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thnks, I RMA'ed the geil and bought OCZ PC3200 EL, they should be good... very solid CH-5 winbonds..