System wont POST with 2+ gig memory...help :(

SeantheMan

Hi All,

I normally wouldn't go through all the trouble of calling on your knowledge, but I have exhausted my resources (friends, google, techys etc)
So wondering if yous could help.

Basically I got a new system...
The motherboard is a P5KPL/1600
I had 2 x 1gig Ram of OCZ Reaper DDR2 PC2 6400 (800Mhz)
These worked perfectly since I've had the machine.

I decided to fill the other 2 slots, so bought another 2 x 1gig of the exact same Ram.

However, anythign over 2gig and the system fails to POST.
-I have tested each individual memory module, they all work
-I have tested each slot, they all work
-I have changed both memory setting within the BIOS
1.Memory Remap Feature (ON/OFF)
2.Configure DRAM Timing by SPD (ON/OFF),,,i did not change the values within
-I have flashed the BIOS to the latest version.

No beeps etc even occur, as soon as anything over 2 x 1gig is inserted..the system will not even go to the BIOS.

Any help or suggestions are appreciated.

Regards

Seán

Webmonkey

Odd one alright isn't it.

Don't suppose the PSU can't support the extra bit of RAM

Have you cleared the CMOS? - taken battery out etc...assume you have

PogMoThoin

You may have to bump up the northbridge voltage a notch or 2 to get 4 sticks of RAM working, set it and the Dram voltage manually in the bios, overvolt both slightly (nb to 1.5v dram to 2.15V). Use the timings OCZ recommend (4-4-4-15) and leave all others on auto.

SeantheMan

Ive reset the CMOS with no luck,
Also the PSU is a Coolermaster 630v modular PSU, so should be ok.

Ill try your suggestion now "póg" , though i may have to write them instructions down :P

SeantheMan

PogMoThoin wrote: »

You may have to bump up the northbridge voltage a notch or 2 to get 4 sticks of RAM working, set it and the Dram voltage manually in the bios, overvolt both slightly (nb to 1.5v dram to 2.15V). Use the timings OCZ recommend (4-4-4-15) and leave all others on auto.

I set the timings to 4-4-4-15 as you reccomended. There were only 4 options anyways

1. 2-6
2. 2-6
3.2-6
4.5-15

or something similar, all of which i configured to 4-4-4-15

With regards to Voltage, there was no specific area that referred to RAM voltage.
The only one i could find anything to do with voltage had

V Core - 1.25V
3.3V - 3.216v
5V - 24.966v
12V - 11.932v

In this option the V core could only be changed to Ignore/1.25v, so I changed it to ignore.
Still no luck, not diddly squat...no BIOS message whatsoever.

Though, i dont know if its of any note..but when the system is trying to boot with the 4gig RAM....in order to shut it off..the power button has to be held in for a while, like you do when the OS is loaded ...as opposed to the 1sec press that POST/BIOS requires

MunsterCycling

That is just the voltage reporting area of the BIOS, try a BIOS update and what OS are you using 32bit / 64bit?

MC

SeantheMan

Im using XP, which i realise will not show more than 3gig or RAM.
However, the that wouldnt make a difference as the system will not even POST and get to the BIOS when the memory is inserted.

I have also flashed and updated the BIOS, but to no avail

PogMoThoin

I've got an Asus mobo, just like You, except I got the P5K Deluxe

Enter bios, click Advanced, click Jumper free config
set Ai Overclocking to manual
set dram freq to 800mhz
set dram timing control to manual
set first 4 timings to 4-4-4-15 in this order, leave rest on auto
set Dram volage to 2.15v
set Northbridge voltage to 1.5v

SeantheMan

Ill go in and check her out now,,,,hopefully its there...i couldve sword i went through every BIOS setting. Brb

PogMoThoin

Ya, the voltage and timing settings won't appear until You set Ai Overclocking and Dram timing control to manual. If You get it to boot with 1.5v to the northbridge I'd try slowly lowering the voltage to see if it still boots, ie try 1.45v, then 1.4v etc, stock setting is ~1.25v iirc.

SeantheMan

OK, my settings seem to be a bit different than yours Póg.
Im on BIOS v.5.12 btw

Anyways

Within Jumper Free my options are

-AI Overclock [Manual]

CPU Freq [266] (266-600)
DRAM Freq [800]

PCI Exp Freq [Auto]
Memory Over Voltage [Auto] (1.85-2.24)
MCH Chipset Voltage [Auto] (1.25/1.4v))
Cpu Vcore [Auto] (0/50/100/150)

They are all the settings within that Jumper option.

The dram timing control , Dram Voltage and Northbridge Voltage are not there, and the 4-4-4-15 option is not there.
The only thing similar to that is

DRAM CAS Latency [3-6]
DRAM CAS Cas [3-6]
DRAM CAS Precharge [3-6]
DRAM CAS Activate Pre [9-15]

I assume these are the 4-4-4-15 ??

Sorry for all the hassle, but the support is GREATLY appreciated.
Better than google/asus and other forums


Just read somewhere that MCH = Northbridge

PogMoThoin

SeantheMan wrote: »

OK, my settings seem to be a bit different than yours Póg.
Im on BIOS v.5.12 btw

Anyways

Within Jumper Free my options are

-AI Overclock [Manual]

CPU Freq [266] (266-600)
DRAM Freq [800]

PCI Exp Freq [Auto]
Memory Over Voltage [Auto] (1.85-2.24)
MCH Chipset Voltage [Auto] (1.25/1.4v))
Cpu Vcore [Auto] (0/50/100/150)

They are all the settings within that Jumper option.

Mch chipset voltage is the Northbridge, try it to 1.4v, lower if if it works like i said in my previous post. Memory over voltage looks like its just the dram voltage, set it to 2.15v

SeantheMan wrote: »

The dram timing control , Dram Voltage and Northbridge Voltage are not there, and the 4-4-4-15 option is not there.
The only thing similar to that is

DRAM CAS Latency [3-6]
DRAM CAS Cas [3-6]
DRAM CAS Precharge [3-6]
DRAM CAS Activate Pre [9-15]

I assume these are the 4-4-4-15 ??

Sorry for all the hassle, but the support is GREATLY appreciated.
Better than google/asus and other forums

You got it, set them like this:
DRAM CAS Latency 4
DRAM CAS Cas 4
DRAM CAS Precharge 4
DRAM CAS Activate Pre 15

Dram timing control is just a setting in my bios to unlock timing settings, Your settings are already there so its already on manual

SeantheMan

Settings are now configured as

-AI Overclock [Manual]

CPU Freq [266] (266-600)
DRAM Freq [800]

PCI Exp Freq [Auto]
Memory Over Voltage [2.14] (1.85-2.24)
MCH Chipset Voltage [1.4] (1.25/1.4v))
Cpu Vcore [Auto] (0/50/100/150)

DRAM CAS Latency [4]
DRAM CAS Cas [4]
DRAM CAS Precharge [4]
DRAM CAS Activate Pre [15]

Still doesnt even POST, Im about to kick this thing out the window.
I've never come accross something so stupid or annoying...and i deal with Servers and crazy problems.

You dont live in dublin do ye Póg ? lol,,,id pay ye to fix it

Did you get this kind of error yourself...or you just know about it ?

PogMoThoin

Try it again but loosen the ram timings to 5-5-5-15, try with only the stock 2.1v dram voltage. I've had OCZ sticks before, they sometimes don't like overvolting. Try lowering the MCH voltage to say 1.3-1.35v. These are just stabs in the dark, I'm running out of ideas now, I was pretty sure it was just the northbridge crapping out with 4 sticks.

Can you borrow 2x2GB sticks off anyone to test, these are not as harsh on the northbridge as 4x1GB. If it works then sell the OCZ ones on adverts. I've no good feelings for OCZ ram, I've had poor overclocks from them before, they don't like overvolting and don't overclock much from their stock settings..........unlike the GSkill ones I got now.

I'm nowhere near Dublin, other side of the country actually, Sorry

SeantheMan

I'm thinking it could be because the RAM may be double sided ?

And they only want 4x single sided or 2x double sided...

Though I cant say for sure which it is as it has that heat casing stuff over it

Joeface

Ok well i have a similar problem too you. difference been the my boards is P5N32e-sli but none the less ASUS .

I was doing the exact same as you ugrading to 4gigs of ram and nothing .Also running XP but this makes no difference as the system doesnt boot with 4gigs installed.

I now am begining to believe that its one of two following issues.

1) the guy that sold me the board sold me a dud

2) Asus are crap.

for the moment I am sticking with 2) due mailing to google finding very similar issues and how picky the asus boards are when it comes to ram. I have even resorted to buy the exact recommended ram for the board and still no avail.

very very annoy, so i kinda gave up , and stayed with 2 gigs of ram . went off and pld a few rounds of Cod4 to calm my rage.

so don't feel too bad SeantheMan your not the only one with this issue.

SeantheMan

Have you seen my previous post with regards to whether the RAM is one/two sided ?

Because supposedly there is an error where I dont thin it will run 4 x1 (2sided)
I'm not going to bother with it anymore, worked 12hours with servers yesterday..home at 9...and spent till 1.30am trying to sort it with no luck

So I think I'm going to sell my 2 new RAM, buy 2 x 2gig and then sell my other 2 x 1gig. Should cover the cost etc,,,,its just a hassle is all