Boot Problem with 3 and 4 sticks of RAM

M

M0710NM4N

Weaksauce
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
86
Still running my old system from 9 yrs ago and wanted to up the memory and having issues. So I have the Maximus Formula with Rampage bios conversion and originally installed I have 2x 2GB Corsair Dominator 1066 5-5-5-15 @ 2.10 volts.

So I found 2x 2GB of the same memory online used and tested with MemTest.

So with all 4 sticks it will not post. So I tried it with just the 2 newer sticks and boots fine reading 4GB just like with the older 2 sticks. Running either set in A1 and B1 or A2 and B2 it works fine.

I tried with 3 sticks and Windows tells me 6GB but 3GB usable

(Memory Remap Feature Enabled)

Any help would be appreciated.
 
Got the 3 sticks working. Figured out I needed to put the 3rd stick in B2 not B1.

Also I'm running 64bit Windows 7 Ultimate and the max memory is 8GB.
 
Nobody? I hate to sound like a pest, but this really important to me. I fell on hard times like a lot of people and it's been ongoing now for 7 yrs as I fight for disability and thus why I haven't been able to afford any upgrades in a long time. The only reason I was even able to get these 2 extra sticks of RAM is because of a very good friend, whom also helped me with a roof over my head in Arkansas 7 yrs ago to keep me from being on the street. I really need this 4th stick so I can play PUBG with this friend. My ailing pc is "literally" my only source of entertainment. Can't afford a tv or the service... only got internet and my pc.

So any help... would be of the utmost appreciated.
 
OK, so you've got a couple things going here.

Firstly, if Windows only says you have 3 GB usable, that's because you're running a 32-bit edition of Windows. I know you said you've got 64-bit Win7 Ultimate, but I suspect you might be mistaken since Windows doesn't limit you to 3GB of RAM for any reason other than 32-bit limitations as far as I know.

Assuming you sort that out, you might just be running into a voltage issue. Try easing off on the timings and speed of the memory, and then see if you can back the voltage off to 1.8v (standard DDR2 voltage) and see if you have any luck there.

As for your goal - playing PUBG - well, that's a big ask. The 'stated' minimum requirements are 6 GB RAM and an i3 CPU (dual core) and a GTX 660 GPU, but I would guess you might get 15 FPS at 1024x768 with those specs. Your CPU is likely slower than the i3, and who knows about the GPU. You haven't told us anything about the rest of the stuff i your system, but it's entirely possible that even if you get the memory in and working that the game still won't work well enough to actually play.

Lastly, I have 8 GB of DDR2 in the form of 4x 2 GB sticks hanging around doing absolutely nothing. It's this memory - a bit slower (DDR2 800 instead of 1066) but it runs at stock voltage and it served me well for years. You're welcome to it if you pay for the shipping - I'm in Texas. I'm assuming you've got essentially zero money based on this whole thread, but you are definitely reaching the end of the line for your old PC regardless and looking for super cheap/donation upgrades might be your path forward.
 
sinisterDei said:
OK, so you've got a couple things going here.

Firstly, if Windows only says you have 3 GB usable, that's because you're running a 32-bit edition of Windows. I know you said you've got 64-bit Win7 Ultimate, but I suspect you might be mistaken since Windows doesn't limit you to 3GB of RAM for any reason other than 32-bit limitations as far as I know.

Assuming you sort that out, you might just be running into a voltage issue. Try easing off on the timings and speed of the memory, and then see if you can back the voltage off to 1.8v (standard DDR2 voltage) and see if you have any luck there.

As for your goal - playing PUBG - well, that's a big ask. The 'stated' minimum requirements are 6 GB RAM and an i3 CPU (dual core) and a GTX 660 GPU, but I would guess you might get 15 FPS at 1024x768 with those specs. Your CPU is likely slower than the i3, and who knows about the GPU. You haven't told us anything about the rest of the stuff i your system, but it's entirely possible that even if you get the memory in and working that the game still won't work well enough to actually play.

Lastly, I have 8 GB of DDR2 in the form of 4x 2 GB sticks hanging around doing absolutely nothing. It's this memory - a bit slower (DDR2 800 instead of 1066) but it runs at stock voltage and it served me well for years. You're welcome to it if you pay for the shipping - I'm in Texas. I'm assuming you've got essentially zero money based on this whole thread, but you are definitely reaching the end of the line for your old PC regardless and looking for super cheap/donation upgrades might be your path forward.
Click to expand...

What an awesome guy to make that offer... it's very much appreciated. Unfortunately I'm thinking it might be the board, the slots and or maybe a short?. Messing around with 1, 2, 3 and 4 sticks in varying slots was giving me mixed results except for the fact that 4 sticks would still not post. For example... I picked 1 stick and gave it a run through all 4 slots and did this with all 4 sticks and all worked fine. But not when I put 3 sticks in the same 3 slots that had me getting 6GB, first it was showing the old 3GB installed on the boot screen, so I tinkered with all 3 sticks and after numerous attempts it finally showed 6GB.

Messed around a bit more trying to get 4 sticks working and no luck... would not post. So I went back to having 3 sticks and then it wouldn't post! So all I did was flicked my finger slightly on each stick randomly out of frustration and the darn thing posted and was showing 6GB so I gave up at that point.

So I think what I am going to do is just deal with it for now and at some point will pull the entire board out and see how the slots and sticks function and trying weeding out a short on the board. If I still have issues then I will yank the cpu and check for any bent pins and see if that along with reseating it makes any difference.
 
Oh and I have a QX9650 running at stock 3.0 along with an R9 390 Gaming Edition with 8GB. I am able to load in and play with mostly everything at very low, except I have AA on very high and view distance at low. Runs good with occasional memory lag but able to play for the most part and get kills.
 
Yeah that just sounds funky. Those boards are ancient and it doesn't sound like you're using much in the way of the advanced features, you might see if you can get someone to send you a 775 board for free/cheap to replace it. I never owned a 775 CPU so I can't help in that regard :)
 
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