After replacing the previous 4x1GB DDR2 DIMMs with 4x2GB DDR2 DIMMs in my Asus mobo, the machine started behaving very weirdly! Note that these problems arise well before trying to load Windows.
Here are the symptoms:
(1): The PCIe graphics adapter will work fine every other boot-up, but on the odd-numbered boots, the monitor stays blank.
(2): There are two PCI-X storage adapters, one an Adaptec 29320ALP-R SCSI-320 card, and the other is a SuperMicro AOC-SAT2-MV8 8-port SATA RAID adapter (based on the SiI 3124 chip). The Adaptec SCSI card pretty much always boots up and recognizes the SCSI RAID0 array just fine, but the SuperMicro/Sil 3124 card recognizes the attached SATA drives completely at random after the RAM upgrade! Note that the BIOS always recognizes both PCI-X adapter cards, but the SuperMicro only recognizes the attached disks only randomly.
(3): There's yet another SATA RAID adapter, a PCI card that usually works, but not always.
I've been running MemTest86+ v5.01 for over 16 hours (multiple sets), and no error whatsoever has been reported.
The mobo is an Asus P5WDG2 WS Professional (my BIOS version is the latest available, v 1001). You can download the User's Manual starting here: P5WDG2 WS Professional user’s manual (English). That manual states that it supports up to 8GB RAM in a 4x2GB configuration, and up to PC2-6400/DDR2-800 speeds. Here is what the manual says about memory:
The RAM I just bought can be seen here: KOMPUTERBAY 8GB (4X 2GB) DDR2 800MHz PC2-6300 PC2-6400 (240 PIN) DIMM Desktop Memory with Samsung Semiconductors. Although the speed isn't shown in the description, the manufacturer reports it as follows: "The CAS latency is 6. The timings are 6-6-6-18". I've read and been told that Samsung RAM chips are excellent (and some say they're the very best).
Although under the previous 4GB RAM configuration, I ran 32-bit Windows XP Pro/SP3, I want to upgrade to 8GB RAM to run 64-bit Windows 7 Pro. My CPU is an Intel Q9650 Quad-core, which is a 64-bit processor.
My previous RAM was two sets of OCZ Technology 2 GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800MHZ Dual Channel Kit (OCZ2A8002GK), and the timing listed is: CL 4-4-4-15 (CAS-TRCD-TRP-TRAS).
I tried to get some specific hardware details on the RAM, but since I haven't actually booted into Windows yet, I booted from a boot CD "whose name must not be spoken" and ran a utility called "System Information for Windows" from the CD's virtual XP-like system (which may well have skewed the report). The report showed some unnerving errors/warnings, but I have no idea if those errors are actually legitimate or are related to the unusual software context of the boot CD. Here is a section of the report, with troubling info in red:
Memory Summary: Wrong/Incomplete values reported by BIOS
Memory Type: DDR2
Installed Memory: 8192 MBytes
Available Memory: 3071 MBytes
Channels: Dual
Maximum Capacity: 2048 MBytes (Wrong Value)
Maximum Memory Module Size: 1024 MBytes
Memory Slots: 4
Error Correction None
Memory Timings
DRAM Frequency 333.3 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 5.0
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 5
RAS# Prechange (tRP)5
Cycle Time (tRAS) 15
Command Rate [unknown]
Device Locator Slot 1
Memory Type DDR2 [PC2-6400]
Manufacturer [unknown]
Model [unknown]
Serial Number [unknown]
Capacity 2048 MBytes
Speed 400 MHz (400 x 2 = 800)
Manufacturing Date [unknown]
EPP SPD Support No
XMP SPD Support No
Supported Frequencies 266 MHz, 333 MHz, 400 MHz
Memory Timings
JEDEC #1 4.0-4-4-12-16 at 266 MHz, at 1.8 Volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
JEDEC #2 5.0-5-5-15-20 at 333 MHz, at 1.8 Volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
JEDEC #3 6.0-6-6-18-24 at 400 MHz, at 1.8 Volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
I have no idea why that report claims "Wrong/Incomplete values reported by BIOS" and that the maximum capacity for a single DIMM is only 1GB, because, as the manual section I quoted above says: "You may install 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, and 2 GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR2 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets." I'm baffled!
Regarding the BIOS: In the setup page headed "Boot Settings Configuration", there's an entry labeled: AddOn ROM Display Mode, which has two settings: Force BIOS or Keep Current. I have no idea what they mean or do, but I'll be it's important considering the weirdly inconsistent appearance and disappearance of the hard disk adapters and/or disk drives.
Note that after clearing the CMOS to try to solve this problem, I received two warning messages that first time after clearing (though I've never seen them again). They read:
I don't know what that means, but they seem significant.
I'm DESPERATE for some help, please!
ETA: I've posted a lengthy hardware report on the computer in question using XP from Sandra 2013, in HTML format. Here's the download link: Sandra Report from XP - 4-May-2014.htm
Here are the symptoms:
(1): The PCIe graphics adapter will work fine every other boot-up, but on the odd-numbered boots, the monitor stays blank.
(2): There are two PCI-X storage adapters, one an Adaptec 29320ALP-R SCSI-320 card, and the other is a SuperMicro AOC-SAT2-MV8 8-port SATA RAID adapter (based on the SiI 3124 chip). The Adaptec SCSI card pretty much always boots up and recognizes the SCSI RAID0 array just fine, but the SuperMicro/Sil 3124 card recognizes the attached SATA drives completely at random after the RAM upgrade! Note that the BIOS always recognizes both PCI-X adapter cards, but the SuperMicro only recognizes the attached disks only randomly.
(3): There's yet another SATA RAID adapter, a PCI card that usually works, but not always.
I've been running MemTest86+ v5.01 for over 16 hours (multiple sets), and no error whatsoever has been reported.
The mobo is an Asus P5WDG2 WS Professional (my BIOS version is the latest available, v 1001). You can download the User's Manual starting here: P5WDG2 WS Professional user’s manual (English). That manual states that it supports up to 8GB RAM in a 4x2GB configuration, and up to PC2-6400/DDR2-800 speeds. Here is what the manual says about memory:
2.4.2 Memory configurations:
You may install 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, and 2 GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR2 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets.
Due to chipset resource allocation, the system may detect less than 8 GB system memory when you installed four 2 GB DDR2 memory modules.
The RAM I just bought can be seen here: KOMPUTERBAY 8GB (4X 2GB) DDR2 800MHz PC2-6300 PC2-6400 (240 PIN) DIMM Desktop Memory with Samsung Semiconductors. Although the speed isn't shown in the description, the manufacturer reports it as follows: "The CAS latency is 6. The timings are 6-6-6-18". I've read and been told that Samsung RAM chips are excellent (and some say they're the very best).
Although under the previous 4GB RAM configuration, I ran 32-bit Windows XP Pro/SP3, I want to upgrade to 8GB RAM to run 64-bit Windows 7 Pro. My CPU is an Intel Q9650 Quad-core, which is a 64-bit processor.
My previous RAM was two sets of OCZ Technology 2 GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800MHZ Dual Channel Kit (OCZ2A8002GK), and the timing listed is: CL 4-4-4-15 (CAS-TRCD-TRP-TRAS).
I tried to get some specific hardware details on the RAM, but since I haven't actually booted into Windows yet, I booted from a boot CD "whose name must not be spoken" and ran a utility called "System Information for Windows" from the CD's virtual XP-like system (which may well have skewed the report). The report showed some unnerving errors/warnings, but I have no idea if those errors are actually legitimate or are related to the unusual software context of the boot CD. Here is a section of the report, with troubling info in red:
Memory Summary: Wrong/Incomplete values reported by BIOS
Memory Type: DDR2
Installed Memory: 8192 MBytes
Available Memory: 3071 MBytes
Channels: Dual
Maximum Capacity: 2048 MBytes (Wrong Value)
Maximum Memory Module Size: 1024 MBytes
Memory Slots: 4
Error Correction None
Memory Timings
DRAM Frequency 333.3 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 5.0
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 5
RAS# Prechange (tRP)5
Cycle Time (tRAS) 15
Command Rate [unknown]
Device Locator Slot 1
Memory Type DDR2 [PC2-6400]
Manufacturer [unknown]
Model [unknown]
Serial Number [unknown]
Capacity 2048 MBytes
Speed 400 MHz (400 x 2 = 800)
Manufacturing Date [unknown]
EPP SPD Support No
XMP SPD Support No
Supported Frequencies 266 MHz, 333 MHz, 400 MHz
Memory Timings
JEDEC #1 4.0-4-4-12-16 at 266 MHz, at 1.8 Volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
JEDEC #2 5.0-5-5-15-20 at 333 MHz, at 1.8 Volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
JEDEC #3 6.0-6-6-18-24 at 400 MHz, at 1.8 Volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
I have no idea why that report claims "Wrong/Incomplete values reported by BIOS" and that the maximum capacity for a single DIMM is only 1GB, because, as the manual section I quoted above says: "You may install 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, and 2 GB unbuffered ECC and non-ECC DDR2 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets." I'm baffled!
Regarding the BIOS: In the setup page headed "Boot Settings Configuration", there's an entry labeled: AddOn ROM Display Mode, which has two settings: Force BIOS or Keep Current. I have no idea what they mean or do, but I'll be it's important considering the weirdly inconsistent appearance and disappearance of the hard disk adapters and/or disk drives.
Note that after clearing the CMOS to try to solve this problem, I received two warning messages that first time after clearing (though I've never seen them again). They read:
No enough space to copy PCI option ROM [01:01:00]
No enough space to copy PCI option ROM [00:1F:02]
I don't know what that means, but they seem significant.
I'm DESPERATE for some help, please!
ETA: I've posted a lengthy hardware report on the computer in question using XP from Sandra 2013, in HTML format. Here's the download link: Sandra Report from XP - 4-May-2014.htm
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