K8N Neo2 Platinum Memory Troubles

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LoneStar

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Jan 30, 2005
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I have searched through forms all over and have seen many post on memory and the K8N Neo2 Platinum. My knowledge of computers is real good except for memory and I don't know jack about the settings and need help. This has probably been answered but I have not been able to find it and apoligize in advance.

I have an K8N Neo2 Platinum
AMD64 3500+ (Zalman fan)
1gb Kingston Valueram KVR400AK2/1GR 1GB 400MHz DDR (PC3200) DIMM CL3 (Kit of
two matched 512MB modules - supports Dual Channel) I KNOW!!!
60gb Maxtor SATA on 1
200gb Maxtor SATA on 2
ATI 9800
PSU - Can't see all the voltage but it is a 500 wt with good ratings (already changed it out with a more powerful one!)
Latest bios and nforce drivers (matter of fact, every driver is the very latest)

PROBLEM: I have not been able to install Winxp. I get that it can't find files on the cd. About every one out of 5 succeeds and then it doesn't work well, very unstable. (Programs lock up, or install problems with software.) I ran tests on all the componets and everything passes (Used SisSoft Sandra). Have not tried Memtest. I have tried both WinXP Pro and Home numerous times. I have replaced the PSU with a beefed up one, replaced one of the drives, replaced the optical drives, tried one drive, tried one stick of ram, tried different channels on ide and sata. I started to believe that that it something on the mobo and requested an RMA. Now, after reading around I am starting to believe it is memory. I bought the Kingston Valueram KVR400AK2/1GR 1GB 400MHz DDR (PC3200) DIMM CL3 at Fry's one day while I was in a hurry. I know that this was a very poor choice now but I have limited funds to get new memory right now and of course you can't return it.

MY QUESTION: What do y'all suggest to set the memory to so I can make sure that it is good and get my system stable. Any suggestions on settings in bios or memory settings would be greatly appreciated. I see a lot of 2.3-3-3-5 (etc..) but do not understand what to set in the bios. THANKS again for any help.

I hope this is enough info to help, if not let me know what else I need to post.

Thanks a lot again
LoneStar
 
Kingston Valueram is not a poor choice at all, except for overclocking.

Memory teething pains are a fact of life for the Neo2. Start by setting everything very loose. Go into the DRAM Configuration page and set things in this order: 200, 2T, 3.0, 3, 8, 3. Leave all the other memory/CPU settings at default except the DDR voltage at 2.6V. These settings are known as "3.0-3-3-8" although the MSI BIOS doesn't have them in that order.

Once you get Windows installed, and the latest nForce platform drivers installed, download Prime95 from www.mersenne.org and run the Torture Test for at least 12 hours to confirm everything is absolutely solid. Don't fiddle around with Memtest; since the memory controller is now in the CPU with the Athlon64, a pure memory test that does not include 100% CPU utilization and heat is no longer relevant.

The performance difference between these loose settings and optimal settings is actually very very small (like, less than the performance difference between versions of video card drivers). However, if you're a fanatic and want to tune things, you can start lowering the settings one at a time and retesting with Prime95 until it starts failing (about 2-4 hours of Prime95 per change, then another 12-24 hours at the end to confirm stability).

Now, with the Neo2, there is a slight chance that your RAM may not work even with the loose settings. That isn't the RAM's fault, as I said Kingston Valueram is good stuff except for its overclocking headroom. If Prime95 fails with the loose timings, and it isn't the fault of insufficient case/cpu cooling, then you might have to get different RAM. That's unlikely but I just wanted to mention it. I've personally tried 4-5 different models of DIMM on the Neo2 and a superb pair of Mushkin 3500, which is some of the best RAM in the world, wouldn't even POST.

KC
 
KCComp said:
Once you get Windows installed, and the latest nForce platform drivers installed, download Prime95 from www.mersenne.org and run the Torture Test for at least 12 hours to confirm everything is absolutely solid. Don't fiddle around with Memtest; since the memory controller is now in the CPU with the Athlon64, a pure memory test that does not include 100% CPU utilization and heat is no longer relevant.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure why you would think that Memtest86 is no longer relevant. Memtest86 really isn't meant to be a system torture test. Its to detect any errors occuring whether they be the cause of the RAM, which is most usually the case, or possibly something else like the CPU. If you get errors in Memtest86 then nothing is going to work right until you address the issue.

You dont need to waste your time with Prime95 until your error free in Memtest86+. You need to set your memory timings pretty lax like 3-3-3-8 or 3-3-3-10 and make sure the CMD is set to 2T. Set the CPU:RAM divider to 200 so that your running the memory at 200Mhz and leave the vDIMM at default for now. Run Memtest86+ through several loops. If you get any errors you can go and try bumping the voltage to the RAM up a little bit. If you still get errors after that then most likely your RAM isn't going to be compatible with your setup. You can try running the memory in slots 1,3 as well which is single channel mode and is easier for the RAM to run then dual channel.

I tried running some Mushkin PC3200 lvl1 2-3-2-5 RAM in the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum and it wouldn't work at the default timings. I had to run it at 2.5-3-3-7 2T. Before i changed the memory settings i was getting hundreds of errors in Memtest86+. Afterwards i was error free for hours testing.

If you plan to overclock then i would suggest buying some new RAM that uses Samsung TCCD chips or something else that works well in Athlon 64 motherboards.
 
Depending on how long your motherboard was sitting on your supplier's shelf, you may need to update the bios. Try running with one stick of ram in slot 3 to get Windows installed. Then use the LiveUpdate utility on the CD to get the bios and drivers up to date. Then add the extra stick of ram.

This isn't likely to be the issue now (you probably have a recent enough bios), but was a problem in the early days of the board, and bears repeating for completeness' sake.
 
Looking around at new memory just in case I can't get this to work and I have a question: Does dual ddr give that much of an increase vs. single channle ddr? What else should I look for in the memory?

LoneStar
 
LoneStar said:
Looking around at new memory just in case I can't get this to work and I have a question: Does dual ddr give that much of an increase vs. single channle ddr? What else should I look for in the memory?

LoneStar
Click to expand...

Memory can be paired to run in dual channel mode but the memory itself isn't dual channel or single channel. You can run any two matched DIMM's in dual channel mode.

I would suggest memory that uses Samsung TCCD chips. Check the memory forum for recommendations.
 
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